The major challenge in developing marine cell lines is the need to obtain the freshest possible tissue samples for processing. The research vessel, Odyssey, pictured on the right, has completed a 5-year around-the-world voyage collecting marine samples in remote ocean locations. The boat has been refitted and is being prepared for its next voyage, which will focus on the Gulf of Maine, the Eastern seaboard of the United States and the Gulf of Mexico.

We have partnered with Ocean Alliance, a not-for-profit organization that owns and operates the Odyssey. We have built an on-board cell culture facility to allow us to develop cell lines on the boat while it is collecting specimens in those remote locations. This exciting new laboratory will be the only marine mammal cell culture laboratory at sea and for sure the only cell culture laboratory on a sailboat!