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The Public Understanding of Biotechnology programme (PUB) of the South African Agency for
Science and Technology Advancement (SAASTA) takes pleasure in
inviting you to attend a Media Round Table (MRT) to debate the much
discussed topic of Bioprospecting.
Experts who will be presenting include:
| Prof. Nceba Gqaleni |
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Bioprospecting in South Africa: an initiative of the Department of Science
and Technology |
Prof. Gqaleni is Chairperson of the DST African Traditional Medicine Bioprospecting and Product Development Platform driven by the National Indigenous Knowledge Systems Office. He previously held the position of Deputy Dean of Nelson Mandela School of Medicine, University of Kwazulu Natal.
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| Dr Vuyisile Phehane |
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Building on South Africa's Bioprospecting
competence |
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Vuyisile is Portfolio Manager of the Industrial
Biotechnology and Bioprocessing Portfolio at BioPAD,
responsible for the funding and monitoring of biotechnology
projects and platforms, as well as the commercialisation of
developed biotechnologies.
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| Dr Vinesh Maharaj |
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Bioprospecting at CSIR: New drugs and herbal remedies
from medicinal plants |
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Vinesh is a natural product chemist and is trained in the
discovery of new drug leads based on biodiversity samples. He
manages the CSIR component of the DST funded Novel Drug
Discovery Platform which focuses on the discovery of novel
drugs from medicinal plants for malaria, TB and diabetes. He
is one of the main inventors on the CSIR owned patent based on
the discovery of a novel appetite suppressant for the Hoodia
plant.
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| Prof. Esta van Heerden |
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Dwelling in the Deep Subsurface |
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Esta is Associate Professor in the Department of Microbial,
Biochemical and Food Biotechnology at the University of the
Free State, where her research aims to tap into the unique
genetic material in South African extreme environments, to
find new specialised microbes, antibacterials, antivirals and
anticancer agents.
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| Ms Sandra Clelland |
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The Legal Perspective |
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Sandra is a registered Patent Attorney and partner at IP
specialist law firm Spoor & Fisher. Her local clients
include pharmaceutical and biotech companies, universities and
research organisations, many of whom are engaged in
Bioprospecting.
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The MRT will be facilitated by the well known South African
Journalist, Radio Host and Television Presenter, Jeremy Maggs. Media
Round Table sessions aim to facilitate the process of introducing
the media to scientific topics and ground breaking research which
may have an impact on our every day life.
The Bioprospecting MRT will take place on Wednesday, the 25th
of February 2009 and will be held at the MonteCasino in
Fourways, Johannesburg. This event starts at 8.00am and will end
at 1pm. Free parking will be available to participants of the event.
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Venue: |
MonteCasino, Fourways, Johannesburg |
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Directions: |
Map
to the MonteCasino |
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Lunch: |
Refreshments and lunch will be served on the day. Please
specify any special dietary
requirements. |
RSVP physical and virtual attendance: Masego Mokgoro at 012 392
9373 or masego@saasta.ac.za
on or before Friday, the 20th of February.
The Department of Science and Technology (DST) funds the PUB programme which aims to ensure a
clear, balanced understanding of the scientific principles, related
issues and potential of biotechnology and to stimulate public debate
around its applications in society. SAASTA, a business unit for the
National Research Foundation, is the implementing agency.
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