The Ecotoxicology and stress biology research centre (ESBRC) aims to understand how organisms deal with exposure to environmental stresses (anthropogenic & natural, chemical & physical) and biotic stresses (infection & disease) and apply this knowledge to improve human and ecosystem health. Members of the group have complementary expertise covering a diverse range of organisms from microbes through to humans and study aquatic, terrestrial and aerial environments. The group conducts innovative, world-class studies in ecotoxicology and stress biology. The team has extensive interactions with other research groups within the Plymouth Marine Science Partnership, the Peninsula Medical School, nationally and internationally.
Main themes:

• Evaluation of pollutant-induced effects on animals and plants, and the links to human health.
• Detection and understanding the fundamental mechanisms by which pollutants give rise to biological effects.
• Understanding the cellular basis of stress and its relationship with clinical conditions or other aspects of biomedical sciences.
• Development and application of "biomarkers" for the detection of pollutant-induced changes at different levels of biological organisation.