Scientists have secured €6 million in funding to explore the untapped pharmaceutical treasure trove in Irish bogs.
The ground-breaking project aims to harness the pharmaceutical potential of the historic boglands, following receipt of significant funding.
Trinity College Professor Dr Helen Sheridan was awarded €6 million in funding from the IIP programme at the Department of Justice.
She explained: “The general public are aware of the threat to the world’s rainforests, the reduction of biodiversity and the potential disappearance of undiscovered medicines and natural molecules.
“This same threat to biodiversity applies in Ireland, particularly to our boglands, which constitute an enormous natural national resource and heritage.
“These ancient, rich and fertile landscapes are sole custodians of a varied and unique biodiversity that has accumulated over many millions of years, as species evolved in these distinct environments. “Compellingly, a number of these plants have historic documented use in Irish Traditional Medicine for a variety of preventative and therapeutic indications.
“We are at the beginning of an incredibly exciting journey.
“We have the opportunity to apply the lens of modern science to ancient tradition, and to transform those learnings into future scientific practice, all through the exploration of this fertile uncharted territory in our own backyard.”
The research project, which is taking place at a time when industry based on natural products is flourishing in Ireland, will also hopefully create jobs.
Combining phytochemical, metabolomic, molecular biology and botanical approaches, researchers will identify key chemical entities or compounds with activity that can then be targeted at priority health areas of unmet need including inflammatory, auto-immune, viral and neurodegenerative disease.
In addition, the project will aim to identify natural insect repellent and pest control solutions (for diseases such as Malaria, Chagas disease, Zika virus) and commercial products in the healthcare and wellbeing sectors.
