EXPLORE SCIENCESNAPS

The nature of medical biochemistry

Listen to Marcel's podcasts

It might seem odd to go diving on a coral reef in search of cures for cancer, but its amazing what chemical compounds exist naturally in sea creatures – and some of these hold the key for medical breakthroughs for treating disease in people. Take, for example, sea squirts. Scientists have known for some time that some sea squirts contain a chemical that is effective in treating particular types of cancer (lymphoma) and we are researching how the chemical compound is produced, and how to reproduce it in a laboratory.

I have recently visited Fiji and collected new samples of sea creatures for my current research. Our team of researchers at Aberdeen University recently discovered that the chemicals we are interested in are actually produced by a bacteria that lives within the sea squirt. We are looking at the DNA of the sea creatures and hope to find out how to identify which species are host to the bacteria and how the chemical is actually produced.

My series of podcasts will take you on the journey from our laboratory in Aberdeen, out to Fiji and back again – the research is on-going, so this is real cutting-edge stuff! What do you think science sounds like now

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On 17 March	Nofate wrote...	Hmm.. its very useful information for me :)
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PROFILE

Professor Marcel Jaspars

Marine Natural Products Laboratory,
Department of Chemistry,
University of Aberdeen

I have been diving since I was 14 years old. I caught the bug on a holiday, where I was snorkelling all day long, captivated by the colourful fish, corals and sponges. As a chemistry PhD student I wanted to combine my love of marine life with my interest in chemistry.

I got the chance to investigate compounds produced by marine organisms for potential medical use by joining a research group in California, which was investigating anti-cancer compounds from the Indo-Pacific Ocean.

When I left this group to set up my own laboratory it was obvious to me that the discovery of new treatments for cancer can only come about by sharing ideas with many scientists: chemists, biologists, biochemists, pharmacologists, oncologists and many others.