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Marine Genomics Center of Economic Excellence
University collaborators: Medical University of South Carolina (fiscal agent) College of Charleston (collaborative partner) University of South Carolina (collaborative partner) About the Center: The Marine Genomics Center researches marine functional genomics and bioinformatics, which include analyzing physiological adjustments in animal and plant genetics that result from environmental changes. Genomics technology is an important tool for the South Carolina oyster and shrimp industries. The Center’s investors and collaborators include Hollings Marine Laboratory (HML), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources. In October 2008, the HML completed a 16,000-square-foot expansion, dedicating 2,000 square feet to the Cente for researchr. This Center sells diagnostic gene chips to the International Oyster Microarray consortium on a cost-recovery basis, raising the profile of the marine genomics group in the international community. As an international leader in this field, the Center has established the world’s only data- and tools-based marine genomics website. In 2007, the Center generated intellectual property based on a major discovery, with viable commercial possibilities, relating to RNA and viral infections in shrimp. The Center has partnered with two private companies, Shrimp Improvement Systems and Biogenmar, and is negotiating a formal relationship with a third company, Martek, to
test the antiviral effect of algae incorporated in shrimp diets. MUSC is also negotiating a Materials Transfer Agreement with Mt. Sinai Hospital (NYC), which uses shrimp clones to study immune mechanisms in humans. Since inception, the Center has received $6 million in federal and state grant funding. Funding level: SmartState Endowed Chairs:
MUSC Marine Genomics Endowed Chair Dr. Louis Guillette engaged in a project with NASA to examine potential health effects of contaminants: “We study the alligator as a sentinel species for ecosystem health and to give us warning if there is potential danger to humans working in the area.”
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