Dr Sam Murray

I am a marine natural products chemist specialising in the discovery and analysis of bioactive metabolites produced from harmful algae, their accumulation in marine species, and their threat to human health. I have expertise in a wide range of microbiological and chemical techniques and have used state-of-the-art analytical instruments for discovering novel metabolites linked to ciguatera poisoning, discovering biomarker compounds that can be used as an early warning system for toxic microalgae blooms, to develop and validate a wide range of analytical methods to test for bioactive metabolites, and for structural characterisation. Concurrent to this, is the use of toxicological assays (in vivo and in vitro) to determine the potency and risk the novel metabolites pose. I am a Senior Scientist at Cawthron having 20 years experience in both research and commercial laboratories, am the Science Impact Leader for the Pacific, a cross-institute multi-disciplinary team focused on supporting resilient communities in the Pacific, and lead the chemistry section of the MBIE SSIF funded Seafood Safety research platform (CAWX1801; 2018-2026; $16.8 M). My research spans multiple national and international projects covering existing and emerging risks, for example ciguatera poisoning, to NZ, our Pacific neighbours, and other coastal nations around the world. I have presented on ciguatera in more than ten countries, have contributed to the development of the WHO and UN global ciguatera strategy and am listed as a NZ representative in the UN Codex on ciguatera. I am enthusiastic about helping our Pacific neighbours and have led several analytical laboratory capability and capacity building projects. The focus of these laboratories is to help improve public health and aid economic development via expanded/new trade agreements.