Fulbright to send professor to Hong Kong

A professor at Lehman College has received one of this year’s Fulbright scholarships, to research modern Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) in Hong Kong. 

Dr. Edward Kennelly, a professor in the college’s Department of Biological Sciences, School of Natural and Social Science, was one of 1,100 people around the U.S. to receive the prestigious fellowship. 

A Riverdale resident for the past 17 years, Dr. Kennelly’s research for over 25 years has focused on the use of plants for human health. Since 2008, he has focused on Chinese plants, thanks to grants from the U.S. and Chinese government, traveling back and forth to the Chinese University of Hong Kong and Minzu University in Beijing to work on different projects. 

Though his Fulbright research will only begin in September, he is currently in Beijing, conducting research on plants used by minority people in China. 

“It’s exciting to learn about how people from many different areas use plants to help in maintaining health,” said Dr. Kennelly, whose Fulbright research will aim to better understand the effects particular modern TCM formulas have on the human body. 

He described certain plant compounds known as phytochemicals that could be instrumental in treating or preventing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and cancer. 

“The majority of the world’s population does not have access to or cannot afford pharmaceuticals,” Dr. Kennelly said. “I hope my research and those of others in my field… will allow people to know how they can maintain their health using plants that are locally available to them.” 

His Fulbright will also allow him to travel to other parts of Asia in the six months it covers to present lectures on his research, including mainland China, Japan and Thailand. 

At Lehman, he works closely with students whose projects center on medicinal plants. 

“I feel fortunate to have worked with many outstanding Lehman students for these past 17 years,” he said. “My success in getting the Fulbright would not be possible without their hard work and commitment working with me on my medicinal plant research.”