Woods Hole Center for Oceans and Human Health

Information

  • Research Project
  • 9787527
  • ApplicationId
    9787527
  • Core Project Number
    P01ES028938
  • Full Project Number
    5P01ES028938-02
  • Serial Number
    028938
  • FOA Number
    RFA-ES-16-009
  • Sub Project Id
  • Project Start Date
    9/30/2018 - 5 years ago
  • Project End Date
    6/30/2023 - 11 months ago
  • Program Officer Name
    TYSON, FREDERICK L
  • Budget Start Date
    7/1/2019 - 4 years ago
  • Budget End Date
    6/30/2020 - 3 years ago
  • Fiscal Year
    2019
  • Support Year
    02
  • Suffix
  • Award Notice Date
    6/28/2019 - 4 years ago

Woods Hole Center for Oceans and Human Health

The Woods Hole Center for Oceans and Human Health (WHCOHH) will comprise a strong and integrated set of research projects using novel in situ sampling technologies and modeling approaches to address harmful algal bloom (HAB) dynamics, and mechanistic studies to expand understanding of HAB toxin effects. The overall objective is to protect the public health through enhanced understanding of how oceanic and environmental processes affect the population dynamics of toxin-producing organisms, and the risks from exposure to their potent neurotoxins, a serious and potentially growing human health threat. The Center will focus on two key HAB taxa: Alexandrium fundyense that produces the saxitoxins responsible for paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP), and Pseudo-nitzschia spp. that produce domoic acid responsible for amnesic shellfish poisoning (ASP) syndrome. Novel, targeted, efficient, and data-rich sampling approaches developed by the applicants and applied in situ have revealed that critical aspects of A. fundyense dynamics in natural settings differ dramatically from those inferred from laboratory studies, and identified plasticity in these processes. Project 1 will examine the physiological and behavioral factors of toxic Alexandrium species, and how plasticity in these factors may underlie population adaptation in different habitats and different environmental regimes. Project 2 will build on these new and fundamental insights into bloom regulation and develop models to predict impacts of climate variation on population dynamics of HAB threats. Variability in environmental forcing across years and among habitats will provide a proxy for future climate scenarios, revealing responses of HABs in natural ecosystems, a key step toward improving predictive skill for this recurrent public health risk, and quantify future risks. In companion studies we have identified specific cells in the developing brain in the zebrafish model that are targets of HAB toxins. The novel cellular mechanisms include effects of domoic acid on myelination of oligodendrocytes. We will define the consequences of developmental, low-level exposure to HAB toxins, and determine the effects of combined exposure to saxitoxin and domoic acid, and possible silent neurotoxicity, at different life stages, in the zebrafish model. The studies address the scope of toxin effects in the developing central nervous system, potentially linking developmental exposures to adult consequences. Novel linking of oceanic processes to human exposure will help define the human risk due to these novel mechanisms. The Center structure will facilitate integration of the research, and of research projects with education and community engagement activities, including with resource managers and other stakeholders. We also will improve awareness of emerging HAB issues for the public health community and develop new educational materials and interactive activities for K-12 classrooms, and for public outreach. An Administrative Core will create a structure encouraging open discussion of planning, integration, communication and engagement, and in which progress is rigorously evaluated.

IC Name
NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SCIENCES
  • Activity
    P01
  • Administering IC
    ES
  • Application Type
    5
  • Direct Cost Amount
    342625
  • Indirect Cost Amount
    212428
  • Total Cost
    555053
  • Sub Project Total Cost
  • ARRA Funded
    False
  • CFDA Code
    113
  • Ed Inst. Type
  • Funding ICs
    NIEHS:555053\
  • Funding Mechanism
    Non-SBIR/STTR RPGs
  • Study Section
    ZES1
  • Study Section Name
    Special Emphasis Panel
  • Organization Name
    WOODS HOLE OCEANOGRAPHIC INSTITUTION
  • Organization Department
  • Organization DUNS
    001766682
  • Organization City
    WOODS HOLE
  • Organization State
    MA
  • Organization Country
    UNITED STATES
  • Organization Zip Code
    02543
  • Organization District
    UNITED STATES