Marine Biotechnology

The state of North Carolina is recognized for its outstanding academic research institutions, supportive state government and agencies and health/bioscience industry drivers who have successfully contributed to the innovation economy.  The newly funded Marine Bio-Technologies Center of Innovation (MBCOI) will explore opportunities to develop new food, fuel and health products from the state’s rich Atlantic coast.

Considerable untapped potential exists in North Carolina for harvesting human, environmental and economic benefits from successful marine biotechnology development and commercialization opportunities. MBCOI will:

• Serve as the focal point of Marine Bio-Technologies in North Carolina.
• Engage public and private organizations in educational, scientific, and charitable purposes to accelerate the development and commercialization of Marine Bio-Technologies.
• Bring together marine based services and innovation to meet the needs of the COI’s customers and partners domestically and internationally.

MBCOI will be a sustainable, not-for-profit entity which will integrate marine biotechnology-based research, services, innovations, and entities to identify and meet market needs, create markets where none exist, accelerate commercialization of marine biotechnology research and development, and drive company creation and job growth for North Carolina. The MBCOI will be closely tied to academic marine science research centers throughout North Carolina and have offices located in both Wilmington, NC and in Morehead City/Beaufort, NC. MBCOI will serve as a catalyst in four strategic areas:

• Health – including drug discovery, nutraceutical, toxins, and anti-viral/bacterial/fungal.
• Energy – primarily biofuels – either ethanol-type or biodiesel from coastal and marine resources.
• Aquatic Food – novel  and emerging use of natural marine resources (i.e., nutraceutical, functional foods).
• Diagnostics – methods for detection/quantification including rapid approaches for quantification of coastal microbial pathogens and environmental contaminants.

The vision of MBCOI and its directors and staff is to serve as the focal point of North Carolina’s marine biotechnology interface to the world.

The MBCOI is guided by a board of directors.

Status: Phase II Funding

For More Information

Deborah A. Mosca, Ph.D.
Chief Executive Officer
(910) 962-3267
dmosca@mbcoi.net
www.mbcoi.net

Mailing address:
5600 Marvin K. Moss Lane
Wilmington, NC 28409

For general information about the COI program contact Mary Beth Thomas at (919) 541-9366.