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Fish near a coral reef in the ocean

Strengthening Coral Reefs

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Ocean warming has caused destruction of up to half of the world’s coral reefs, but some corals have remained resistant to high temperatures. Finding the mechanism for that resistance could open a window to restoring reefs. This project uses a novel approach that alters coral physiology with a battery of drugs developed for cancer and cell technology research.

High throughput testing of thousands of chemicals using a new coral tissue model will pinpoint the cellular mechanisms that circumvent bleaching at high temperatures. Selection for those specific mechanisms in current populations of corals will help restore future reefs with enhanced heat tolerance.

Project: Strengthening coral reefs: Using cell technology and multi-drug screening to identify and use mechanisms of coral resistance to bleaching
Funding Source: Environmental Venture Projects
Funding Year: 2020
Research Areas: Oceans
Regions:

Research Team:
Stephen Palumbi (Biology),
Bo Wang (Bioengineering),
Yunzhi Peter Wang (Medicine)

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Stanford marine biologists, anthropologists, bioengineers, doctors, psychologists, economists, linguistic experts and others soon will collaborate on finding more efficient and effective ways to track marine animals and ocean health, ensure polluters comply with environmental laws, slow deforestation, improve agriculture and more.

Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment