Lake Erie Center for the Great Lakes and Human Health

OVERALL: SUMMARY
The Lake Erie Center for Fresh Waters and Human Health at Bowling Green State University (BGSU) seeks five
years of support from the Centers for Oceans and Human Health 3: Impacts of Climate Change on Oceans and
Great Lakes program (COHH3) (P01). Support is requested for research, facilities operations and community
engagement activities that build on academic and agency partnerships that have developed in the wake of the
2014 Toledo Water Crisis. Locating this COHH3 at BGSU reflects a leading role assumed by BGSU personnel
studying the chronic cyanobacterial Harmful Algal Blooms (cHABs) of Lake Erie and complements significant
ongoing investments made by BGSU. A COHH3 Lake Erie Center for Fresh Waters and Human Health will
promote inter-institution collaboration to generate cutting-edge research toward identifying environmental drivers
of cHABs and the effect of climate change on the proliferation and toxicity of bloom events and their impact on
human health. This Center will shape the national research agenda; promote community engagement; and
leverage strong institutional and agency support. Presently aligned as a multi-disciplinary research area in Lake
Erie and Watershed Studies at BGSU, this effort seeks to formalize relations with affiliates active in cHAB
research elsewhere. BGSU personnel were pressed into action to help lead the scientific response to the 2014
Toledo Water Crisis following contamination of Toledo's water supply by cHAB toxins. With the crisis still
unfolding, BGSU coordinated with Center affiliates to study the bloom event and communicate issues related to
the crisis to a concerned public. With the water crisis still receiving national attention, BGSU assumed the lead
in organizing an international symposium held at BGSU in April 2015 which provided a forum to share ideas
related to cHABs and their mitigation. BGSU also worked closely with federal legislators in the aftermath of the
crisis to address issues of water quality in Lake Erie leading to the passing of H.R. 212, The Drinking Water
Protection Act. The proposed research activities of Center affiliates are consistent with the goals and structure
outlined for COHH3 with projects addressing human health effects of cHABs in the framework of climate change,
toxin discovery and toxicity, enhanced monitoring/forecasting and community engagement. This application
pursues four overarching goals: 1) Create an integrated, multi-disciplinary Center facilitating collaboration
between biomedical scientists and limnologists; 2) Heighten the scientific influence, innovation, and productivity
of Center affiliates; 3) Support development of Center affiliates including junior faculty; and 4) Energize cHAB
science with new data and research tools. These goals will be accomplished through integration of projects and
by supporting four complementary cores: Administrative, Research, Community Engagement, and Facilities.
Center affiliates are providing national leadership, and our vision is to continue to foster an environment of
innovation and collaboration that yields high impact research on cutting-edge issues related to climate change
and its effect on cHABs and their impact on human health.