SCRIPPS CENTER FOR OCEANS AND HUMAN HEALTH
advancing the science of marine contaminants and seafood security
Abstract
The overarching goal of the proposed Scripps Center for Oceans and Human Health (SCOHH) is to advance
the science and community engagement surrounding seafood pollutants in a rapidly changing planet. The project
brings together a multidisciplinary team of biomedical and oceanographic researchers with broad expertise in
fish ecology, microbiology, marine chemistry, climate modeling, technology development, bioaccumulation,
genomics, toxicology, and public health. This team will study and track the distribution of essential micronutrients
and harmful contaminants in marine food webs to the three billion people who consume seafood globally, the
roles that the marine microbiome play in their production and transport, and the developmental toxicity of seafood
pollutants and their interactions with human drug transporters. The Center’s scientific goals and focus are guided
by the needs of society, established through bidirectional community engagement led by a proven community
engagement team. The proposed research program of SCOHH spans four main areas which address the
objectives of the NIEHS and NSF sponsored COHH4 program RFA:
1. Climate change impacts on the human intake of seafood micronutrients and contaminants.
2. The marine microbiome as a source for the synthesis, transformation, and distribution of seafood
contaminants.
3. Mechanisms of bioaccumulation and developmental toxicity of seafood pollutants.
4. Seafood risks and benefits – Science, literacy, and engagement.
We expect the overall outcome of SCOHH to better inform policies, consumption guidelines, and individual
decisions to lower risk and enhance greater benefits associated with seafood consumption by bridging science
discovery, environmental health literacy, and community engagement.
