In the last week I was approached by Dr Viji Sarojini (details below) to partake in screening novel antimicrobial peptides (see attached PDFs for the proposal as it stands now and a paper on the peptides).

It seemed that it would be better to be involved ("be in')  than to 'be out'. The Smart Idea fund is run in a two-stage process similar to the Marsden and will probably have a similar success rate (<10%). The project would check some peptides (about 5) against methanogens in culture and in rumen in vitro assays. If these experiments are successful, then the project may some developmentg of a capsule technology for sustained release. My involvement is minor.

The attached proposal is a draft version. No protozoa work will be undertaken, and it is unclear whether it would actually go an animal trial or wheer it can all be accomplished in rumen in vitro assays. 

Dr Viji Sarojini
Senior Lecturer
School of Chemical Sciences
The University of Auckland
Private Bag 92019, Auckland 1142 
NEW ZEALAND
e-mail: v.sarojini@auckland.ac.nz
tel.: +64-9-373-7599 x 83387; DDI +64-9-923-3387;  fax: +64-9-373-7422
https://unidirectory.auckland.ac.nz/people/profile/v-sarojini
