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Theresa Catania

Theresa Catania has been working as a researcher on CNAP’s Artemisia project at the University of York for six years.

“I first became interested in plant biology, and in particular medicinal plants, after studying plant drugs and poisons as part of my undergraduate study. I found it fascinating that so many plants can produce compounds which are effective in treating or curing different diseases. To further pursue my interest in plants I worked as a research assistant at the John Innes Centre before going on to study for my PhD. I joined the Artemisia project in 2008 where my research focuses on the plant Artemisia annua which produces the compound artemisinin currently used as an anti-malarial treatment."

"The things I most enjoy about working in this area are that my job is very varied, not only do I spend time in the lab or at a desk, but I have also had the opportunity to go out into the field to see and assess the plants growing in situ. I also enjoy the fact that the project is an applied project and the Artemisia hybrids we have created are actually being used to produce drugs to treat malaria.”