e-Therapeutics, a spin off biotech company from Newcastle University has partnered with Brazilian company Grupo TCI to establish a joint research facility close to the Amazonian and Atlantic rain forests. The collaboration aims to screen for lead compounds from the plants found in these rain forests. e-Therapeutics is also collaborating with CURA, a pharmaceutical consortium backed by the Brazilian Government.

Professor Young, who is now Pro-Vice-Chancellor at Newcastle University, said: 'This is a fantastic opportunity to investigate Brazil's colossal biodiversity with our cutting edge technology. There is enormous potential for drug discovery in the rain forests, where there are millions of plant species, many of which produce bioactive chemicals.'

More details from Newcastle University's press release.