Coral reefs around the world are increasingly threatened by a phenomenon known as coral bleaching where high seawater temperatures cause corals to lose their symbiotic algae and possibly die. While we have gained a better understanding of the cellular and biological processes that contribute to bleaching, we do not completely understand the causes and consequences of bleaching, patterns of recovery, and how (or if) some corals and reefs may withstand high temperature into the future. By mid-century, global-scale bleaching events may occur on an annual basis. Already, back-to-back bleaching events occurred throughout much of the tropical oceans in 2014 and 2015, and the northern Great Barrier Reef has recently experienced the worst bleaching event ever recorded. In many cases, our study of bleaching is reactionary and fragmented by design. There is a fundamental need for scientists from different specialties to combine their collective expertise to formulate new approaches to this topic. The goal of this project was to hold a workshop of a core group of U.S. scientists to identify specific gaps in our knowledge about bleaching, and to formulate research priorities to deliver important data and provide a framework for future research and better integration across different scientific disciplines. Participants included a broad range of scientific expertise including representation from junior scientists and underrepresented groups. The group converged on three overarching research themes in need of further exploration: 1) bleaching mechanisms, 2) bleaching recovery, and 3) areas of the world that are bleaching refugia. While understanding mechanisms of bleaching at the smallest to the largest scale remains critical, attendees noted that a set of best practices for future studies could provide better cross comparisons among focal corals, geographic locations and laboratories that conduct bleaching experiments. Our understanding of bleaching recovery lags behind what is known for the mechanisms. Work is required from the molecular to the animal scale in investigating this process, and it will be critical to determine links between recovery and patterns of disease susceptibility. Future studies of bleaching recovery will require more time than conventional funding periods typically allow (e.g., 3–4 years). Lastly, determining patterns of bleaching resistance and locating such areas at both physical and biological scales were noted as critical areas of future study, as they may further help reef biologists and managers alike prioritize particular coral species and habitats for greater protection and restoration. An overarching conclusion of this workshop was that these pressing questions are far beyond the scope of any one laboratory. A broader consortia of research efforts designed to leverage expertise across U.S. and international scientists is necessary if we are to successfully tackle this globally important topic. Last Modified: 09/23/2017 Submitted by: Mark E Warner