Congratulations to Professor Ron Quinn for Prestigious Award in Traditional Knowledge Innovation
Professor Ron Quinn has been honored with the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences & Engineering's inaugural Traditional Knowledge Innovation Award, alongside collaborator John Watson. This award recognises their pioneering work on a gel-based pain relief project, spanning decades.
The collaboration between Mr. Watson, a member of the Jarlmadangah Burru Aboriginal Community, and Professor Quinn began in 1986 after a crocodile incident left Mr. Watson without a finger. Seeking relief, he turned to the traditional use of Mudjala freshwater mangrove tree bark, known among the Nyikina people for its numbing properties. The encounter made headlines, catching the attention of Griffith University, sparking a 30-year partnership aiming to identify the active compounds in the Mudjala bark. The project, led by Mr. Watson and Professor Quinn, bridges traditional knowledge with modern scientific methods.
The Mudjala bark was found to contain two classes of compounds, effective for inflammatory pain and mitigating sciatic nerve injury. This breakthrough has the potential to revolutionize pain relief, offering a natural alternative that could be ten times stronger than morphine. As they move forward, Mr. Watson and Professor Quinn envision their traditional medicine reaching the market, benefitting not only individuals but also opening avenues for other Indigenous medicines. Their commitment extends to returning shares to the community and hoping to provide the gel to athletes at the 2032 Brisbane Olympics.
Professor Ron Quinn's achievement stands as a testament to the power of collaboration, merging traditional wisdom with cutting-edge research, bringing relief and hope to those in pain.
