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Diatom: Pseudonitzschia

A STUDY INTO THE PROSPECTS FOR MARINE BIOTECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT IN THE UNITED KINGDOM

Biobridge Ltd (January 2005)

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Marine biotechnology in the UK has huge potential for innovative, sustainable development. Marine biotechnology is unlike other areas of biotechnology in that it is defined in terms of its source material, rather than the market it serves.  It is best described as the use of marine organisms, at the whole, cell, or molecular level, to provide solutions, thereby benefiting society. 

With a global market valued at $2.4 billion in 2002, and a predicted growth rate exceeding 10% per annum over the next three years, there is no doubting that marine biotechnology represents one of the most exciting emerging technology sectors.  Marine biotechnology will contribute to nearly every industry sector, from healthcare to bioremediation and from cosmetics to nutraceuticals.  The time to invest in the underpinning science, knowledge networks, and public understanding of this major biotechnology field has now arrived.

The UK is well placed to maximise the potential afforded by marine biotechnology due to its maritime heritage with an extensive coastline and easy access to diverse marine habitats.  The foundations for a thriving community are in place through a number of geographically dispersed centres of excellence, scientific endeavour in a number of key areas, and a small, but growing, company base.

This report highlights some key areas that would allow this novel sector to mature and flourish:

A more co-ordinated approach between the research base, entrepreneurial enterprise and the large pharmaceutical, biochemical and food multinational companies.

The integrated use of Research Council funding and the new initiatives offered by Government to promote and encourage innovation.

Training of researchers and public appreciation of the innovation, sustainability, legal framework [1] of marine biotechnology.

The key issues facing the UK marine biotechnology sector are:

Developing stable financial investment.

Creating productive communication between the marine biotechnology community and the private and public sectors.

Delivering to the industrial sector development leads that are needed and for which they are willing to pay.

Educating and training the people to make this possible

Promoting, marketing and positioning the marine biotechnology sector in a distinctive way.

Through analysis of marine biotechnology prospects in the UK, five areas of activity are identified, with a key recommendation for action attributed to each one:

Maintaining and developing the R&D base:The Foresight Marine Panel (FMP) - Marine Biotechnology Group will consider further, in collaboration with a network of researchers and companies already established in the sector, the strengthening of one or more centres of excellence in discussion with appropriate bodies (e.g. RCUK - Research Councils UK, DTI and regional development and enterprise agencies).

Sustaining networks: By building on existing funded networking activities by the research councils, such as the NERC M&FMB (Marine & Freshwater Microbial Diversity) programme, and using new initiatives for example a Knowledge Transfer Network under the DTI’s Technology Programme, to develop a pan-UK approach to marine biotechnology.

Commercialisation and funding: The FMP-Marine Biotechnology Group will develop a register of interested venture capitalists, and garner support from biotechnology trade associations (e.g. the BIA), to develop a portfolio of funding opportunities, with the help of the DTI.

These three objectives are underpinned by:

Scientific Understanding of Marine Biotechnology and Marketing: New initiatives in public understanding of science will be harnessed to develop readily accessible information that fulfils promotion, PR and marketing objectives.

Stimulate training and education: Working with the Funding Councils and Research Councils, the FMP-Marine Biotechnology Group will seek to identify opportunity for modular cross-institution courses in marine biotechnology, including specialist technical skills training.

By adopting these key recommendations identified in this Marine Biotechnology Prospects Study a focussed strategy for novel and innovative marine biotechnological development in the UK will be realised.

“We want the UK to be a key knowledge hub in the global economy, with a reputation not only for world-class scientific and technological discovery but also for turning that knowledge into new and profitable products and services.”The Rt Hon Tony Blair, Prime Minister

The Innovation Report (DTI – December 2003) [2]

Examples of marine biotechnology applications:

The potential for marine natural products as pharmaceuticals was first developed in the 1950s which led to two marine-derived pharmaceuticals that are still in use today.  Ara-C is an anti-cancer drug (used against acute myelocytic leukemia and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma) and Ara-A used as an antiviral drug for treating herpes.  Both these drugs were derived from natural compounds found in sponges off the coast of Florida.  Sponges have provided over 30% of the 5,000 + chemical compounds derived from marine organisms to date.

More recently, VentTM DNA polymerase has been isolated from microorganisms living around deep-sea hydrothermal vents.  Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) is used to amplify very small amounts of DNA or RNA, and forms the basic process behind the gene mapping for the Human Genome Project.  PCR requires enzymes that are stable at high temperature, precisely the conditions that the VentTM DNA microorganism has become adapted to.

Nutraceuticals, or nutritional supplements, is a major growth area for the large pharma companies.  Marine microalgae are known to produce high levels of the fatty-acid, docosahexenoic acid (DHA) and arachidonic acid (ARA), both of which are found at high level in breast milk.  Because these polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) have been linked to brain grey matter development, they are regarded as an important nutritional supplement, especially for infants.  One such product, developed by Martek Biosciences in the USA, is a market leader.

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[1] Owen, D., 2004. A Study into the Legal Framework for Marine Biotechnology Development in the United Kingdom, Report commissioned by the Foresight Marine Panel - Marine Biotechnology Group, sponsored by Defra. ISBN  0 906940 43 5

[2] DTI Innovation Report “Competing in the global economy: the innovation challenge” DTI. December 2003 URN 03/1607. Further information available at www.innovation.gov.uk.

Amplified Fragment length Polymorphism (ALP) on gel under fluorescence light