Extracting added value from the Seaweed Industry - a search for novel anti-obesity agents

Seaweed farming is a developing industry in the UK, with the majority of the biomass being used for the extraction of high yield products for use as pharmaceutical and food ingredients, animal feed or as biofuels. Following high yield extractions, a significant amount (~75%) of the biomass remains un-used despite the fact that this material is rich in a variety of valuable chemicals that possess known biological activities. Although the full range of biological activity of these chemicals has not been explored in depth, several chemical groups found in seaweed prevent the uptake of lipid into fat cells and therefore seaweed extracts may be useful as high value nutritional supplements for the management of obesity. There is thus significant potential for increased valorisation of seaweed by exploiting what is currently an "un-tapped” source of valuable chemicals. The aim of the project is to determine the biological activity of seaweed extracts obtained by novel extraction methods, with a view to (i) identifying which extracts have potential as anti-obesity agents using C Elegans as a screening model, (ii) determining the mechanism of action in cultured adipocytes and (iii) working with the industrial partner to develop an extraction process to produce identified extracts at pilot.
This PhD Scholarship is a 4-year PhD funded through an IBioIC Collaborative Training Partnership (CTP). The IBioIC CTP training programme aims to ensure that students are fully equipped with both the commercial and technical skills required to meet the demanding needs of a career in biotechnology and to significantly contribute to the growth of the industry. Potential candidates are advised to visit the IBioIC CTP website (http://www.ibioic-ctp.com/) to familiarise themselves of what what is required as part of the programme.