Appalachian Center for Ethnobotanical Studies hosts 1st Public Symposium,
October 13-14 in Western Maryland

Cumberland, MD - October 13-14, 2005, the Appalachian Center for Ethnobotanical Studies, hosted the first in a series of Symposia’s to discuss the collaborative efforts on ethnobotanical studies that integrate bioscience with indigenous herbal medicine practices, wildlife habitats, conservation efforts, cottage industries, and economic development for Central Appalachia. At the symposium, United States Senator Paul Sarbanes and Senator Barbara Mikulski’s aide, Betty Deacon, announced that $300,000 will be included in the FY2006 Senate Agriculture Appropriations bill to fund this collaborative effort between UMBI and Frostburg. This year’s Symposium took place at Rocky Gap Lodge and Resort in Cumberland, Maryland, and included well known speakers such as Dr. Jim Duke of Green Pharmacy Garden (retired USDA official), Bob Duggan from Tai Sophia Institute and expert guests from Frostburg University, West Virginia University, and the University of Maryland Biotechnology Institute. Nearly 90 people attended the symposium including academics, scientists, economic development officials, business officials and Appalachian culture experts.

       
(From left to right 1st photo) U.S. Senator Paul Sarbanes; Dr. Jennie Hunter-Cevera, President of UMBI; Dr. Catherine Gira, President of Frostburg State University; Betty Deacon, U.S. Senator Barbara Mikulski's aide; (2nd photo) Dr. Jim Duke, Green Pharmacy Garden, Tai Sophia Institute.

The Appalachian Center for Ethnobotanical Studies and this symposium is a collaborative, inter-institutional effort devoted to the multidisciplinary study and conservation of native plants and will foster economic growth in the region through the managed development of the area's natural resources. It will work with existing businesses and facilitate the development of new local enterprises to explore the use of regional plants for health-related purposes.

“ACES will increase knowledge of central Appalachian biodiversity, including genetic variability within and among species and ecosystems,” says Dr. Jennie Hunter-Cevera, president of UMBI. “In addition, this collaborative research may lead to the validation of the biology of the use of herbal plants as supplements or alternatives to pharmaceutical based therapeutics. UMBI is putting the tools in the biotechnology toolbox to work in better elucidating the mechanisms of the effects of herbal plant chemistry on human metabolism and their role in boosting our immune system, as well as their role as potential cures of human afflictions and disease. The symposium touched upon these topics and provided us with an opportunity for experts in the field to dialogue and lay the ground work for future efforts.”

The Center’s goal is to conduct multidisciplinary research and education programs on native plants with potential medicinal properties, conservation of these plants and Appalachian ecosystems as a whole, preservation of Appalachian culture as it relates to the harvesting and traditional use of medicinal plants, and the exploration of economic benefit to the region that may be derived from managed development of botanical resources.

“We believe the state of Maryland will be greatly impacted from this center in the years to come,” said Dr. Catherine Gira, President of Frostburg State University. “Within five years, we envision the evolution of the Institute from a “virtual center” to a physical facility located in western Maryland and housing a conference center, a museum/education center, and a research center, which we believe will attract more information technology and virtual learning businesses to the region, as well as bring federal and industry research support dollars to the Appalachia region.”

      
(From left to right 1st photo) Eric Burkhart, Ethnobotanist/Horticulturalist/Agroforester; Dave Cooke, West Virginia University Extension Service; Colin Donahue, Director of the Appalachian Forest Research Center; (2nd photo) Dr. Jim Duke, Green Pharmacy Garden, Tai Sophia Institute; Dr. Jennie Hunter-Cevera, President of UMBI; Dr. Larry Mahan, Director, DBED Life Sciences.

To view the program for this conference click HERE.

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Celebrating our 20th anniversary year, UMBI is Maryland's premier biotechnology research institute within the University System of Maryland and was established in 1985. The University of Maryland Biotechnology Institute (UMBI) consists of five major research and education centers and is dedicated to advancing the frontiers of biotechnology. UMBI’s centers of research include: CARB, the Center for Advanced Research in Biotechnology located in Rockville; CBR, the Center for Biosystems Research located in College Park; and COMB, the Center of Marine Biotechnology, MBC, the Medical Biotechnology Center, and IHV, the Institute of Human Virology, all located in Baltimore. For more information, visit www.umbi.umd.edu