Pharmabees wins sustainability award

A Cardiff University project to identify plant-derived drugs that can tackle so-called hospital superbugs has won a Cynnal Cymru - Sustain Wales Award.

The Award in the Sustainable Further Education/Higher Education Institution category went to Cardiff University’s School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences for the Pharmabees project.

The Pharmabees team is studying honey to investigate antibacterial phytochemicals. MRSA-combatting compounds were found in the honey of bees in North Wales. The team analysed the honey to break the DNA code and locate plants that can be used to fight antibiotic-resistant pathogens such as MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus).

Project leader Professor Les Baillie said: “The Pharmabees team is delighted to win this award. It celebrates our continued efforts to make Wales a more sustainable country through projects involving local schools, community groups and healthcare professionals...”

Pharmabees was one of 27 shortlisted organisations, projects and individuals in the Cynnal Cymru – Sustain Wales Awards.

Cynnal Cymru – Sustain Wales is championing sustainable development to make Wales a ‘low carbon, resource efficient, healthy, just and prosperous nation’.

This year’s awards took pace in the Senedd in Cardiff Bay and were sponsored by Assembly Minister, Llyr Gruffydd. The awards are judged by a panel of experts as well as a public vote in which over 10,000 votes were cast to select the winners.

Over the last few decades, there has become an increasing need to prevent and control the spread of antimicrobial-resistance in hospitals.