Supporting Research & Development

Following the handing over handed over computer hardware and software to enable the Chemistry Department to make further progress in the field of Energy research, lead researcher, Dr. Peter Nelson continues to laud the Fund for its assistance. According to Dr. Nelson, the progress that the research team has made since the August 2018 grant has surpassed even his own expectations. His team of two research students had been exploring ways to absorb and convert energy from the sun for use as electrical energy, a feat made possible by a US$15,000.00 grant from the Gary and Pennie Abramson Charitable Foundation for which UWIDEF has stewardship.

Funding Cancer Research

The Natural Products Institute (NPI) at the UWI Mona Campus, is a dedicated research facility within the Faculty of Science and Technology (FST). Researchers at the Scientific Research Centre believe that a solution to cancer lies within Jamaica’s diverse ecosystem. UWIDEF is aware of the importance of unleashing the full potential of scientists with the hope that their efforts from the research will result in finding solutions to fighting diseases. For this reason, UWIDEF was pleased to have been able to assist the NPI by way of funding cancer research. Dr. Delgoda and her team have innovative ideas for examining indigenous plants and natural products found in Jamaica. UWIDEF was inspired by this initiative and as a result, contributed to one of the NPI’s cancer research projects currently being undertaken by the FST. UWIDEF provided $1.5 million towards this research in December 2019. With your help, we can equip the UWI Mona Scientists with the tools, training, and connections they need to be on the cutting edge of global discovery.

UWIDEF Continues to Fund Healthcare Research

SODECO was established to seek solutions to several health care issues which affect countries of the developing world. Led by Chief Scientist Prof. Terrence Forrester, it is a part of a global network of research centres with other collaborating locations being the Tropical Metabolism Research Unit (TMRU) at UWI Mona, and centres at the University of Auckland in New Zealand, the University of London, the University of Maryland in the USA, Baylor College of Medicine in Texas, Loyola University in Chicago, the University of Cape Town in South Africa and the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) in Ghana. The research team’s primary focus is to identify underlying causes of obesity, hypertension, and diabetes in disenfranchised populations with an intergenerational history of under-nutrition.

Chairman of UWIDEF, The Hon. Dennis Lalor, OJ has often explained the importance of the research undertaken by SODECO. As he noted, UWIDEF’s primary mandate is to provide funding for major infrastructural projects, scholarships, and the provision of research grants for UWI Mona. SODECO’s work and UWIDEF’s grant funding of it, is according to Chairman Lalor, “where town meets gown’, as it is the funding provided by donors to UWIDEF that has facilitated this important academic research.” With UWIDEF’s continued support over the years, SODECO has been able to expand its research and treatment opportunities associated with illnesses involving hypertension, diabetes, and stroke. Doctors using donated equipment and scientists conducting research, have expressed their gratitude that patients in need of treatment are benefiting and scientific breakthroughs are being accomplished through the furtherance of empirical studies. UWIDEF welcomes your support in its mission to help develop and foster a world class healthcare system in Jamaica and to provide for further assistance in research, science and medicine.

KEEPING DREAMS ALIVE

PhD candidate Kimberley Foster cried quietly as she recounted her journey. Gracious, determined and humble, this 28-year-old Spauldings native, married with one child, says the challenges she has overcome have taught her lessons of gratitude, patience and balance Kimberley vividly recalls her father telling her to pack her things because he was taking her to UWI. Knowing that there was no money to make this happen, Kimberley was taken aback, but did as heasked. This resulted in her relocating to Kingston without any concrete plans of affording tuition.She started University on a payment plan and persistent prayers. “Even while on this payment plan, my family really could not afford to meet the deadlines. This resulted in my being barred from my final exams in first year and ending up with a transcript of FAs (Failed Absent) and a warning letter.