Superfund Research Program
Research Translation Core
Project Leader: Brad L. Upham
Grant Number: P42ES004911
Funding Period: 2006-2020
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Progress Reports
Year: 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006
The level of sophistication and maturity of the Michigan State University 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 the 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 their external stakeholders to their research programs. Highlights for 2018 include finishing the mobile app for Fish Advisories, in collaboration with the Michigan Department of Human Health Services, that enables easier and faster access by the public to the state's Eat-Safe-Fish program; continued implementation of the environmental health program with Delta College, with inclusion of students in collecting sediment samples from the Tittabawassee River for the Gut Microbiome - Host Interactions in Response to TCDD Exposure Project. The RTC and Community Engagement Core also completed some community-based projects. One explored issues of trust in organizations, risk perception, and fish consumption in a dioxin contaminated watershed that was published (J. Risk Research ISSN: 1366-9877: 1466-4461), and completed a study on the effects of dioxin on residential property values, which will assist the U.S. EPA and state governments to more effectively engage the community, and a publication was submitted to Risk Analysis. In collaboration with the Departments of Pediatrics of Michigan State and Wayne State Universities, the RTC organized and sponsored a Pediatric Research Day for southern Michigan titled "Environmental Effects on Child Health" on March 21, 2018 in Flint, Michigan.