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An international research team led by The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) has been awarded a grant of over HKD 11 million (USD 1.46 million) by the G20 Coral Research & Development Accelerator Platform (CORDAP) to develop and scale a cutting-edge technology: next-generation probiotics designed to enhance coral’s resilience to climate change. This marks the first time a Hong Kong-led project has been globally recognised by CORDAP for funding.

Coral reefs, among the most biodiverse and vital ecosystems on Earth, sustain approximately one-quarter of all marine life. They provide food, economic livelihoods, and coastal protection for billions of people worldwide, with an estimated annual economic value of USD 2.7 trillion. However, the escalating frequency and intensity of marine heatwaves driven by climate change are inflicting catastrophic damage on coral reefs, leading to widespread bleaching and mortality. Addressing this global crisis demands innovative, scalable solutions to ensure the survival of corals reefs in an increasingly warming ocean.

Previous studies have shown that probiotics can improve coral’s heat tolerance and environmental adaptability. However, conventional probiotics struggle to establish long-term colonisation within corals, requiring repeated applications that are costly and operationally complex. An international research team led by Professor Luo Haiwei from the Simon F.S. Li Marine Science Laboratory in the School of Life Sciences at CUHK has pioneered a novel approach: using an evolutionary genomics-based framework to identify “next-generation probiotics” capable of forming stable, long-term symbiotic relationships with their coral hosts, thereby offering sustained protection.

Professor Luo explained: “Our approach represents a paradigm shift. Rather than selecting probiotics based solely on their functional traits, we focus on their evolutionary capacity, prioritising microbial partners that are genetically pre-adapted for sustained colonisation. This is key to developing sustainable and scalable coral conservation technologies.”

Scaling up for real-world impact

Preliminary studies by the team have demonstrated the remarkable potential of this approach. In experimental trials, corals treated with these probiotics in a nursery setting successfully retained the beneficial microbes over an eight-month monitoring period after being transplanted to natural reefs without requiring additional interventions. These treated corals exhibited greater resilience to extreme marine heatwaves compared to untreated corals.

The CORDAP funding will enable the team to validate and scale this technology through a comprehensive strategy, encompassing controlled field trials in Hong Kong and a large-scale demonstration at a restoration site in Indonesia. Conducting trials in Indonesia aims to provide a replicable model for low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), where are home to many of the world’s most biodiverse coral reefs ecosystems. The team aspires to establish a universal coral restoration framework, making this advanced and scalable conservation tool accessible and practical for frontline communities engaged in global coral reef conservation.

Professor Luo remarked: “We are honoured to receive CORDAP’s support. This grant serves as a critical catalyst that allows us to transform our compelling proof-of-concept into a validated, scalable conservation technology. It integrates our efforts into a global mission to safeguard coral reefs, a precious ecological asset.”

The project is a major international collaboration, bringing together experts including Professor Luo Haiwei and Professor Apple Chui from CUHK; Professor Christian Voolstra from the University of Konstanz, Germany; Professor Raquel Peixoto from King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Saudi Arabia; and restoration practitioners from the NGO Seachange Indonesia, reflecting a collective global commitment to addressing the coral reef crisis.

About CORDAP

The Coral Research & Development Accelerator Platform (CORDAP), initiated by the G20 in 2020, is an international effort to fast-track research and development (R&D) solutions to save the world’s corals. CORDAP brings together the best minds worldwide, in a transdisciplinary approach, to accelerate international research and development to supply the technologies and innovations required to secure a future for corals and reefs.

For more details on awarded projects: https://cordap.org/projects-awarded/