I forward to the list an unusual request i received from someone
apparently not realizing that the .ca in my email address stands for
"Canada".  While it is on the commercial side, it is also regarding
valid and useful research, so i don't think it really breaks the list's
rules that severely.  Hopefully someone can assist Ms. Gretchen in her pursuit.

-JR.

Subject:                              shells/sea snails
                 Date:                              Mon, 19 Aug 2002
13:31:38 -0600
                From:                              "Gretchen Eagle" <[log in to unmask]>
  Organization:                              Cognetix, Inc.
                     To:                              <[log in to unmask]>
Dear Sir or Madam:

My name is Gretchen Eagle and I am a Research Scientist for Cognetix.
Cognetix is a privately held biopharmaceutical company based in the
University of Utah Research Park  in Salt Lake City, Utah.  Cognetix is
developing therapeutics for numerous disease indications based on
research in marine natural products.

Cognetix’s most advanced product research and development efforts are
based on ‘conopeptides’, which are peptides derived from the venom of
the Conus genus of predatory sea snails.  Diseases under study include,
among others, epilepsy, stroke and severe pain.  Several of our
conopeptide-based compounds are in the mid to late pre-clinical stages
of development.  Cognetix is the exclusive licensee of the University of
Utah and the Salk Institute regarding substantially all of the
‘conopeptide’ technology currently being developed here. We work closely
with the University of Utah, particularly in areas of research and development.

In order to facilitate ongoing research, Cognetix is seeking new sources
of live Conus snails.  Typically, these snails have been obtained for us
by scuba divers, photographers and others who are familiar with the
snails and their habitat.  I learned about your interest in shells from
a review of numerous web sites, and would like to know if you would be
interested in exploring the possibility of supplying snails for
Cognetix. Suppliers must be familiar with Conus snails, and would be
responsible for collecting and shipping the live snails to Cognetix.
Cognetix has a reasonable compensation schedule for Conus snail
collection services.

Please visit our website, http://www.cognetix.com for more information
about the  research we are conducting.  If you have any questions or
would like to learn more about this opportunity, please e-mail me at
[log in to unmask], or call me at 801 581 0400 X 222.

Even if you are not interested in supplying snails for us yourself, if
you know of someone who may be interested, we would greatly appreciate
it if you would advise them of our interest and put them in touch with me.

We look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,

Gretchen M. Eagle

Gretchen Eagle
Research Associate II
Cognetix, Inc.
421 Wakara Way
Suite 201
Salt Lake City, UT 84108
Ph 801-581-0400 x222
Fax 801-581-9555