| MMS ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES PROGRAM: ONGOING STUDIES | ||||||
| MMS OCS Region: | Pacific | |||||
| Title: | Advancing Marine Biotechnology: Use of OCS Platforms as Sustainable Sources of Marine Natural Products (PC-00-02-10) | |||||
| Actual Costs: | $973,765 | Period of Performance: | FY 1999-2004 | |||
| Conducting Organization: | Coastal Marine Institute, University of California, Santa Barbara-Santa Barbara, CA (Contact: Wilson) | |||||
| MMS Contact: | Dr. Fred Piltz | |||||
| Description: | ||||||
| Background | ||||||
| The presence of plant and animal invertebrate fouling communities on OCS oil and gas platforms in the Santa Barbara Channel adjacent to a world class research institute at the University of California Santa Barbara provides a unique research opportunity for scientists at the University who are investigating the biological potential of marine natural compounds. Results in academic and private research labs over the past few years have demonstrated the untapped potential for using natural compounds produced by marine organisms in a wide variety of human applications. These include anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory treatments as well as bioadhesive applications. | ||||||
| Objectives | ||||||
| The goal of this study is to study the distribution, demographics, and genetics of selected marine organisms present in the fouling communities that naturally occur on offshore oil and gas platforms. Organisms are selected for their known or possible potential to contain compounds of interest to a variety of inflammatory or immuno-suppressant cellular mechanisms. Comparisons will be made between organisms collected from a variety of platforms in a variety of locations and between organisms from platforms and natural reefs. Oil and gas platforms may eventually provide a renewable source of material for this type of research and human application without needing to collect from natural habitats thus preserving biodiversity and populations of marine organisms. | ||||||
| Methods | ||||||
| This study will use state of the art methods in genetic markers to estimate population affinities and characterize the genetic diversity within and among local populations of fouling marine organisms. It employs techniques of isolating compounds of interest and investigating the mechanisms of action on sensitive microtubule cellular actions. | ||||||
| Importance to MMS | ||||||
| This information is of value to MMS in possible future decisions with regard to the decommissioning of oil and gas platforms in the Pacific OCS. In addition, the information provided by this research might be a factor in the periodic cleaning of platforms as required by MMS. | ||||||
| Current Status: | ||||||
| Waiting for final report. | ||||||
| Final Report Due: | 2/1/2007 | |||||
| Publications: | ||||||
| Affiliated WWW Sites: | The Coastal Marine Institute | |||||
| Revised date: | November 28, 2006 | |||||
| ESPIS |
ESPIS - All completed
ESP Studies: |
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