Aberdeen scientists to explore African seas for drug discoveries

Published: 9-Dec-2010
Research & Development

Research could lead to new treatments for cancer and MRSA

Scientists from Aberdeen’s Marine Biodiscovery Centre and the Division of Applied Medicine are to explore the seas off the coast of West Africa in research that could lead to the discovery of new treatments for diseases including cancer and MRSA.

A team will travel to Ghana next month to search the waters for unique marine organisms that could be used to develop new medicines.

The scientists hope to find previously undiscovered species of corals, sponges and sea squirts. They will examine these organisms for new molecules, bacteria and fungi, which could be used in the creation of new treatments for diseases prevalent in Africa – including tuberculosis and parasitic diseases such as malaria.

Professor Marcel Jaspars, director of the Marine Biodiscovery Centre, said: ‘Drug discovery work in West Africa has historically focused on land, investigating how molecules in plants can be used in the development of new medicines.

‘Our project marks the first time waters off the coast of West Africa have been explored to assess the diversity of marine organisms available in this area, and the potential they could harbour in the treatment of a number of diseases.’

Jaspars said the team would collect samples at low tide around the Gulf of Guinea and Guinea Basin, where they believe they will find new species.

The Aberdeen scientists will work with the University of Ghana during the trip, which marks the beginning of a three-year collaborative project between the two institutions.

The £1.6m Marine Biodiscovery Centre – which brings together chemists and biologists to work on the development of new pharmaceuticals from organisms from the depths of the world’s oceans – opened in June. It is one of only three in Europe dedicated to the exploration of the natural resources from our seas.

The project is funded by the Leverhulme Trust and co-ordinated by the Royal Society.

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