| Faculty of Science |
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to Academic Project listings |
| School of Biomolecular and Chemical Sciences |
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Biochemistry’s Diabetes Project
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| The Biochemistry Department
is conducting research into finding a cure for Diabetes
1, using traditional South African plants. Value Added
Life, the company that makes Procydin, is contributing
significantly towards this project. |
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The Rheometer
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| The Trust funded a Rheometer
for the Chemistry Department, which is essential for rubber
research and is used in all post-graduate reseach . NMMU
is the only institution accredited with both Mersita and
The South African Qualification Authority (SAQA) to offer
learnerships in rubber technology. |
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Mass Spectrometer
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| The NMMU Trust made funds available for
the purchase of a Mass Spectrometer for use with an HPLC-PDA
system that was funded by the South African Water Research Commission. |
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Diabetes Research
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| According to Statistics South Africa,
Diabetes Mellitus was the sixth leading cause of natural death in
South Africa in 2007. The Biochemistry Department conducted research
into the treatment of Diabetes 1, using traditional South African plants.
Value Added Life contributed significantly towards this project. The initial
results have shown that the medication called Promune, made using the
Sutherlandia plant, has had great success in controlling Diabetes Mellitus in rats. |
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The Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology
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| Flow cytometry is used clinically and as a powerful research tool in medical and biological sciences. The numerous applications for flow cytometry are expanding and therefore it is essential for NMMU’s graduate and post-graduate students to gain experience in the use of this equipment. A Beckman Coulter FC500 Flow Cytometer is in use in the Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology. The instrument has to be serviced by a specialist every six months and a research assistant is required to maintain the instrument on a daily basis and to assist other users. The NMMU Trust funded this appointment. |
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