Two research teams at the University of North Carolina Wilmington (UNCW) have been awarded grants totaling $2 million to advance coral conservation and restoration efforts.
Four UNCW faculty members have received grants from the Coral Research and Development Accelerator Platform (CORDAP), a global organization formed by 17 of the Group of Twenty (G20) nations. The grants, totaling $18 million, aim to fast-track research and development for coral conservation and restoration. The UNCW teams will focus on genetically engineering corals to withstand rising ocean temperatures and developing probiotic treatments to combat a devastating disease affecting Caribbean corals.
Genetically Engineered Coral
The first UNCW team, consisting of faculty members from the Department of Biology and Marine Biology and the Department of History, has been awarded nearly $1.5 million over three years. They will collaborate with researchers from the University of the Philippines to use cutting-edge genetic engineering technologies, such as whole-genome sequencing and CRISPR, to identify and insert specific genes into corals. This genetic modification aims to make the corals more tolerant to warmer waters, which pose a significant threat to their survival. The team is working to raise and spawn corals in captivity to produce a new generation of genetically modified corals.
Probiotics Protection
The second UNCW team, led by a Department of Biology and Marine Biology Assistant Professor, has received a grant of nearly $413,000 as part of a larger $1.5 million grant. The team is partnering with researchers from the Perry Institute of Marine Science, the University of Massachusetts Lowell, and various Colombian organizations to develop probiotic treatments for stony coral tissue loss disease (SCTLD). This disease is rapidly killing Caribbean corals, and currently, there is no treatment to prevent healthy corals from becoming infected. The CORDAP grant will fund a second probiotics testing site in the Caribbean, expanding the team’s efforts to develop solutions for SCTLD.
Ethical Considerations and Risk Assessment
As the UNCW teams work on genetically modifying corals and developing probiotic treatments, ethical considerations and risk assessments are crucial. Associate Professor Nathan Crowe, a historian from the Department of History, is tasked with assessing the potential risks of releasing genetically modified corals into the oceans. His work will inform policymakers on how to responsibly navigate this new technology. Crowe emphasizes the importance of considering ethical and environmental implications before the technology is fully developed.
Advancing Coral Probiotics Research
Assistant Professor Blake Ushijima, from the Department of Biology and Marine Biology, is leading several projects focused on coral probiotics research. These projects include participating in Revive & Restore’s Advanced Coral Toolkit program, collaborating with environmental groups in Montserrat to establish a non-U.S. site for coral probiotics testing, and building the Dominican Republic Marine Innovation Hub. The hub will support large-scale coral conservation and restoration efforts, including the establishment of coral nurseries and lab space.
Conclusion:
UNCW’s research teams are at the forefront of efforts to save the world’s endangered coral reefs. Through genetic engineering and probiotic treatments, they aim to enhance coral resilience and combat the devastating effects of rising ocean temperatures and diseases. However, ethical considerations and risk assessments are essential to ensure responsible development and deployment of these technologies. With the support of the CORDAP grants, UNCW is making significant strides in coral conservation and restoration, contributing to global efforts to protect these vital ecosystems.
Leave a Reply