Blue Biobank is excited to highlight a significant publication in the journal Marine Drugs, authored by Calado et al., which underscores the crucial role of biobanks, living coral displays, and research laboratories as alternative sources for accessing coral chemodiversity. As traditional bioprospecting in natural coral reefs becomes increasingly constrained by ethical, environmental, and logistical challenges, this research presents a compelling case for controlled, ex situ environments to support biodiscovery efforts.
The study emphasizes how biobanks serve as vital repositories of biological material—such as coral tissues, cells, and genetic information—that can be used to study bioactive compounds without the need to extract them directly from vulnerable reef ecosystems. These resources, including living displays and lab-cultured corals, provide more stable, replicable, and sustainable settings to investigate and potentially scale up the production of valuable metabolites.
This work is especially timely as tropical coral reefs face unprecedented threats from climate change and habitat degradation. By leveraging the infrastructure and knowledge embedded in biobanks, the scientific community can help safeguard the chemical diversity of corals and accelerate the discovery of new compounds for use in medicine, biotechnology, and beyond. Blue Biobank is proud to be part of this global effort to unlock the full potential of marine chemodiversity while promoting ethical and sustainable research practices.
Download the full paper here: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-3397/23/2/89
