EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES

Strategic Goal 5: Develop techniques, technologies, and new products based on marine systems for use in commercial and industrial applications, and to continue to apply low-cost technologies to coastal and marine resource problems.

In an increasingly competitive environment, industry spends billions of dollars each year on the research and development of new and better products, with increased attention given to “environmentally friendly” products, as well as “natural products.” This attention includes a growing focus on marine sources for these products. Such explorations have been enhanced by the development of state-of-the-art techniques in biotechnology.

Arising out of new developments in molecular biology and biochemical engineering, advances in biotechnology have allowed scientists to study biological phenomena as they apply to the manufacturing and service industries. Biotechnology research within the marine environment has focused on the effect of technological processes upon marine organisms and the effect of these organisms and their metabolites upon marine technologies. Marine biotechnology has already made significant contributions to the energy, food, pharmaceutical, biomaterial, and pollution control industries.

Several of the Consortium’s member institutions are uniquely positioned to address this goal owing to the research capabilities of these institutions and the diverse marine environment of South Carolina’s coast. To foster the development of emerging marine technologies, the Consortium’s goal in this program area is to develop techniques, technologies, and new products based on marine systems for use in commercial and industrial applications, and to continue to apply low-cost technologies to coastal and marine resource problems.

To meet this goal, the Consortium has identified the following objectives:

1. To develop and apply new technologies toward:

2. To develop low-cost technological applications to coastal resource opportunities such as aquaculture, erosion control, and soil and water remediation.

FY06-08 Priorities

Knowledge of the genetics of marine organisms through the use of innovative molecular techniques will yield important information about their phylogeny, evolution, disease, symbiosis, ecological adaptation, and physiology. This information will improve our ability to understand and manage complex systems, and could lead to breakthroughs in the treatment of human diseases. Marine animals and plants are subject to disease, parasitism, and tissue pathologies such as tumors, due to microbial agents or environmental stresses. The ecological and economic impacts of these diseases can be costly. The immunological response of marine species, particularly invertebrates, to disease agents is not well understood, nor is the impact of pollutants on the immune system. They also can serve as excellent models for human health. Therefore, research priorities in this area should focus on the investigation of disease processes.

For the FY06-08 biennium, the Consortium is seeking Concept Letters in the following areas:

• Characterize environmental factors controlling gene expression through the use of aquatic organisms as molecular models and development of new techniques in molecular biology.

• Development of gene probes or immunochemical agents for disease diagnosis.

• Production of molecular probes or biomarkers for assessing effects of environmental stressors on organisms.

Strategic Goal 6