Oxford Science Cafe’: Drugs from the Sea!

Photo by Justin Taylor

Join science enthusiasts at the Lusa Pastry Cafe’ on Jackson Avenue for our next Oxford Science Cafe’. Dr. Mark Slattery (University of Mississippi) will present “Treasures from the Sea: Drug Discovery in the Marine Environment.”

With emerging infectious diseases, drug-resistance, and the increase in non-communicable diseases as the baby-boomers age, there is an increased need to identify new and effective therapeutic agents. Oceans constitute 75% of the surface of our planet, yet drug discovery from marine organisms is still in its infancy relative to the search for natural products from terrestrial plant communities.

This Science Café will provide an overview of research conducted in Dr. Slattery’s lab including collection techniques, sourcing strategies, as well as future approaches. Evidence to date indicates that the marine environment represents a much more diverse source of chemical agents than terrestrial plants, which should translate into a greater number of potential pharmaceuticals or other biotechnological products.

However, as marine environments are damaged by increasing natural disasters and human activities there is a very real probability that these sources will be lost forever. Dr. Slattery will summarize some conservation efforts aimed at mitigating these potential losses.

When: Tuesday, September 17, 2013, 6pm – 7pm.

Where: Lusa Pastry Cafe’, 2305 West Jackson Avenue, Suite 211 Oxford, MS, 38655.

Cost: Free!

Oxford Science Cafe’: Monthly conversations about the science we know and the science we don’t know. Everyone is invited, and children are welcome! Like us on Facebook.

— Ole Miss News Desk