CLEVELAND, Ohio – The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has authorized $1,777,440 in funding for five projects that involve research into harmful algal blooms, the office of U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur, a Democrat from Toledo, announced Wednesday.
One of the projects is new and will receive $234,754. The award goes to the University of Michigan Cooperative Institute for Great Lakes Research, Louisiana State University, and Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute and is for enhancing “the capabilities of the 3rd generation Environmental Sample Processor for HAB toxin detection through integration with an Autonomous Surface Vehicle.”
The four other projects have already started and the funding authorization allows them to continue. The projects include:
* The University of Toledo ($715,992). The money will be used “to develop and test the use of microcystin degrading bacteria to remove and degrade HAB toxins from drinking water.”
* The University of Toledo, Bowling Green State University, Ohio State University, University of Michigan Cooperative Institute for Great Lakes Research, LimnoTech Inc. and MBio Diagnostics Inc. ($323,191). The project involves creating “portable cyanotoxin detection technology for use by citizen scientists and decision makers.”
* Great Lakes Observing System ($200,000). The money is for upgrading “existing instrumentation in the Great Lakes to improve telemetry and HAB data integration.”
* Bowling Green State University, State University of New York, and MBio Diagnostics ($303,503). The funding is for enhancing “existing technology for rapid, portable, multiplexed detection of harmful algal toxins in the Great Lakes.”
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