John Miller has developed
a natural marine product
that could act as an anti-
cancer drug.

Research conducted by Victoria University Professor John Miller has the potential to substantially change the future of cancer treatment - he's developing a natural New Zealand marine product as an anti-cancer drug.

The cell biologist will present his anti-cancer drug findings at his inaugural professorial lecture on 17 June 2008.

Professor Miller says peloruside—a natural product developed from sea sponges found in the Pelorus Sound—has great potential.

"It could be a fantastic anti-cancer drug for use during chemotherapy. At this stage New Zealand is the only known place that peloruside can be found, so scientists are working with us to find a way of synthesising the natural product. As soon as we have enough peloruside to conduct a clinical trial we will," he says.