| EPSRC Reference: |
EP/T020164/1 |
| Title: |
Homegrown solutions in Viet Nam: bringing C. asiatica compounds forward as candidates to treat liver cancer |
| Principal Investigator: |
Serpell, Dr CJ |
| Other Investigators: |
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| Researcher Co-Investigators: |
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| Project Partners: |
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| Department: |
Sch of Physical Sciences |
| Organisation: |
University of Kent |
| Scheme: |
GCRF (EPSRC) |
| Starts: |
01 July 2020 |
Ends: |
30 June 2022 |
Value (£): |
611,291
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| EPSRC Research Topic Classifications: |
| Biological & Medicinal Chem. |
Chemical Synthetic Methodology |
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| EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications: |
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| Related Grants: |
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| Panel History: |
| Panel Date | Panel Name | Outcome |
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10 Dec 2019
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EPSRC Physical Sciences GCRF call 2019-20
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Announced
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Summary on Grant Application Form |
Liver cancer is a critical problem in Viet Nam, killing 25 thousand Vietnamese individuals each year - more than any other cancer. The problem is especially acute in Viet Nam because of the convergence of overlapping risk factors: hepatitis B and C are prevalent; alcohol consumption is very high; dioxins persist in the environment stemming from the use of Agent Orange during the Viet Nam War; and cultural and economic factors mean that patients frequently present for modern medicine only at a very advanced stage, relying first on traditional herbal remedies.
However, Viet Nam also presents unique opportunities. Its traditional medicine is largely empirical i.e. based on experience rather than philosophical convictions. There is therefore opportunity for the discovery of natural products with therapeutic efficacy, which could be developed as approved drugs in an informed way through chemistry and biology. Centella asiatica is a popular medicinal herb, and our Vietnamese partners have discovered that one of its natural products, madecassic acid, is active against liver cancer, with chemical derivatives showing further improved potential.
In this project we will work on a number of fronts to bring madecassic acid derivatives forward as potential new therapeutics against liver cancer, which could be produced within Viet Nam. This involves optimisation of growth conditions for maximal madecassic acid production (using analytical chemistry), improvement of chemical extraction processes, broadening the range of chemical derivatives in hand, in-depth studies using chemical biology of the cellular effects of madecassic acid, and exploration of use of polymers to control the rate of release in the body. This work will be underlined and supported by networking activities with stakeholders (doctors, industrialists, farmers, policy makers) in Viet Nam, and survey work to assess attitudes of the population to medicines which cross over the traditional-modern divide.
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Key Findings |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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Potential use in non-academic contexts |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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Impacts |
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| Description |
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk |
| Summary |
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| Date Materialised |
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Sectors submitted by the Researcher |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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| Project URL: |
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| Further Information: |
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| Organisation Website: |
http://www.kent.ac.uk |