Marine sponges are functionally important members of the benthic community and often contain dense and diverse microbial assemblages. These microbes play crucial roles in ecosystem functioning (i.e. nutrient and carbon cycling, organic matter degradation etc.), and the production of bioactive compounds within the sponge holobiont. The potential roles of most microorganisms associated with marine sponge from Bay of Bengal region are, as yet, largely unknown. OiLAB has been investigating the composition, diversity, and functional potential of sponge-associated microbiomes for better understanding the complex interactions between sponges and their microbial partners. Particularly, OiLAB is exploring the marine sponges and their associated microbiomes, which are rich source of natural products, showing promise to medicinal, agricultural, and industrial applications. This project is attempting to develop a baseline information providing valuable taxonomic information from underexplored Bay of Bengal regions, which may contribute to the discovery of new bioactive compounds and enzymes for biotechnological applications.