Cuba
Duration
2022-2027
Lead institutions
Universiteit Antwerpen
Universidad de La Habana
Academic partners
Wim Vanden Berghe
José Alfredo Herrera
Project status
Ongoing
Programme
TEAM
Total budget
299,945.80
Summary
Due to global warming and increased sun exposure, skin cancer has a high incidence and increasing prevalence within the Cuban population. An extract obtained from the local marine plant Thalassia testudinum, rich in polyphenols, has shown effective photoprotection properties and antitumor activity against skin cancer. Until now, the extract production implicates the collection of the species from its natural habitat. However, such approach may endanger biodiversity and eco-sustainability as T. testudinum (known as turtle paste) nurtures other species and plays a central role in the coral reef-seagrass-mangrove ecosystem, which in turn protects the dune from extreme weather events, the coastal communities and the archipelago itself. To preserve the environment, ecological alternatives will be developed for efficient production of secondary metabolites facilitated by abiotic elicitors via bioreactor, tissue culture and plant biotechnology. The obtained biomolecules will next be conjugated to nanostructures to promote synergistic biological effects and to increase therapeutic efficacy. Altogether, environmental friendly and eco-sustainable production strategies will be developed for novel safe and effective pharmaceutical formulations from T. testudinum applicable in the prophylaxis of skin cancer, a serious health problem in Cuba.
The overall goal is to strengthen training of gender balanced male and female researchers and build up institutional infrastructure capacities in blue (marine) and green (plant) biotechnology applications to improve health of the Cuban population and to stimulate sustainable eco-friendly circular bio-economy in Cuba.
The uptake and outreach of the solutions here achieved may improve international visibility of local institutions, reinforcing global citizenship while education, access to scientific advancement and its benefits, health and human welfare (basic human rights) are improved.
