Monday, 8th May 2006 (4374 views)

The South African government is launching a state-sponsored national strategy to help with finding treatments to help in the worldwide struggle against HIV and Aids, IOL South Africa reports.

The project will include an investment from the Department of Science and Technology totalling 450 million Rand over the next three years.

Long-term aims of the project include purifying mine waste water, developing lower cost renewable energy production, specifically through solar power, and the development of drugs to combat biological disease.

Dr Judy Caddy is heading up the research project, the idea for which was conceived, she told the news agency, when scientists noted the best selling anti-cancer drugs were platinum-based and thought "if platinum could be used, why not gold?"

So far, the venture has shown early signs of success but developments will continue throughout the duration of the funding.

The government is keen to lend its support: "The value of nanotechnology is almost everywhere," said the deputy minister of science and technology, Derek Hanekom.

Mr Hanekom insisted there were few potential limitations: "There is little that can't be developed from it."

 

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