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Zimbabwe has a high rate (14
percent) of its population co-infected with HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis (TB),
thus there is a great need for new drugs and treatments. With a view to
developing new drugs to treat these diseases, the University at Buffalo’s
Institute for Lasers, Photonics and Biophotonics (ILPB), and the New York State
Center of Excellence in Bioinformatics and Life Sciences have come together to
launch the Zimbabwe International Nanotechnology Center (ZINC) a national
nanotechnology research program with the University of Zimbabwe (UZ), and the
Chinhoyi University of Technology (CUT).
The collaborative program will focus
initially on research in nanomedicine and biosensors at UZ and energy at CUT.
ZINC will establish a long-term international research and training platform in
the field of nanotechnology, focused in areas that promote Zimbabwe’s strength
and advance the development of nanotechnology as an avenue for Zimbabwe’s
commercial growth. Research teams will concentrate on emerging technologies,
initially focused in nanobiotechnology and nanomedicine for health care.
Gene D. Morse, PharmD, Professor of
Pharmacy Practice, associate director of the New York State Center of
Excellence in Bioinformatics and Life Sciences, and director of the
Translational Pharmacy Research Core, stated that developing nanoformulations
for HIV and TB diagnostics and therapeutics and new TB drug development are
among the innovative strategies to address these co-infections that the
research collaboration can provide. Morse continued that he hoped that an international
program such as ZINC will attract pharmaceutical companies and biotechnology
firms with similar interests to join the partnership and enhance the likelihood
of economic success through research.
The Friends of AIDS Foundation is
dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for HIV positive individuals and
empowering people to make healthy choices to prevent the spread of the HIV
virus. To learn more about The Friends of AIDS Foundation, please visit: http://www.friendsofaids.org.
TOGETHER WE REMAIN STRONG!
