Protecting people from toxic algal blooms in the Great Lakes
Great Lakes Center for Fresh Waters and Human Health
This Center develops better ways to spot and forecast toxic blue‑green algal blooms and to learn how lake and airborne toxins affect people who live, work, or play near the Great Lakes.
Quick facts
| Grant type | P01 program project |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Michigan at Ann Arbor NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Ann Arbor, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11364984 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
A multi‑institution team studies how cyanobacterial harmful algal blooms form, make toxins, and move through water and air across all five Great Lakes. They test which toxins are present, how those toxins can harm human tissues, and whether new or emerging toxins are a risk. The team is building improved monitoring tools and forecasts and working with NOAA and regional partners to share timely data with communities. Community engagement is central, so local residents and water managers help guide the work and how findings get shared.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants are people who live, work, or recreate along the Great Lakes shoreline or use Great Lakes surface water and may be exposed to waterborne or airborne algal toxins.
Not a fit: People who do not live near or use the Great Lakes and who have no exposure to surface water or shoreline air are unlikely to benefit directly.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could give communities earlier warnings and better tools to reduce exposure and prevent illness from algal toxins.
How similar studies have performed: Previous Lake Erie research and local monitoring programs have improved detection and forecasting, and this Center expands and integrates those approaches across all five Great Lakes while adding new toxin and airborne exposure work.
Where this research is happening
Ann Arbor, United States
- University of Michigan at Ann Arbor — Ann Arbor, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Dick, Gregory James — University of Michigan at Ann Arbor
- Study coordinator: Dick, Gregory James
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.