A local team headed by University of Guyana (UG) Senior Lecturer in the School of Medicine, Dr. Emmanuel Cummings, and comprising Professor Jaipaul Singh and Guyanese Pharmacist Kareshma Jeeboo, is conducting studies to find out if a chemical extracted from the carila plant can aid in the fight of a variety of the deadly disease cancer.

The study began after Doctor Cummings reported discovering some anti-cancer properties in the carilla.

The investigation would cost some US$49,000 over the next two years, and would be done at the British University of Central Lancashire, where cancer cells pertaining to the brain, prostate, breast, and liver, among other areas of the body, would be grown and tested with the carilla properties.

Dr. Cummings hopes that a breakthrough can stimulate Guyana to explore the medicinal properties of other local plants. .
The research team hopes to develop a new cancer treatment originating from Guyana, as this would allow the University of Guyana (UG) to get the patent for the new treatment, and would put Guyana on the map in the universal fight against all forms of cancer.

UG Vice Chancellor, Professor Jacob Opadeyi, has said that the UG would hold exclusive rights in this initiative, while the researchers and their surviving beneficiaries would benefit from royalties if the discoveries are commercialized.
A batch of some eight researchers was selected from eighteen entries that were reviewed before the final selection was arrived at.
UG is about to issue another call for proposals as part of efforts to boost Science and Technology at the institution. The World Bank is also expected to fund the development of laboratories and human resources as part of that overall thrust.