Rapid Growth Algae: An enabling technology to enhance algal growth and reduce algal production costs
Lead Research Organisation:
University of East Anglia
Department Name: Environmental Sciences
Abstract
We have discovered a novel gene that significantly accelerates the growth of commercially used microalgae. This novel gene offers the opportunity to grow algae faster without or limited addition of nutrients or increased light and therefore offers potential solutions to companies wishing to develop commercial algal strains, which save on algal growth costs. We have filed patent applications for the use of this novel gene. In order to take this technology to market we need to understand fully the market and develop a commercialisation and technical development plan. We seek funding from the NERC Pathfinder fund to commission market research and to work with our commercial partner to develop a robust commercialisation strategy.
People |
ORCID iD |
Thomas Mock (Principal Investigator) |
Publications
Zhang X
(2016)
Characterization of the Small RNA Transcriptome of the Marine Coccolithophorid, Emiliania huxleyi.
in PloS one
Jahn MT
(2014)
A novel cost effective and high-throughput isolation and identification method for marine microalgae.
in Plant methods
Hopes A
(2017)
Genome Editing in Diatoms Using CRISPR-Cas to Induce Precise Bi-allelic Deletions.
in Bio-protocol
Falciatore A
(2020)
Diatom Molecular Research Comes of Age: Model Species for Studying Phytoplankton Biology and Diversity.
in The Plant cell
Brodie J
(2017)
Biotic interactions as drivers of algal origin and evolution.
in The New phytologist
Brodie J
(2017)
The Algal Revolution.
in Trends in plant science
Basu S
(2017)
Finding a partner in the ocean: molecular and evolutionary bases of the response to sexual cues in a planktonic diatom.
in The New phytologist
Description | The commercial potential of our discovery. This award was very helpful in obtaining new insights into how our invention can be brought to the market. However, this knowledge was not sufficient to obtain a follow-on fund from NERC. |
Exploitation Route | By collaboration with industrial partners |
Sectors | Agriculture Food and Drink Energy |
Description | To prepare for an application to the Follow-on fund. We used this grant to do market research. This was a requirement for submitting a proposal to the follow-on fund. However, our follow-on fund proposal was not funded. The panel decided that more applied research is necessary to successfully commercialize our product. |
First Year Of Impact | 2014 |
Sector | Energy |
Impact Types | Economic |
Description | Increasing the potential of marine microeukaryotes as experimental model systems through the development of genetic tools. |
Amount | $321,872 (USD) |
Funding ID | 4961 |
Organisation | Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
Country | United States |
Start | 12/2015 |
End | 12/2017 |
Title | New transgenic algal cell line with enhanced growth |
Description | We genetically modified a diatom to enhance it's growth. This discovery/new method was used for filing a patent application (currently pending) |
Type Of Material | Cell line |
Year Produced | 2010 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
Impact | This is currently being tested also in collaboration with industrial partners. |
URL | http://www.google.com/patents/WO2012107780A1?cl=en |
Title | ENHANCER OF CELL DIVISION |
Description | The present invention relates to a polypeptide (BIG1) and variants thereof capable of enhancing the rate of cell- division of a microorganism or plant cell, as well as nucleic acid molecules encoding said polypeptides, vectors comprising said nucleic acid molecules and host cells transformed or transfected with said vectors and expressing said polypeptides. The BIG1 polypeptide which has been identified in the marine centric diatom Thalassiosira pseudonana, variants thereof and nucleic acids encoding these may be used in methods of enhancing the rate of cell- division of microorganisms, plant cells or plants which produce useful substances or exhibit useful properties, to increase the yield thereof. |
IP Reference | WO2012107780 |
Protection | Patent application published |
Year Protection Granted | 2012 |
Licensed | No |
Impact | We have started to collaborate with industry (e.g. Altenergis, Supreme Biotechnologies) to commercialize our product. |
Description | Supervise an iTeam activity related to this grant |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
Results and Impact | A team of 7 PGR students (iTeam) engaged with industry too see if there is potential for commercialization of our discovery. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2011,2012 |
URL | https://iteamsonline.org/an-innovation-to-significantly-accelerate-the-growth-of-algae/ |