Admin Core

PROJECT SUMMARY: ADMINISTRATIVE CORE The Administrative Core of the Great Lakes Center for Fresh Waters and Human Health (the Center) at the University of Michigan (UM) will manage fundamental research and community-based projects ultimately focused on understanding and mitigating toxic cyanobacterial Harmful Algal Blooms (cHAB) risks in the Great Lakes, especially in Lake Erie. Western Lake Erie has been plagued by cHAB blooms for the last decade, and recent bloom events have resulted in exposure risks that led to the complete shutdown of the Toledo (OH) water supply in 2014. The Center’s Administrative Core is focused on supporting and coordinating four integrated research projects, a Community Engagement Core and a Facility Core to ensure progress toward our stated goals of understanding and translating cHAB events and their impact on human health in the lower Great Lakes. A Director and Co-Director will lead the Administrative Core; they will be responsible for reporting progress and outcomes of Center activities. They will meet monthly with the Internal Steering Committee, which will oversee coordination of research and of community outreach, data management and budget management. Relevant research results will be communicated to state agencies and regional stakeholder organizations, professional associations, and community-based partners as they emerge. The Administrative Core will be assessed by an External Advisory Committee (EAC), staffed by scientists outside of the participating institutions, as well as representatives from state agencies, stakeholder organizations, professional associations, and community-based partners. The Center for Educational Design, Evaluation and Research (CEDER) at UM will work with the EAC to conduct the assessment with a utilization-focused evaluation and including formative and summative process and outcomes evaluation components. Communication from the Center with other OHH Centers will promote collaboration and data sharing where appropriate.