Current Research

Project 1: Harmful algal bloom dynamics: assessing factors that control life cycle processes

This project investigates the factors that control life cycle processes in two toxic HAB species in the Gulf of Maine.  All aims leverage the ongoing build out of a region-scale HAB sensing system (HABON-NE). In situ observation methods are emphasized because prior findings have demonstrated that growth, toxin synthesis, and life history transitions are far more vigorous in situ than in culture.

Project 2: Environmental forcing of harmful algal blooms and toxicity exposure

Our goal is to understand and predict how environment variability influences harmful algal bloom (HAB) dynamics, toxin exposure to the human population, and impacts on human health.

Project 3: Cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying long-term effects of early life exposure to HAB toxins

The overall objective of the proposed research is to elucidate the cellular and molecular mechanisms by which early-life exposure to harmful algal bloom (HAB) toxins may interfere with neurodevelopment to cause persistent neurobehavioral changes later in life.

Community Engagement Core

The overall objective of the Community Engagement Core (CEC) is to prevent human heath exposure to harmful algal bloom (HAB) toxins by strengthening public and stakeholder knowledge about HABs and their impacts, fostering collaboration among stakeholders and bi-directional dialogue with WHCOHH researchers, and improving awareness of HAB issues in public health communities.