About

As collaborators from the United States and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, we are energized by the possibilities of our first-of-its-kind research.

Our project intends to support four overarching goals:

• Conduct drug discovery research from diverse natural product sources
• Train Jordanian scientists in natural products research and build capacity at collaborating organizations
• Serve as an engine of economic development for the country
• Describe and protect the biodiversity of Jordan

Natural products research will serve as the backbone that supports and integrates these goals. Natural product chemistry has already contributed 60% of all anticancer drugs and antibiotics. Fully 25% of all drugs in use today originated from sources in nature. Furthermore, in many cases, natural products have revealed new mechanisms of action ---new ways to treat disease--- which open up new avenues of inquiry for all methods of drug discovery.

Our investigation is aided by the unique geography of Jordan, which sits at the intersection of three continents and serves as a bridge between Europe, Asia, and Africa. The country's diverse climatic and physical conditions are responsible for four different bio-geographic regions: Mediterranean, Irano-Turanean, Saharo Arabian, and Tropical Sudanian. Because of the close proximity of these four regions, a bounty of biological diversity can be, therefore, collected and studied in an efficient manner.

The research team represents significant experience in anticancer and central nervous system pharmacology, microbiology, and natural products chemistry (pharmacognosy). Each collaborating institution has demonstrated accomplishment in its areas of research, has a proven record of successful formal alliances, and shares long-standing personal relationships with other members of the research team. These connections further bolster our enthusiasm for this promising project.