Predicting harmful algal toxin risks in coastal waters and seafood
Official title: Predicting Cyanotoxin Risks under Current and Future Climate along the Freshwater-to-Marine Continuum
Funded at North Carolina State University Raleigh · NIH-11371090 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project builds computer models to predict when and where algal toxins may contaminate coastal water and oysters so coastal communities and seafood consumers can stay safer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | P01 program project |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | North Carolina State University Raleigh NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Raleigh, United States) |
| Project start | February 21, 2024 |
| Project end | January 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $120,743 |
| NIH project number | 5P01ES035542-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11371090 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People who live, work, or spend recreation time along the North Carolina coast and regular consumers of locally harvested seafood are the most directly relevant groups.
✕Less likely to help
People who live far inland and do not use coastal waters or eat local seafood are unlikely to see direct benefit from this project.
What this research studies
From a patient's point of view, the team will combine water monitoring and oyster testing with computer modeling that uses weather, salinity, nutrients, and sunlight to predict toxin levels across coastal areas. The models use a probabilistic (Bayesian) approach so they can give risk estimates even when only some data are available. Predictions will estimate toxin amounts in water and in oyster tissue and flag when levels might exceed health advisory thresholds. The goal is to give local health officials and the public better information to prevent exposures from contaminated water or seafood in North Carolina coastal areas.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could give earlier warnings and clearer guidance to prevent illness from contaminated coastal water and seafood.
How similar studies have gone: Related modeling approaches have been used successfully in freshwater lake systems, but applying them to coastal waters and seafood is newer and less tested.
Where this research is happening
-
North Carolina State University Raleigh
Raleigh, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Obenour, Daniel — North Carolina State University Raleigh
- Study coordinator: Obenour, Daniel
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.