Protecting people from harmful ocean algal toxins
Woods Hole Center for Oceans and Human Health
['FUNDING_P01'] · WOODS HOLE OCEANOGRAPHIC INSTITUTION · NIH-11360094
This project works to improve detection and prediction of toxic algal blooms so coastal communities and seafood consumers face less risk of shellfish poisoning.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_P01'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | WOODS HOLE OCEANOGRAPHIC INSTITUTION (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (WOODS HOLE, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11360094 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
From your perspective, researchers are putting new ocean sensors and targeted sampling tools into the water and combining those observations with computer models to track when and where toxic algal blooms form. They focus on two algae that make saxitoxin (causing paralytic shellfish poisoning) and domoic acid (causing amnesic shellfish poisoning) and study how environmental conditions change toxin production. Field studies across coastal and Arctic sites, lab experiments, and modeling will be combined to improve early warnings and monitoring systems. The goal is clearer guidance for seafood safety and fewer unexpected exposures for people who live, work, or harvest food from the sea.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants or beneficiaries include coastal residents, recreational and commercial shellfish harvesters, seafood consumers, and communities in regions affected by harmful algal blooms.
Not a fit: People who live far inland with no contact with coastal waters or seafood are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reduce human exposures to shellfish toxins through better monitoring, earlier warnings, and safer seafood advisories.
How similar studies have performed: Related monitoring and modeling programs have helped reduce toxin exposures in some areas, but expanding sensitive detection and predictive tools to more regions and toxin types is still needed.
Where this research is happening
WOODS HOLE, UNITED STATES
- WOODS HOLE OCEANOGRAPHIC INSTITUTION — WOODS HOLE, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: MCGILLICUDDY, DENNIS J — WOODS HOLE OCEANOGRAPHIC INSTITUTION
- Study coordinator: MCGILLICUDDY, DENNIS J
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 below.