BotanyChase Mason
2016 The Anne S. Chatham Fellowship in Medicinal Botany
Chase Mason is a PhD and Katharine H. Putnam Fellow in Plant Science at the Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University. An ecophysiologist, his research focuses on the evolution of plant functional traits, plant defenses, and secondary metabolites. He will study the phytochemical diversity across 29 species of wild willows genus (Salix). Salicylates, in the form of willow bark extracts, are among the oldest known plant-derived medicinal compounds and rank among the most consumed medicines globally. This research will characterize variation in secondary metabolites in a cross-section of global willow diversity, with focus on the evolution of salicylates, flavonoids, and other polyphenolic compounds.
The Anne S. Chatham Fellowship in Medicinal Botany
To protect, preserve, and expand knowledge about the medicinal use of plants, thus preventing the disappearance of plants with therapeutic potential. Providing this research opportunity for botanists can, in turn, assist medical science to develop therapies that improve the quality of life of patients and develop life-saving medicines.
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