Welcome to our lab.

Sea anemones are one of several groups of organisms studied for their amazing ability to stick to surfaces underwater.

They are simple, soft-bodied animals but have amazing adhesive capability.  This ability has contributed to their reputation as pest and invasive species, affecting commercial aquaria, heat exchangers and aquaculture facilities.  

Why choose anemones to work with?  To put it simply they evolved their adhesion mechanism a long time ago, in evolutionary terms, and therefore present an interesting model for studies of the evolution and adaptation of adhesion in biological systems.  Our primary research species, Aiptasia sp., is also an emerging model organism with a sequenced genome and growing toolbox of molecular techniques.

Our current anemone work is supported in large part by a Leverhulme Trust research project grant, running from 2017 to 2021.  Read more about this in the ‘Our Project’ section below.  But, we are also fortunate to be located in a centre of excellence for biofouling research funded both nationally and internationally, and within a rapidly expanding field of international bioadhesion researchers funded by an EU COST Action.  As such, we have a wide range of interests!

Across this site you will find all information relating to our work, lab members, outputs and opportunities to join us.

Enjoy!

Nick Aldred, Principal Investigator