UK Trade and Investment

Role & Services - ITT & Overseas

Teams
BIA regional workshop
Cambridge
United Kingdom Trade & Investment
UK Strengths in Marine Biotechnology
UK & Portugal: New Techniques to Develop the Potential of
Ocean Resources
Lisbon, March 18
th
, 2008
Dr J B Iain Cloughley,
Global Business Development Consultant
UKTI is a government agency set up to promote the interests of UK
companies trading with other nations.
UKTI also encourages other nations to invest in UK to benefit from
UKs renowned R&D infrastructure, its established biotech
manufacturing base, its position as the Gateway to Europe, and
the strength of the City of London as one the worlds foremost
financial centres.
UKTI has representation in just about every UK Embassy,
Consulate and High Commission throughout the world. Please
contact us to find out about how UKTI can help you and your
company invest and develop in the UK bio-economy
What is UKTI and What Do We Do?
UK Marine Biotech & Aquaculture
As an island nation, UK has exploited the seas
for many years.
New imperative: marine resources must be
optimally utilised.
In the biotech era, UK scientists and
companies have been bioprospecting and
have discovered and developed a range of:
pharmaceuticals.
diagnostic reagents.
extremophile enzymes.
nutritional supplements.
biomaterials with novel properties.
UK: Rich Marine Environments
UK surrounded by several
different seas with different
characteristics, creating a
myriad of environmental
niches.
Huge range of organisms;
both micro- and macro-.
Established tradition of
harvesting the seas.
Developing sustainable
systems for realising the full
potential of marine
resources.
Marine or Blue Biotech
Existing global market for products over US$3 billion.
Enzymes: e.g. extreme thermophiles from Thermal Vent
organisms mediates PCR which underpins DNA
amplification, finger-printing, the Human Genome Project
Anticancer agents: e.g. Ara-C from a Caribbean sponge
Antimicrobial agents: e.g. actinomycete actives against
MRSA and other resistant pathogens
Bioluminescent agents: biosensors for analytical,
clinical, and environmental monitoring and control
Aquaculture: one of the worlds most rapidly growing
food producing industries: salmon farming earns over
US$2 billion for Scottish economy; vast potential for
other species including cod.
UK Strengths in Marine Biotechnology
Marine
Biotechnology
Aquaculture
Tissue
Engineering
Environment
Technology
Oncology
Enzymes
Immunology
Antibiotics
Research on Algal Derivatives as Anti-Viral,
Anti-Bacterial and Anti-Cancer Agents
Algae
Extraction
Techniques
Biomedical
Assays
Extract Library
Pre-clinical Tests
Compounds
Biologicals
Products
&
Services
Research Institutes and
Bioprospecting Companies
Collaboration with Pharma Industry
Research on Marine Collagen in Cartilage
Repair
cell compatible
porous structure for
optimal chondrocyte
adhesion
vital chondrocytes
strong autologous
collagen expression
Marine collagen
bioscaffold:
Bioscaffold
Chondrocytes
in bioscaffold
Research on Collagen from Marine Invertebrates
in Wound Healing
UK Aquaculture
The success of aquaculture has been spectacular - in
one generation aquaculture has done what animal
husbandry on land has achieved in 10,000 years.
The UK now earns significant revenue from selling
aquaculture technology, services and know how.
Fish produced by aquaculture is set to exceed that from
fisheries.
This has created problems in terms of feed supply and
in the safe disposal of processing waste.
Developing sustainability and more effective utilisation
of resources is essential and UK companies are in the
forefront of this movement.
Sustainable aquaculture is the best hope for feeding a
hungry world especially in tropical countries, where
herbivorous freshwater species are being successfully
utilised in integrated systems. UK research institutes
and companies are committed to this development.
Sustainable Mariculture:
Farmed Seaweed for the Cosmetic and Food Industries
Over 50 long-established marine research institutes and
university departments, with a tradition of industrial
collaboration and commercial enterprise
The Scottish Association for Marine Sciences (1884): novel
natural products from marine bacteria. Bio-emulsions and bio-
surfactants for healthcare, pharmaceuticals and food products.
Hosts the European Centre for Marine Biotechnology and
the Culture Collection of Algae & Protozoa, a unique
resource with over 2,000 strains across 475 genera.
Plymouth Marine Laboratory: marine viruses of microalgae
and bacteria; cell signalling and nutrient uptake in biofilms and
biofouling; bacterial-trace metal interactions.
Marine Biological Association has had 7 Nobel Laureates
Strong and Established R&D Excellence
Examples of UK Marine
Biotechnology Companies
Aquapharm Bio-Discovery: bioprospecting for novel anti-bacterials in marine
compounds;have discovered potential solution to MRSA infection. Developed
bacterial production systems for carotenoids, including astaxanthin (used to colour
salmon).
Integrin Advanced Biosystems Ltd: have established seafood safety and
shellfish toxin testing techniques. Developing enabling technologies in
bioprospecting, data mining and product characterisation.
Knight Scientific Ltd: developed and commercialised bioluminescent compound
extracted from Pholas dactylus and produces highly sensitive test kits for clinical
use and for use in the nutritional supplement, food and cosmetic industries.
Seven Seas: developed and commercialised first drug approval for a marine fish
oil product for the treatment of coronary heart disease.
Laxdale/Amarin: developing Omega-3 pharmaceutical products for the treatment
of Huntingtons Disease, Unresponsive Depression and similar conditions.
Ocean Biotechnologies Ltd: extracting Omega-3 oils and high-value protein and
polypeptide products from fish and shellfish processing waste streams.
Marine Resource Management: harvesting algal biomass from open ocean
plantations for the production of biofuels.
BioVault Ltd: cryopreservation of biological tissues by protection with compounds
extracted from Arctic microorganisms.
Examples of Aquaculture/Biotech Companies
Landcatch Natural Selection: uses genetic tools to improve growth,
survival and harvesting of fish.
Aquatic Diagnostics: develops and commercialises monoclonal
antibodies to monitor pathogens and improve fish health.
Kames: designs equipment for aquaculture production systems for a
wide variety of species; supplies complete turnkey production
packages.
Fusion Marine: advises, designs, supplies and installs all technology
related to setting up or expanding fish farms.
Stirling Aquaculture: consultancy group with well established
expertise in the design of production systems and all aspects of fish
farming all over the world.
Seabait Ltd: supplies polycheate marine worms and production
systems for specialised feeds for the immature stages of the farmed
fish production cycle.
Companies with expertise in non-salmonoids: Johnsons Sustainable
Seafoods for cod; Aquabella Group for barramundi; Selonda UK
for sea bass; etc.