Bindura University of Science Education (BUSE) opened in 1996 to address a shortage of science teachers in Zimbabwe and is well-respected for its training of educators and researchers in a variety of STEM fields. The Department of Science and Mathematics Education (SAMED) is responsible for practical skills development for students in all STEM fields. BUSE offers programs in science and mathematics education, chemistry, biology, environmental science, and agriculture.

Wound care and healing is a major concern among cancer patients. Zimbabwe's Ministry of Health and Childcare reports that 5,000 new cases of cancerous wounds are diagnosed each year, with many more going undetected.

Though people in Zimbabwe have long understood that their indigenous local plants are effective in healing certain wounds, not enough is known about how people come to know and use these plants or what makes them medicinally efficient.

In an effort to ease access to these indigenous effective wound treatment methods, Vongai Mpofu, PhD, (right) lecturer of chemistry and chemistry education at Bindura University of Science Education, is studying the underlying biology of these local, disease-treating plants.

By extracting, identifying, and isolating compounds from indigenous plants, Dr. Mpofu will be able to characterize how such compounds derived from local plants treat wounds.

Such knowledge, in turn, can lead to new opportunities for drug discovery and pharmaceutical production within Zimbabwe, as well as greater opportunity throughout the country.

“Achievement of economic development and growth relies heavily on transformative teaching and research in areas that target improved health care,” says Dr. Mpofu.

Dr. Mpofu's research has stalled due to lack of adequate lab equipment, which delays students' research projects as well.

"Sometimes students are forced to abandon research projects in natural product chemistry due to a shortage of or obsolete equipment," she explains.

In addition to helping Dr. Mpofu move her research forward, equipment from Instrumental Access will facilitate more hands-on learning opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students at BUSE.

"Students will be excited and motivated," she says. "Equipment will go a long way in facilitating the realization of this dream."