Grant: Planning and Dissemination Grant - Institute Community Support

The Phytochemical Society of North America (PSNA) is a nonprofit scientific organization dedicated to research on the genetics, chemistry, and biochemistry of plant natural products, their effects on human and plant physiology, and their biomedical applications. We study the genetics of how plants biosynthesize important drugs. Perhaps the most well-known are paclitaxel and vincristine, which are examples of the many anti-neoplastic plant-derived chemotherapeutics. Other examples include plant natural products used to treat or prevent neurological decline (galanthamine), diabetes (montbretin A), obesity (forskolin), chronic pain (morphine, salvinorin A, mitragynine), appetite regulation and gut microbial health (flavonoids and soluble fiber), as well as phytochemicals that exhibit unconventional drug-like activities in pre-clinical trials (e.g. glyceollin I). The PSNA is focused on improving the accessibility of plant natural products by researching the genetics, gene regulatory networks, and genomics of medicinal plants and developing biotechnological approaches to enhance phytochemical production in plants themselves or by transferring entire biosynthetic pathways into microbial hosts. We study the effects of plant natural products on the prevention and treatment of human diseases, and ethnobotany through our indigenous connections. Each year, the Phytochemical Society of North America brings together researchers from all over the world, from all of these areas of research, to advance knowledge relevant to phytochemicals that have critical roles in human health. Researchers present their work in the form of oral and poster presentations, with an emphasis on ensuring that underrepresented minorities and young scientists receive an opportunity to showcase their research. This meeting will include patients in the planning, organization, and delivery of the conference. Government, industry, and researchers will discuss important aspects of phytochemistry in health.