Center Title and Acronym: Pharmbiotechnology and Traditional Medicine(PHARMBIOTRAC)

Host University and Country: Mbarara University of Science and Technology, Uganda

Center Website Address: Under development and yet to be completed

Center Director and email address: Dr. Casim Umba Tolo, Email: tolocas@must.ac.ug or tolocas2000@yahoo.co.uk
Primary Thematic Discipline of Center: Pharmaceutical Biotechnology and Herbal Medicines

Brief Description of Center:

Pharmbiotechnology and Traditional Medicine Centre is based at Mbarara University of Science and Technology in South Western Uganda about 270Km from the capital, Kampala. The aim of the centre is to train and raise a critical mass of specialized and skilled human capital that can use multidisciplinary and transdisciplinary approach to advance traditional medicine and pharmaceutical biotechnology in Africa.

Key Objectives and Expected Outcomes:
Key Objectives

1. To strengthen the existing MUST and partner Institutions’ capacity to train highly skilled and specialized professionals and academicians in Pharmbiotechnology and Traditional Medicine.
2. To strengthen the existing national and regional partners capacity to engage in collaborative multidisciplinary and transdisciplinary cutting-edge research.
3. To develop models and frameworks for strengthening university-industry linkages to translate research products to national, regional and international markets.
4. To advance Traditional Medicine in communities through students and community/Traditional Medicine practitioner engagements.

Expected Outcomes

1. Adequate mass of Highly skilled post graduate human resource in Pharmbiotechnology and traditional medicine
2. Transformed traditional medicine sector in the region
3. Growth in research based industry outputs in the region in the field drugs for major health conditions
4. Growth in university-Industry linkages and joint projects in the region
5. Improved international ranking of universities in the region

Major Accomplishments to Date:

1. Recruiting 24 PhDs and achieving above the regional students target of 20%
2. Recruiting 15 Msc in Pharmacology
3. Attracting one applied research grant in collaboration with Action for Natural Medicines (ANAMED) based in Germany.
4. Signing MoUs with partner institutions in Uganda, regional and global
5. Putting in PHARMABIOTRAC staff
6. Attracting faculty from USA

Primary Regional and Global Partners:

Regional Partners

1. Dr. Festus M. Tolo (Principal Research Scientist/ Head, Natural Products Research and Drug Development Programme (NAPREDA), Kenya Medical Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya.
2. Prof Hassan Omari Kaya (IKS Director DST-NRF Centre in Indigenous Knowledge Systems University of Kwazulu-Natal (UKZN), Durban South Africa)
3. Dr. Mai Abdalla (Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Department, University of Gezira, Sudan)
4. Dr. Kornad Steidel (Pediatra Director Pedagógico Faculdade de Ciências de Saúde Universidade Católica de Moçambiqu)
5. Prof Dominic Byarugaba (Professor of Botany/Deputy Executive Director,Executive Director’s Office, African Institute for Capacity Development (AICAD), Nairobi, KENYA)

Global partners

1. Prof Pamela Weathers, Prof of Plant biology and Biotechnology, University of Worcester, USA
2. Prof Cheong-Hee Change, Prof of microbiology and Immunology, Michigan state university, USA
3. Dr Prakash BN, Assistant prof, Ayurveda, Transdisciplinary University, Inda
4. Dr Tamukong Robert, Prof, Clinical Pharmacy, University of Minnesota, USA

 Senior Faculty