Study Objective:

Write a clear and detailed description of your study objectives and gives your reasons for wanting to pursue them. Describe the kind of program you expect to undertake, and explain how your study plan fits in with your previous training and your future objectives. Note: Please limit your response to the size of this page. Recommended Font size #Times New Roman, 12 points#

Viral hepatitis is one of the biggest health problems in Pakistan. In particular, hepatitis B and C infections are very common throughout the third world countries and in Pakistan. About 2 billion people throughout the world are suffering from hepatitis B infection and related liver diseases. Same is the case with hepatitis C. About 170 million people are reported to be infected with chronic HCV infection. According to a report published by Pakistan Planning Commission, 2.5% of total population in Pakistan has HBV infection and 4.9% of total population is chronically infected with hepatitis C virus. So both hepatitis B and C are major health hazards in Pakistan as about 7% of total population or 12 million people in Pakistan are infected with both HBV and HCV combined.

With regards to the treatment options for both HBV and HCV, there is no effective treatment available for HBV except vaccination, whereas the interferon treatment available for HCV has less effectiveness for large portions of infected people due to the genotype of viruses and other issues. Also the HCV Pegylated interferon treatment is very costly and almost unaffordable for the lower socioeconomic classes in Pakistan, which comprises the major population of Pakistan and which are carrying HCV infection, as well as more predisposed to be infected in the future.

Traditionally, many herbal medicines are used for treatment of HBV and HCV infections and related complications, mainly because of good symptomatic relief and affordability for lower middle and lower classes patients. Many of these time tested natural herbs are now making more and scientists interested on doing research on their medicinal potentials. In case of HCV and HBV, may natural herbs and herbal preparations are focal point of research nowadays and a lot of scientific evidence has been collected in that regard. Out of these herbs, Echinacea purpurea is one that has been researched by a lot of groups for its potential as an antiviral agent particularly for herpes simplex virus, H1N1 influenza virus, swine influenza virus, HIV, common cold or upper respiratory tract viral infections. My postulation is that Echinacea purpurea will prove as an effective antiviral agent against HCV and HBV, as it has antiviral effects on lot of viruses, both of RNA and DNA consisting genome.

My expertise in herbal medicine and basic medical sciences gives me encouragement to pursue this research project, as it will be beneficial for population of world in general and of Pakistan in particular in developing both effective and economical treatment against HBV and HCV infections. I will be interested in taking a program in a facility equipped with basic tools of biochemistry/molecular biology/cell biology like ELISA, tissue culture etc. to pursue research on this very important issue.