Valbiomar
Valbiomar is a joint project with partners from the Atlantic Area (Galicia, Canarias, Scotland, Brittany-Pays de la Loire-Poitou - Charentes, Portugal). This projects is concerned with the activities of commercial fishing and the biological waste from such activities. Valbiomar aims to develop, and share research technologies in order to develop the biotechnological exploitation of marine resources to be used by Atlantic industries.
The creation of such an Atlantic inter-regional platform for technology transfer and communication close to SME's ensures the transfer of information and training for SME's and the seafood industry.
This project will help and enable the emergence of diversification and thereby the development of new products in the sectors of nutrition, health and cosmetics.
For further information concerning this project please visit the website.
Project Dates: Jan 2004-Dec 2007



Biocapital
The Biocaptial project is part of the Marie Curie Research Training Network (MCRTN). The project's full title is: Cope with the Challenges and Opportunities of the 21st Century: Integrated Basic and Applied Training in Success-orientated Bioprospecting.
The MCRTN, Biocaptial project offers 2 candidates the opportunity to undertake a PhD thesis for the duration of 36 months. Integrin will host 2 PhD students under the Biocapital project, for 18 months of the full 36 month period.
Project Dates: Jan 2005-Dec 2009



Safe-C
Safe-C is a web-based solution for managing quality seafood throughout the supply-chain. The Safe-C project has its roots in the Scottish mussel industry, although our vision recognises that mussels are a microcosm of the global seafood industry.
The Safe-C project was conceived by Integrin, the founding consortium also includes Scottish Shellfish Marketing Group (SSMG) and Yakara plc.
Safe-C is intended to be 'for the industry, by the industry' and we warmly welcome and encourage participation. If you would like to become involved then please get in touch.
Registration is free, and open to anyone with an interest in Quality Seafood, for more information visit the website.
Project Dates: Ongoing

BiotoxMarin
Integrin's role in the BiotoxMarin project is the development of novel analytical tools for the detection of marine biotoxins. This will include the development of novel screening methods, genetic approaches and target validation studies. For more information regarding this project please contact Carole Shellcock.
Project Dates: Jan 2005-Dec 2008

Shellfish

Static
Project Dates: Feb 2002-Jan 2007

FSA Backwash
The Backwash project will investigate the cause of the atypical response in the mouse bioassay for lipophilic biotoxins (DSP-MBA). Integrin will investigate this atypical response as well as examine the potential effect of changing the backwash volume on the retention of lipophilic biotoxins in the extract.
Project Completed.



NERC SBRI
'Rapid identification of toxic algae: developing a service using molecular probes'. The occurance of toxic algae in the marine environment is linked to harmful algal blooms and shellfish poisoning events worldwide. Monitoring algal populations is carried out by microscopy, in an effort to predict when toxic events may occur, but these survreys are time consuming and taxonomically challenging. Both the regulatory body (the FSA) and industy, want to make better use of algal monitoring, but this is inhibited by the cost and low throughput of traditional methods. This proposal seeks to develop methods for the rapid identification of toxic algal strains in UK waters, using strain specific ribosomal gene sequences and PCR detection, to provide a toxic algae monitoring to the shellfish industry and its regulators. For further information visit the NERC website.
Project Dates: Oct 2004-Sept 2006

EU PSP
Project Completed.