Question: how many labs and different people are working on the same idea as you, as in how big is the group of scientists you work with?

Jessica Chu answered on 21 Jun 2011:

Hi John,

There is about 10 people in my group and possibly 40-50 ish in my department (Medicinal Chemistry) and a hundred or so of postgraduates in the School of Pharmacy. Most of the people I am working with right now is finishing their PhD’s or are post docs now (after PhD research).
There is only 2 others working on plants in my building – but I have seen quite a few chemists (Chemistry department) working on natural products and seeing the natural compounds activity for other illnesses.
There is also the Nottingham Malaysia group who I am collaborating with and they are working on the same collection of plants as me – they are a bit bigger over there – they have at least 20 people. I am not sure of the numbers because they are always getting new students. They are working on the antibacterial properties of these plants- so to target things such as MRSA infections .

But if we are talking about working on the same idea as in using natural products to treat a disease – there are probably hundreds world wide. There is the Hilo University in Hawaii that are looking at different cancer signalling pathways and plants. Also research groups in Malaysia, Nigeria, Japan, Australia and Thailand .. Czech republic etc. – doing research on natural compounds hopefully to find a treatment for diseases.