New lab to research plant-based medicines

Burnaby, BC – A new laboratory to research plant-based medicines such as ginseng, hawthorn and elderberry at the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT) was awarded provincial funding of $368,000.

The research infrastructure project at BCIT was awarded the money from the British Columbia Knowledge Development Fund, which will go towards the equipment and construction of the laboratory. This will enable researchers to study plant-based remedies.

“Our aim is to ensure Canadians achieve the potential economic and health benefits afforded by plant-based products,” said Dr. Paula Brown, director of BCIT’s Natural Health & Food Products Research Group and Canada research chair in phytoanalytics. “This funding will help advance our understanding of plant chemistry, providing insight into the challenges and opportunities afforded by the processes of genetic selections in breeding medicinal plants as value-added agricultural crops.”