The state-of-the-art, research-to-product building for MARBIONC will house a marine biotechnology research programe in support of economic development for North Carolina.
The MARBIONC programme focuses on the application of marine biotechnology to food, health and energy.
Research areas include drug discovery based on compounds from marine organisms, detection technologies for both human-origin marine pollutants and biotoxins from microorganisms, algae farming for biofuels and mariculture (marine aquaculture).
The programe's economic development mission includes workforce development, and it offers a unique "business of marine biotechnology" postdoctoral training programme to allow marine scientists to combine laboratory training with study toward a masters degree in business administration.
The 69,000 square-foot (6,410 square-metre) MARBIONC facility will include 12 laboratories and three large incubator laboratories for cultured research materials, as well as offices and meeting spaces.
Research at the new MARBIONC facility will support the mission interests of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in oceans and human health, marine ecosystems and aquaculture as well as NIST mission interests in new detection and measurement technologies.
The facility, which will cost a total of $29,960,000, is expected to be completed by summer 2011.
Marine Biotechnology Facility Destined for Carolina
CAROLINA, US - A new marine biotechnology facility at the University of North Carolina Wilmington's Center for Marine Sciences is to receive a grant from the National Institute of Standards and Technology.
