 In 1965, discussions began to transfer the Station to joint ownership with the University, and after five years of debate and negotiation, an agreement was signed in 1970.Much research was undertaken from the Station in the 1960s regarding the plague of Crown of Thorns starfish, led by Dr Robert Endean.Roche Pharmaceuticals had an arrangement with the Station from 1973-1981 to conduct preliminary research and examination of drugs derived from marine organisms, and they later donated all their equipment to the Station in 1981 when they closed their Australian operations.