Background and Project Description

In 2025, the Coral Neuropeptide Project was launched in collaboration with University of CAEN Normandy (France; Prof. Celine Zatylny-Gaudin, MERSEA lab) and National Taiwan Ocean University (Taiwan; Prof. Shinya Shikina, Coral Farming Lab), with support from the ANR (French National Research Agency🇫🇷) and the NSTC (National Science and Technology Council, Taiwan🇹🇼), aiming to advance coral biology, particularly in neurobiology. In some cnidarians, such as hydras and jellyfish, neuropeptides are known to play crucial roles as regulatory factors and hormones in various physiological functions, including larval settlement and metamorphosis, polyp contraction, gamete maturation, and immune responses. Through multi-omics analysis, this project aims to comprehensively identify coral neuropeptides.

The specific questions for this project are as follows:

(Q1) What neuropeptides do corals have?

(Q2) What physiological functions do neuropeptides have?

(Q3) Where are the neuropeptide-producing neurons distributed in corals?

🔸2026.08.023-29. Professor Shikina visited the University of Caen Normandy, France, and conducted research exchanges with members of the Coral Neuropeptide Project (see Events).

🔸2026.06.06. Professor Shikina and postdoctoral researcher Dr. Aoyama participated in the Taiwan International Symposium on Coral Reefs (TISCR), where they introduced the CNP.(see Events)

🔸2025.07.08-12. Professor Shikina participated in 19 th International Congress of Comparative Endocrinology (ICCE-19 https://icce19.com/) in Sendai, Japan (see Events)

🔸2025.03.11-22. Professor Celine visited The Shikina Lab and officially launched the project (see Events)

🔸2025.01.01. Coral Neuropeptide Project has launched.