orcarex Bio Corporation (NBC) initiated a new SBIR Phase I project in May on the feasibility of an innate immunity-based test to monitor the health of channel catfish. Channel catfish is America's top aquacultured product with a current farm-gate value of more than $350 million nationally and $4.13 million in North Carolina alone. The project is supported by the US Department of Agriculture with $75,000 for six months. As in higher animals, innate immunity serves as the first line of defense against infectious agents but in general plays a much more important role in aquatic animals. These defense molecules (peptides and proteins) exhibit broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity against animal and human pathogens and have properties that are ideal for a host of applications. 

NBC is a start-up, technology-development company dedicated to the exploitation of these innate defense molecules. These and other defense molecules have been the focus of Professor Edward J. Noga's pioneering research and discoveries at North Carolina State University (NCSU). NBC's foundation is built on the basic research conducted by him and his students during the past decade. NBC is focusing its efforts primarily on aquatic animal health (diagnostics) to develop simple, rapid, field/farm tests based on innate immunity that will accurately assess the health status (i.e., stress) of economically significant aquatic species.  Disease is the major cause of economic losses in channel catfish aquaculture.  Having a means to rapidly and accurately detect the level of stress in catfish populations would be a highly valuable tool since it would warn the farmer when management changes need to be implemented before a catastrophic disease loss occurred. 

Dr. Noga first came to the Small Business and Technology Development Center (SBTDC) for assistance as a result of his attendance at a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) conference held in Research Triangle Park. There he met the SBTDC's SBIR specialist, John Ujvari. John later reviewed Dr. Noga's SBIR Phase 1 proposal and provided critique that helped him obtain USDA funding for the project. "John's knowledge of the SBIR program was helpful to give us a better insight into the essentials," Dr. Noga noted.

Following SBIR feasibility testing and prototype development, NBC plans to commercialize this test through a larger strategic partner or possibly by itself NBC plans to commercialize this test through a larger strategic partner or possibly by itself.  Such a test could save tens of millions of dollars each year by preventing disease losses.  The application of this revolutionary technology is expected to eventually extend to all aquacultured food fish, as well as health monitoring in pet fish, laboratory animals and wild fish populations (ecosystem monitoring).

Dr. Heather Callahan, a recent NCSU graduate, serves as principal investigator. For more information, contact either Dr. Edward J. Noga or Dr. Oskar R. Zaborsky at Norcarex Bio Corporation, 2501 Blue Ridge Road, Suite 150, Raleigh, NC 27607 (919.863.4131).

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