MARBIONC :: Biotechnology at UNCW

Purpose :: Research :: Training :: Funding :: Collaboration :: In the News :: Contacts

MARBIONC discovers, develops and markets new products and technologies derived from living organisms found in the sea.  We accomplish this by identifying niche markets, assembling optimal teams and providing the necessary infrastructure to successfully bring products to market. Other economic benefits include the generation of a highly skilled workforce and the creation of new businesses.

Purpose

What is Marine Biotechnology? Marine biotechnology is the use of marine organisms, at the whole cell or molecular level, to provide products, technologies and processes that will benefit society.

Concept behind MARBIONC The concept of MARBIONC here at UNCW is to develop new marine-based products/technologies that lead to: New industries/companies (via research and collaboration) Augmentation to existing industries Increase trained workforce (via the educational programs offered at UNCW) MARBIONC Mission To stimulate economic development in North Carolina through the discovery, development and marketing of new products and technologies derived from living organisms found in the sea. MARBIONC Vision To position North Carolina’s marine biotechnology industry as a key component in reaching economic and environmental solutions on a global scale.

Scope of Marine Biotechnology Global Market Value of marine biotechnology was $24 billion in 2002, one-third of which was in the United States. Predicted growth rate of marine biotechnology is greater than 10% annually Involves many industry sectors: healthcare to bioremediation to cosmetics to nutraceuticals International efforts are found in several countries, including: Australia, Canada, France, Japan, Germany, Italy, Norway, Spain and U.K.

Research

Focus Groups

	Mariculture (Dr. Wade O. Watanabe) Research in this area can help sustain harvestable marine species such as flounder and seabass.
	Diagnostics, Bioassays and Screening (Drs. Andrea Bourdelais & Daniel G. Baden) The primary research focus of this group is to develop diagnostic tools for the detection of marine pathogens and toxic marine organisms using new and traditional detection methods.  A second area of interest is to develop cell based bioassays that can be used to screen compounds to determine their mechanism of action.  The third area of interest is to maintain the diagnostic tests and bioassays developed at UNCW for use by other Marbionc focus groups and collaborators.
	Chemical/Molecular Diversity (Drs. Ryan Van Wagoner & Jeffrey L.C. Wright) Research involves the purificationand structure determination ofnaturally produced compounds from culturable organisms. The researchteam is also characterizing the metabolic pathways responsible forthe biosynthesis of these compounds and in understanding the mechanisms by which the producingenzymes work. The goal of all of these interests is to enhance the laboratory's ability to produce compounds with biological activity and make them available to researchers interested in using them in their studies.
	Culturing of Marine Organisms (Dr. Carmelo R. Tomas) This group's efforts include identification, isolation and cultivation of harmful marine microalgae (HABS) as reference materials for studies on the composition of toxins and other bioactive compounds.  Presently the culture inventory spans all classes of marine phytoplankton and consists of hundreds of clonal cultures.  These cultures are used in physiological experiments to determine the optimal conditions for growth, toxin production and competition among species.
	Business of Biotechnology view fellowship opportunities! A unique program, started in 2005, that offers post-doctoral fellows the chance to work on cutting-edge research in marine biotechnology while getting their Master of Business Administration at UNCW's Cameron School of Business. Fellows are enrolled in an MBA program for working professionals that meets two evenings a week as well as one Saturday a month at UNCW.
Current Business of Biotechnology Fellows Dr. Md. Shah Alam joins the Business of Biotechnology program from the Lab of Aquatic Animal Nutrition, Kagoshima University where he completed his Ph.D. and JSPS Postdoctoral Research Fellowship on fish and shrimp nutrition and feed technology. As a fish nutritionist, Dr. Alam is doing research on development of cost-effective, environmentally sound and nutritionally balanced commercial feed for the mariculture of southern flounder and black sea bass. Dr. Francie Coblentz Dr. Michael DeTure joins the Business of Biotechnology program from the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, FL, where he studied Alzheimer's Disease. As a protein chemist, Dr. DeTure's initial research will include gathering more information about how an antitoxin originating in marine algae can be successfully used to treat cystic fibrosis. Dr. Julie Gauthier joins the Business of Biotechnology Program from Loyola University New Orleans. She received her PhD from University of Maryland at the Center of Marine Biotechnology with postdoctoral studies at Johns Hopkins University. She is working on the identification of Perkinsus marinus disease resistance and developing real-time PCR assays for commercial application of parasite detection in oysters. Dr. Kimberly Mayer joins the Business of Biotechnology program from Brookhaven National Laboratory in New York. Dr. Mayer is responsible for running the molecular biology arm of the group focusing on the development of marine pharmaceuticals and nutraceuticals, bioengineered natural products, novel enzymes and biosynthetic pathways.

Research Faculty (click on name for bio)

Dr. Daniel G. Baden, Director of the Center for Marine Science and William R. Kenan, Jr. Distinguished Professor of Marine Sciences
Dr. Jeffrey L.C. Wright, Carl B. Brown Distinguished Professor of Marine Science
Dr. Carmelo R. Tomas, Professor of Biology and Marine Biology
Dr. Wade Watanabe, Research Professor, Center for Marine Science
Dr. Martin Posey, Department Chair and Professor of Biology and Marine Biology
Dr. Bongkeun Song, Assistant Professor of Biology and Marine Biology
Dr. Ami E. Wilbur, Associate Professor of Biology and Marine Biology
Dr. Sridhar Varadarajan, Assistant Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry

Products/Technologies

New drug leads Molecular tools to monitor health of marine species Marine models for studying human development/disease Fish food

Nutraceuticals

Chemical Standards

Diagnostics, Bioassays and Screening

Spectroscopy

Fishery models/approaches

Detection kits for marine toxins/pollutants

Genomics/proteomics/metabolomics of marine species

Training

Post-Doctoral Program in Business of Biotechnology

Description of Program
A unique program, started in 2005, that offers post-doctoral fellows the chance to work on cutting-edge research in marine biotechnology while getting their Master of Business Administration at UNCW's Cameron School of Business. Fellows are enrolled in an MBA program for working professionals that meets two evenings a week as well as one Saturday a month at UNCW.

Funding

Current funding

State of North Carolina website

Recurring $2 million thanks in part to NC State Representative Danny McComas

National Institutes of Heath website

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration website

Sea Grant website

Centers for Disease Control website

 

Collaboration:

Intra-University

Inter-University

Eastern Carolina University website

Robeson Community College website

Industry

AAIPharma is a global provider of product development and support services to the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and medical device industries. From laboratory to market, they leverage the capabilities of the customers we serve. From a single test through a range of integrated service offerings, they create value to an industry in search of productivity and innovation.  website

Icoria, Inc and its partners offer integrated services for DNA and RNA extraction, genotyping, sequencing, and gene expression as well as serving as a Biorepository for both research and regulated environments. website

ABI/Sciex is a partnership between Applied Biosystems (ABI) and MDS Sciex. ABI serves the life science industry and research community by developing and marketing instrument-based systems, consumables, software, and services and MDS Sciex is a leading global supplier of analytical instruments and technology solutions. website

In the News

Initiative tests marketability of cultured sea bass
Lumina News (April 12-18, 2007)
html | pdf (123 kb)

From fish to dish
UNCW successful at raising black sea bass in captivity
Wilmington Star-News (04/12/07)
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Event focuses on marine bio
Greater Wilmington Business (April 2007)
html | pdf (394kb)

UNCW program sounds like a riddle
What do you get when you cross a scientist and an entrepreneur?
Wilmington Star-News (06/03/05)
html | pdf (161kb)

Exploring a deep sea of knowledge
Research at the Center for Marine Science could lead to innovations that advance drug development and feed the world.
Innovation North Carolina (Fall 2004)
html | pdf (927k)

UNCW seeks biotech gems from the sea
Triangle Business Journal (10/21/05)
html | pdf (20kb)

Contacts:

Jody Smith, Program Assistant
:: phone 910.962.2330 :: fax 910.962.2410

Daniel G. Baden
:: phone 910.962.2330

Jeffrey L.C. Wright
:: phone 910.962.2330

Wade O. Watanabe
:: phone 910.256.3721 ext. 245