STEP B PROJECT

Project Topic: Strengthening Collaborative Teaching and |Research in Drug Discovery and Vaccine Development Using Biotechnology and ICT.

Total Amount of Project:          USD610.980

Aim:     To solve the problem posed by malaria, diabetes and trypanosomosis through strengthening of local biotechnology capacity and training collaboration with scientists abroad, upgrading the use of cell and tissue – based drug screening protocols and producing dosage forms from local herbs and developing vaccine against malaria.

Project Development Objectives

1.                   To promote greater improvement in human health and welfare especially producing cheap, affordable and safe medicines from our rich biodiversity.

2.                   To enhance research capacity and manpower training in the area of biomedical technology that would support biotechnology research and development in Nigeria.

3.                   To obtain patents fro developing and new drugs

4.                   To facilitate use of ICT in teaching and learning and thus in National Development.

5.                   To enhance the industrialization of Nigeria especially in the area of medicine production.

Project Scientific Objectives

1.                   Develop cell and tissue culture methods for the rapid screening of indigenous medicinal plants for anti malaria anti diabetic and toxicological properties.

2.                   Screen bioactive extracts to obtain active ingredients and the eventual formulation of active fractions or pure compounds obtained from them into suitable pharmaceutical dosage forms

3.                   Develop vaccine against malaria using biotechnology tools.

4.                   Train PhD and MSc students in the area of biomedical technology especially in malaria vaccine research and production and in cell and tissue culture – based drug production and toxicity testing

5.                   Acquire library database to enhance teaching and research in the area of biomedical technology.