A framework for overcoming challenges in marine invertebrate cell culture for research and conservation

Marine invertebrates, which comprise 92% of ocean biodiversity, play a crucial role in maintaining healthy and productive ecosystems by shaping habitats and forming part of the foundation of food webs. They also serve as a critical food source sustaining major global fisheries and provide valuable models for biomedical research due to their diverse physiological adaptations. Climate change-driven biodiversity loss threatens both the ecological and economic services these organisms provide. Cultured cell lines from marine invertebrates provide a powerful experimental platform to advance our understanding of cellular physiology, stress response, symbiotic interactions, and disease etiology, thereby supporting research and conservation efforts. However, despite decades of effort across numerous phyla, progress has been limited by persistent challenges in developing and standardizing cell culture methods. Many cultures have been plagued by contamination, suboptimal media and culture conditions, and a lack of standards for validation and quality control. This Perspective addresses these challenges and proposes a framework for establishing cohesive community guidelines and minimum information reporting standards to accelerate the development of marine invertebrate cell culture systems for research and conservation.