From molecules to possibilities: Monica and Lars explore future medicines from the ocean

The ocean is full of chemical traces and biological signals that we still know too little about. In this lecture, UiB researchers Monica Jordheim and Lars Herfindal invite the audience to join them in the search for new marine molecules—from seaweed to organisms that live in the darkness of the deep sea. The research presents challenges: The substances are often found in small quantities in complex mixtures, can be unstable, and require advanced analyses to be isolated and understood. At the heart of the collaboration between Jordheim and Herfindal is bioguided screening, in which chemical fractions are tested for biological activity along the way. In this way, the activity serves as a compass in the detective work: signals point the researchers toward which molecules are worth pursuing further. This method makes it possible to link the ocean’s chemical diversity to concrete applications—from new bioactive compounds to technology and medicine.