Pacific Research Center for Marine Biomedicine

Pacific Research Center for Marine Biomedicine (PRCMB) at the University of Hawaii

Dr. Edward A. Laws, Center Director
University of Hawaii, School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology

Dr. Gary K. Ostrander, Co-Director
Interim Dean, John A. Burns School of Medicine
Vice Chancellor for Research, University of Hawaii

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Pacific Research Center for Marine Biomedicine

The health and welfare of humans residing in the coastal zone and on small islands are inextricably linked to the ocean environment. During the past 25 years, a dramatic global resurgence of water-borne diseases and harmful algal blooms has occurred, particularly in the tropical Asia-Pacific region. At the same time, the diversity and abundance of novel compounds produced by marine organisms with potential utility as therapeutic agents or pharmacological probes in biomedicine have become increasingly apparent. In response to the urgent regional need to more effectively prevent water-borne diseases and control harmful algal blooms, as well as in response to our unique island setting and strategic geographic location to mine the virtually untapped ocean environment, the Pacific Research Center for Marine Biomedicine (PRCMB) has been established. PRCMB is one of four Centers on Ocean and Human Health (COHH), a program funded by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences.

PRCMB In The News

Features

PRCMB (1) NSF CLOSEOUT report
OHH Joint Annual Mtg Presentations Are In
Publications
Project Summaries are here:
Reports

Research Cores

Project 1: Ciguatera - Dinoflagellate Nutrient Profile and Ecology, Rapid Detection Methods, and Human Health.
Paul K. Bienfang, Ph.D.

Project 2: Microbial Pathogens in Tropical Coastal Waters: An Ecosystem Approach to Determine Risk and Prevent Water-Borne Diseases.
Roger Fujioka, Ph.D.

Project 3: Pharmaceutical Lead and Pharmacological Probe Discovery.
Thomas Hemscheidt, Ph.D.

Pilot Program: Carrying out exploratory research that complements the three major projects or addresses gaps in the scientific agenda.
Gary K. Ostrander, Ph.D.

Facilities: Supporting the research with a microbial culture and characterization facility.
Robert R. Bidigare, Ph.D.