Preventing harmful algal bloom exposure in coastal communities
Official title: WHCOHH Community Engagement Core
Funded at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution · NIH-11360097 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This program helps coastal residents, seafood harvesters, educators, and local clinicians reduce exposure to toxic algal blooms through better monitoring, education, and data sharing.
Quick facts
| Grant type | P01 program project |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Woods Hole, United States) |
| Project start | September 30, 2018 |
| Project end | February 28, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $73,948 |
| NIH project number | 5P01ES028938-08 |
| Project ID | NIH-11360097 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People who live, work, or recreate in New England coastal areas, seafood harvesters, teachers, and local public health or healthcare professionals are the most relevant participants to engage with this program.
✕Less likely to help
People who do not live near coastal, HAB-affected areas or who need immediate clinical care for unrelated conditions are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this program.
What this research studies
From a community perspective, the team connects regional stakeholders and public health partners to share information and coordinate responses to harmful algal blooms (HABs). They expand classroom materials and programs to teach Oceans and Human Health concepts to students and the public. The project supports and improves the HABhub data portal to display near-real-time bloom data and lets community members participate in sensor image classification to contribute to monitoring. Training and technology transfer for local agencies and healthcare providers aim to improve awareness and diagnosis of HAB-related illnesses.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reduce people's chances of exposure to algal toxins and help clinicians recognize and treat related illnesses sooner.
How similar studies have gone: Previous community-engagement and citizen-science HAB monitoring and outreach efforts have improved detection and public awareness, and this project builds on earlier WHCOHH activities.
Where this research is happening
-
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
Woods Hole, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Richlen, Mindy — Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
- Study coordinator: Richlen, Mindy
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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.