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 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 is an evolving and expanding process that opens new avenues for researchers to engage with external stakeholders, and provides a flow of scientific information from the research program, but allows fundamental new ideas and needs flow from our external stakeholders to research programs. Highlights for 2016 include development of a 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 Midland High and Delta College that empowers residents to better understand their local environmental issues; development of a citizen science project in Midland/Saginaw/Bay-City on identifying natural microbial communities that degrade dioxin and resist antibiotics, which included transfer of technology, a portable gene analyzer, from MSU-SRP to the community and submission of a joint paper, which enables local citizenry to be part of the solution to local environmental health issues. The RTC and Community Engagement Core also developed surveys for the dioxin-affected community that explored issues of stigma (1-publication) and trust (1-paper in prep), which will assist US EPA and state governments to more effectively engage the community. Also, in collaboration with the RTC of Duke SRP, the Wikipedia entry for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons was significantly revised, thus improving the scientific content of a resource widely used by the public.