Scientists trained on use of new equipment at KNUST
Some Ghanaian and Nigerian research scientists have been trained on how to operate new scientific equipment designed to extract and explain the structures of medicinal plants.
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The equipment which is at the central laboratory of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) is capable of producing components of medicinal plants on a mass scale.
The three-day Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) elucidation training workshop that was held at the KNUST in Kumasi, was facilitated by two internationally aclaimed scientists
Lucas Oberer and Sandra Loss, a Swiss and German scientist whose companies are Bruker and Novertis have more than 50 years of experience in laboratory science.
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The resource persons apprised the participants on the use of the equipment to elucidate structures of various components of natural products.
They also discussed the success stories in different therapeutic areas and their value for drug discoveries.
The participants also worked independently on spectra datasets.
The Head of the KNUST Central Laboratory, Professor Eric Woode, said since the modern lab was built by the university, they had not been able to operate the equipment.
The Professor, therefore, expressed satisfaction with the programme and indicated that their capacities had been enhanced to successfully operate the facility.
“The objective is to help people to be more analytical and to deepen research which can easily be verified by any competent laboratory in the world,” he further explained.
The Vice Chancellor of the university, Professor William Otoo-Ellis, described the initiative as commendable and indicated that the outcome would inure to the benefit of all.