Biodiversity, drug discovery, and the future of global health: Introducing the biodiversity to biomedicine consortium, a call to action.

Vidushi Neergheen-Bhujun,Kit Chan,Dilfuza Egamberdieva,Ross Piper,Mari–Vaughn V Johnson,Paul Mason,Nils Bunnefeld,Andrey L Konevega,Yusuf Baran,Almas Taj Awan,Alexander Kagansky,Thomas Edison Dela Cruz,John H Malone,Shoji Komai,Rothsophal Nguon,Uttam Babu Shrestha,Milica Pešić,Simon Elsässer

doi:10.7189/jogh.07.020304

Abstract

Looking to nature for medicine is nothing new – we have been doing it for tens of thousands of years and although modern pharmaceutical science has come a long way from those ancient roots, nature is and will always be an important source of useful compounds and inspiration. Dismissing nature in this regard is a huge mistake as evolution is the greatest problem solver and the myriad compounds produced by the immense variety of species we share the planet with have been honed by three billion years of trial and error. However, with every bit of habitat that disappears under the plough or concrete we impoverish nature and deprive ourselves of potential medicines.

Highlights

L ooking to nature for medicine is nothing new – we have been doing it for tens of thousands of years and modern pharmaceutical science has come a long way from those ancient roots, nature is and will always be an important source of useful compounds and inspiration
This argument holds true for the other global goals including, but not limited to, SDG-3 (Good Health and Well-being), SDG-10 (Reducing Inequalities), and SDG-12 (Responsible Consumption and Production)
Preserving biodiversity in many landscapes and natural habitats free for people to enjoy and access both locally and worldwide, rather than only in museum collections and zoos is critical for understanding life, the workings of the biosphere and for developing methods to sustain the quality and longevity of human life

Summary

Introduction

L ooking to nature for medicine is nothing new – we have been doing it for tens of thousands of years and modern pharmaceutical science has come a long way from those ancient roots, nature is and will always be an important source of useful compounds and inspiration. We believe that collecting, curating, and disseminating knowledge on biodiversity as it relates to the treatment of human diseases will promote the conservation of bio- and molecular diversity and, simultaneously, create the international cooperation needed to safeguard well-being for all communities.

Results

Conclusion