This proposal was prepared with the help of a 5-month long exploratory award. T he exploratory award covered a research feasibility study as well as novelty ve rification, economic assessment, partner search and the worprogramme definition . The project addresses the need for improved marine ecotoxicity assays. These are required for better ecological risk assessment in relation to discharge of chemicals into the marine environment and to ensure compliance with existing an d forthcoming national and European directives on marine water quality. There i s a recognised need for improved bioassays that are more informative, more accu rate, cheap and faster than existing assay systems. This project addresses all of these needs.
