Climate Change, Natural Products, and Human Health
Learning objectives
At the completion of this activity, the participant will be able to:
- Describe the ongoing role of natural products in both the generation of drugs as well as health risks
- Recognize examples of disease promotion in the area of cancer and neurodegeneration, including food and water contamination by HAB toxins
- Explain the challenges that climate change may create in some forms of disease, including cancer and neurodegeneration
- Identify the economic benefits of promoting renewable energy forms
Mark T. Hamann, Ph.D.
Dr. Mark T. Hamann serves as the Charles and Carol Cooper/SmartState Endowed Chair of Drug Discovery, Biomedical Sciences and Public Health at the MUSC College of Pharmacy. He also holds adjunct appointments with The University of Maryland’s Institute of Marine and Environmental Technology and the Bigelow Marine Laboratory in Maine.
Dr. Hamann began his career in GMP pharmaceutical manufacturing at Solvay Pharmaceuticals in Baudette, Minnesota and then completed a Ph.D. degree in organic chemistry at the University of Hawaii, under the guidance of the late professor Paul J. Scheuer. During his graduate studies he discovered the lead anticancer agent, kahalalide F which entered clinical trials with the help of the biotech company PharmaMar. Dr. Hamann completed postdoctoral studies with professor Bill Baker at McMurdo Station in Antarctica and then spent 20 years as a faculty member and natural products researcher at The University of Mississippi School of Pharmacy where his team worked on the synthetic optimization of natural products including CBD and THC.
During his research career, Dr. Hamann has published over 200 scientific papers, reviews, book chapters and guided over 100 graduate students/postdoctoral fellows and visiting scholars.
Dr. Hamann currently serves as an associate editor for Biochimica et Biophysica Acta, General Subjects. His group is actively involved in the isolation, structure determination and optimization through synthesis of natural products and toxins with a focus on plant and invertebrate microbiomes. His group is currently working on the preclinical development of a small pipeline of natural products with activity against cancer, emerging infectious diseases and neuropsychiatric disorders.
The University of South Carolina College of Pharmacy is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education as a provider of continuing pharmacy education. This knowledge-based activity is accredited for a total of two live contact hours (0.2 CEUs) for pharmacists (ACPE UAN 0062-9999-18-157-L04-P). To claim credit, participants must sign in at the beginning of the activity and attend the entire session. No partial credit will be issued. Participants must complete an online evaluation within 30 days (providing their correct NABP e-profile number and day/month of birth) in order to have credit reported to the NABP CPE Monitor (evaluation instructions will be provided at the time of program completion). Any credit claimed and reported more than 60 days from the date of the program will not be accepted by the CPE Monitor.