Focus Groups
Pharmacognosy
[Group Library] (members only)
 

Aims and Objectives

. Exchange of information, developments, ideas and scientific appraisal amongst pharmaceutical scientists of the nature and use of materials and compounds of pharmaceutical interest derived from natural sources.
 
. Promotion of the importance of natural products as biologically-active compounds amongst the wider scientific community.
. Continuing education of the pharmaceutical and other related professions in the scientific study of natural pharmaceuticals
. Liaison and collaboration with other national and international bodies with similar interests.

Means of Accomplishing Objectives

. Regular meetings to present and discuss current research :
 
( a ) The relevant session at the BPC would be the major annual event.
( b ) Other one-day meetings in various venues (not more than one a year), held as APS events sometimes in conjunction with other scientific societies, would be held in London but also from time to time in other venues.
( c ) Smaller low-budget meetings of Focus Group members would be held to disseminate and discuss research findings and strategy. Meetings along these lines take place three times a year in London between King's, Square and Kew groups. It would be good to hold similar meetings in other centres around UK
 
( d ) Regular reports in the Newsletter of the Academy of Pharmaceutical Sciences of section activities and programme.
( e ) Electronic mailings.
. Promotion of written articles, media interviews etc., by members of the group. Liaison with Royal Pharmaceutical Society Public Relations Department, to promote this e.g. get on BBC, ITV lists of experts?
 
. Articles, reports of meetings etc., in professional media. Lectures etc., to professional groups, University Depts.
. Establish and strengthen links with Phytochemical Society of Europe, Gesellschaft fur Arzneipflanzenforschung, Societe Francaise de Pharmacognosie, Medicinal & Aromatic Plants Group of FIP etc with a view to holding joint meetings. One meeting with PSE has already been arranged for May 2002.
 

Panel of Experts - to advise on strategy and policy

. Prof G Blunden . Dr L Anderson
. Prof J D Phillipson . Dr K Helliwell
. Prof P G Waterman . Dr R J Schmidt

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