Foods with a health claim (nutraceuticals, health foods,) herbal medicines and other products at the food-medicine interface are increasingly becoming global commodities. One until recently completely overlooked aspect is the link between producers and consumers of such products, especially as it relates to intercontinental trade. Agricultural production is generally in developing countries, while the consumption is both in developing and developed countries. Clearly such a usage impacts on public health, (both potentially in a beneficial but also detrimental way). In the UK, one major influx is through informal and semi-formal channels of immigrant communities such as British Indian, Bangladeshi, or Chinese. Considerable attention is currently focused on the impact of products from China, while practically no work is going on with respect to another major region of supply - the Indian subcontinent.
This PhD studentship will explore a range of topics related to the use of such products both in the UK and India. Specifically the focus will be on:
1. Understanding the commercial links between producers of Ayurvedic (and Unnani) medicine and the distributor in the UK and the supply chain for such products
2. Identifying the core botanicals used and their role in therapy
3. For selected species from this core group, assessing the environmental, trade, health and agricultural implications of their usage quantitatively and qualitatively both in India and the UK
4. Evaluating the importance of such products at a household level in the regions of production
It is anticipated that questions 3 and 4 will like be addressed specifically with respect to some core species used in Ayurvedic medicine. Question 3 will consider the impact of changes in the nature of production as its scale increases. How are producers and rural populations more generally affected by the expansion and the globalisation of trade in Ayurvedic medicines? Questions 1 and 2 will result in Milestone A: Identification of core factors relevant in the trade of Ayurvedic and other Indian drugs, questions 2 and 3 will lead to Milestone 3: Identification of core factors underlying their usage.
Study information
Qualification:
PhD
Study duration:
3 years
Study mode:
FT
Start month:
Immediately
Entry requirements:
Candidates must have a first or upper second class BSc degree in Pharmacy, Biology, Anthropology or a cognate discipline.
Language requirements:
IELTS, 6.5 minimum score in each skill area
Funding information
Funder:
The Leverhulme Centre for Integrative Research in Agriculture and Health (LCIRAH)
Title:
The Leverhulme Centre for Integrative Research in Agriculture and Health (LCIRAH) School of Pharmacy/SOAS Studentship
Number of awards per year:
1
Funding applies to:
EU applicants (including UK)
Funding notes:
Due to funding restrictions, only Home and EU students are eligible for the studentship. Overseas candidates are not eligible and regretfully enquiries and applications from ineligible candidates will not be acknowledged.
Stipend
The stipend will be pegged to the MRC rate including a London allowance: £15,740 in 2010/1.
Funding duration:
3 years
Contacts and how to apply
Academic contact:
Prof. Michael Heinrich
Department: Centre for Pharmacognosy and Phytotherapy, Dept of Pharmaceutical & Biological Chemistry, SOP
E-mail: michael.heinrich@pharmacy.ac.uk
Internet: http://www.pharmacy.ac.uk/michael_heinrich.html
Tel: +44 (0) 207 753 5844
Dr Deborah Johnston
Department: Faculty of Law and Social Sciences, SOAS
E-mail: dj3@soas.ac.uk
Tel: +44 (0) 207 898 4494
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