Scripps Center for Oceans and Human Health: advancing the science of marine contaminants and seafood security

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 the United States. The project brings together a multidisciplinary team of biomedical and oceanographic researchers with broad expertise in fish ecology, microbiology, marine chemistry, 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. Assessing seafood composition to advance dietary health in the U.S. 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.