In the Dec. Issue of Genetic Engineering News, Susan Aldridge, Ph.D., discussed how Norway has been involved in using marine science in the development of several products (with 40 in clinical/preclinical development).

Now listen up researchers - David Newman, Ph.D., acting chief of the open and active repository programs at NCI's Natural Products Brnace, says that there is over 22,000 samples stored in 96-well plates, which are available FREE OF CHARGE to any researcher, "so long as they sign a letter that is intended to protect the interests of the counrtry of origin of the sample."
Through marine bioprospecting, they have discovered Vibrio salmonicida genome, which is a cold-adapted halophilic bacterium that is resopnsible fore a major fish disease. They are doing further research to look for cold-resistant enzymes (so far they have "cloned, expressed, and solved the 3-D structure of a catalase and and endonuclease").

Stein Ove Doskeland, Ph.D., of the University of Bergen has found that marine microorganisms are unexpectedly rich in antitumor and thrombosis-modulating agents. Some organisms from the bottom of the Baltic and Portuguese seawaters seem to produce compounds that induce apoptosis. The okadaic acid found by Doskeland's team have been found to cause death to cancer cells by apoptosis in a "similiar way to radiotherapy".

I think its time for us to jump on board with Norway and collaborate efforts in cancer research.

So, any scientists who are interested in doing some cancer research on marine life from Norway - get your free samples