In this exhibit at the Molina Animal Care Center, the Aquarium feature corals and sponges that contain compounds that may hold cures for human diseases. In a partnership with City of Hope, a cancer research and treatment center based in Duarte, California, the Aquarium will collect samples from the corals and sponges, and City of Hope researchers will test them for cancer-fighting properties.
Corals and sponges live in marine environments that are highly threatened, but hold the most promise for advancements in the arena of human health and medicine. Thus, it is imperative that we protect these sensitive marine environments, allowing scientists to explore and study the animals found there.
