FAU - Marine Drug Discovery

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Tues, May 22 VIP Tour for HBOI/Members & Guests-Reservations required. 9:30am-11:30am. Meet at the Ocean Discovery Center at 9:30am. Join us for a morning of shoreline discovery on the Indian River Lagoon.

Wed, May 23 at 7pm

The Other Side of Harbor Branch: Conservation on the Scrub Ridge
Presented by Dr. Jon Moore
Wilkes Honors College, Florida Atlantic University

About the Lecture
Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution was established in 1971 along the shoreline of the Indian River Lagoon. Large tracts of land were purchased at the inception of HBOI, but have remained relatively undisturbed since then. As the east coast of Florida has continued to develop over the decades, this undisturbed land at HBOI has become a de facto nature preserve. One particularly endangered habitat preserved along the west side of HBOI's property is Atlantic Coastal Ridge scrub. This presentation will describe research on and conservation of the endangered plants and animals found in scrub habitat.

Johnson Education Center, Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute at Florida Atlantic University, 5600 US 1 North, Fort Pierce, FL. Telephone 772-242-2506.

Tues, June 5 Eco-Boat Trip-departs from Harbor Branch’s Johnson Ed Center. Take a trip aboard the pontoon boat “Gator” to see birds, dolphins, turtles, manatees, and more. Departing 10:30am with lunch on the water from Harbor Branch’s Link Port Café, and return by 1pm. $40 pp. for members of the Friends; $50 pp. for nonmembers. Reservations required. Call (772) 242-2559 for information and reservations.

Wed, June 13 Gilbert’s Bar House of Refuge, Stuart, FL. 9 am till 1 pm. Meet at the Ocean Discovery Center to carpool down Hutchinson Island to the only house of refuge remaining of the ten built along the Treasure Coast at a time when sailing ships dominated world commerce. Enjoy a VIP tour of the original building and stories of historic shipwrecks by the keeper, Jim McCormick, and picnic lunch (included) on the porch overlooking the Atlantic Ocean and the Underwater Archaeological Preserve. Return after lunch. $20 pp. members; $25 pp. nonmembers. Reservations required. Call (772) 242-2559 for information and reservations.

Sat, June 23 Hot Dog Party and Book Signing. Ocean Discovery Center, 11am-1pm. Professor Clark The Science Shark is a new children’s book inspired by Harbor Branch’s own scientist and explorer Dr. Brian LaPointe. The authors will be on hand, along with Harbor Branch scientists and representatives from Shark Savers and COAST (Coastal Ocean Association of Science & Technology), to sign books and answer questions. $5 donation includes hot dog, soda and chips. Proceeds to “Feed the Fish.” Call (772) 242-2559 for information.

Wed, June 27 VIP Tour for HBOI/Members & Guests-Reservations required. 9:30am-11:30am. Meet at the Ocean Discovery Center at 9:30am. Explore special spots on campus. Call (772) 242-2559 for information and reservations. Open to the public this summer as space allows.

Thurs, July 12 Chill at the Johnson Education Center and watch Dolphin Tale. 1pm-3pm. This 2011 family film was inspired by the true story of “Winter,” a bottlenose dolphin that was rescued in 2005 off the Florida coast. Stephen McCulloch of HBOI’s Marine Mammal Research and Conservation Program will introduce the film and talk about marine mammal rescue in Florida. Free admission. Hot dogs and popcorn available. Call (772) 242-2559 for information.

Wed, July 18 VIP Tour for HBOI/Members & Guests-Reservations required. 9:30am-11:30am. Meet at the Ocean Discovery Center at 9:30am. Explore special spots on campus. Call (772) 242-2559 for information and reservations. Open to the public this summer as space allows.

Sat, July 21 Bioluminescent Kayak Tour at Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. Dinner at Dixie Crossroads (on your own). Depart Cracker Barrel near junction of Route #60 and I-95 (the outlet mall of Vero Beach) at 4:30pm. Return around midnight. During the warm summer months the waters of the Indian River Lagoon come alive with bioluminescence. Tiny dinoflagellates make the water light up and speeding fish become underwater fireworks. Then, huge schools of flying mullet make your evening one you will never forget! $35 pp for kayak trip. Call (772) 242-2559 for information and reservations.

Tues, July 24 Special Friends’ Project. 11am-1pm. $20 pp. members; $40 pp. nonmembers (lunch included). Only 48 seats available. Small group VIP venue with Dr. Shirley Pomponi presenting a talk about Undersea Exploration: Past, Present, and Future. Dr. Pomponi is an ocean explorer who has led numerous research expeditions worldwide and has made more than 300 dives in Harbor Branch’s Johnson-Sea-Link submersibles. She will speak about manned and unmanned submersibles, her current research at Harbor Branch, and notable deep sea accomplishments. Her talk will be followed by a buffet lunch in the Johnson Education Center Gallery prepared by Harbor Branch’s Link Port Café. Call (772) 242-2559 for information and reservations.

Tues, July 31 Eco-Boat Trip-departs from Harbor Branch’s Johnson Ed Center. Take a trip aboard the pontoon boat “Gator” to see birds, dolphins, turtles, manatees, and more. Departing 10:30am with lunch on the water from Harbor Branch’s Link Port Café, and return by 1pm. $40 pp. for members of the Friends; $50 pp. for nonmembers. Reservations required. Call (772) 242-2559 for information and reservations.

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Marine Drug Discovery

The Mission of the Center for Marine Biomedical and Biotechnology Research (CMBBR) is to harness the power of marine biotechnology to improve the human condition through the discovery of better drugs, alternative fuels and industrial chemicals.

Since the mid-1980's CMBBR scientists have conducted expeditions using the research vessel Seward Johnson and the sophisticated research submersible Johnson-Sea Link to collect marine invertebrates, microorganisms, and algae. CMBBR maintains a collection of approximately 32,000 invertebrate samples and 17,000 marine microorganisms. CMBBR scientists obtain novel compounds from these organisms to be used in their drug discovery program. Microorganisms are also studied for their potential biotechnological uses through the development of production methods for alternative fuels and industrial chemicals from renewable resources.

CMBBR consists of a natural products chemistry group, a cell biology group and a microbiology group that work together to elucidate the potential benefit for humankind of these compounds. CMBBR is at the forefront in the discovery of biologically active natural products from deep-sea marine organisms. To date, the group has found over 250 compounds exhibiting anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer or anti-microbial effects.

CMBBR obtains grant support from NOAA, NIH and private sources, which allows one or two research expeditions each year. Follow-up research is directed by the source of funding. If you wish to support this research, your tax-deductible contributions will support work at sea collecting new and promising marine species, laboratory screening and testing chemical compounds for medicinal purposes, and developing novel bio-fuels.