UTech, Jamaica 2016-17 Annual Report

University of Technology, Jamaica ANNUAL REPORT 2016-2017 Page 83 Excellence Through Knowledge anticancer screening through collaboration with Dr Rupika Delgoda (Executive Director, NPI). The NPRL supports undergraduate student research projects from FOSS, COHS and FENC as well as several faculty research projects. The NPRL is a crucial part of the Cannabis Collaboration Group at UTech with the responsibility of managing all aspects of the University’s marijuana research license, its internal and external collaborations along with revenue generation and outreach. External Linkages Dr Lamm received a Research Fellowship to Canada to conduct research at the University of Prince Edward Island (PEI) with his collaborator Prof. Russell Kerr from the last quarter of 2016 to the first quarter of 2017. He conducted exploratory research with Prof. Kerr’s unique microbial collection in the fields of biocatalysis, biotransformation and bioremediation. Some members of Prof. Russell Kerr’s PEI research group and Nautilus Biosciences. Prof. Kerr (6 th from left, standing). Dr Andrew Lamm (7 th from left, seated). Dr Lamm and the NPRL were visited by Dr Sébastien Béguerie, founder and CEO of alphaCAT cannabinoid analysis test kit system. AlphaCAT is based on Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC) and has developed a cannabinoid calibration chart that can enable detection and quantification of the 6 main cannabinoids and their acids form (CBD, CBN, THC, THCV, CBG, CBC) in 30 minutes. Dr Béguerie offered the opportunity for Jamaican ganja communities to be able to access fast and affordable cannabinoid testing. Delegates from South Africa who were interested in forging collaborations between UTech and institutions in South Africa were hosted by the faculty through CSRECS. On Monday, February 20, 2017, CSRECS hosted 19 external partners comprising all of Jamaica’s indigenous cultural groups and their affiliates in the President’s Conference Room as well as other partners who joined the meeting online via Fuze Meeting Software. The workshop was designed to help these native groups prepare proposals for the Indigenous Knowledge Systems’ (IKS) grant programme which is a part of the South African / Jamaican Bilateral Agreement on Scientific and Cultural Development. INVOCAB Project (Dr Andrew Lamm, Senior Expert) The European Union (EU) African, Caribbean, Pacific Science and Technology (ACP S&T II) funded project, titled “INVOCAB - Improving Innovation Capacities in the Caribbean” is a collaboration between the Scientific Research Council (SRC); National Institute of Higher Education, Science and Technology (NIHERST); Mico University College; Ministry of Education and UTech. This project was created to improve innovation in selected schools in the Caribbean through targeted primary and secondary schools, eight (8) each in Trinidad and Tobago and Jamaica. Schools would benefit from the training of their