University of New South Wales - BABS

The Centre originated in November 1994 as the result of the merging of the research programs of the Directors, Professor Staffan Kjelleberg and Associate Professor Peter Steinberg. From this initial collaboration, based on the integration of marine chemical ecology and microbiology, the CMBB has grown to include a diversity of research capabilities, with application to a number of industries.

The research platform of the Centre is based on understanding how chemical signals mediate the ecology, physiology and molecular biology of organisms, and the subsequent application of this knowledge to novel biotechnologies.

Major ongoing projects include:

Understanding the nature and growth of the ubiquitous biofilms that bacteria form on surfaces in aqueous environments and which are a major concern in industrial and medical applications.
Understanding biofouling on submerged surfaces as disparate as ship’s hulls and the infrastructure required for aquaculture.
Research on halogenated furanones from the Australian seaweed Delisea pulchra, the key lead agents against both biofilm development and marine fouling.