Superfund Research Program

Research Translation Core

Project Leader: Brad L. Upham
Grant Number: P42ES004911
Funding Period: 2006-2021

Project-Specific Links

Final Progress Reports

Year:   2020  2012 

The level of sophistication and maturity of the Research Translation Core (RTC) is shaped by multidirectional approaches in developing meaningful relationships with external stakeholders in state and federal government agencies, communities affected by environmental contaminants, and other SRP centers. This evolving and expanding process opens new avenues for RTC researchers to engage with external stakeholders, provides a flow of scientific information from their research program, and allows fundamental new ideas and needs to flow from external stakeholders to research programs. This was a no-cost-extension year with rudimentary activity on a limited budget. Highlights for 2020 include collecting river sediments after the failure of the Sanford Dam and the Edenville Dam on May 20 that led to devastating floods and the evacuation of more than 10,000 people with the Tittabawassee River cresting at 35.05 feet (10.68 meters). GPS coordinates were used to collect samples from ninety percent of the sites that the Core previously collected samples from. If RTC is refunded, this will offer the center research samples for pre- and post-flood periods. The RTC and the Community Engagement Core coordinated collaborative plans for the potential renewal that required interactions with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. The RTC continued to be an active participant at the bimonthly meetings of the Saginaw-Tittabawassee Rivers Contamination Community Advisory Group.