NOAA's National Ocean Service is home to NOAA’s new Oceans and Human Health Initiative (OHHI). The OHHI is a competitive suite of programs designed to enhance understanding of the connections between the oceans and human health, with the goal of providing useful research and predictive information to NOAA, public health officials, and natural resource managers. Focus areas include marine toxins and pathogens, chemical pollutants, coastal water quality and beach safety, seafood quality, and sentinel species as indicators of both potential human health risks and of human impact on marine systems. Importantly the OHHI also focuses on the positive benefits of the seas such as the ecologically sound discovery of curative agents and marine products.

Established by Congress in 2003, and codified through the Oceans and Human Health Act, passed in December 2004, the OHHI is designed to bring together oceans and health expertise across NOAA, in partnership with the academic and private sector communities, and in collaboration with other Federal and State and local agencies. The OHHI is comprised of the following competitive programs: NOAA Oceans and Human Health Centers of Excellence; External Grants Program; Distinguished Scholars and Traineeship Programs; and an Internal NOAA Awards Program.

For additional program information and funding opportunities, please see:

University Corporation for Atmospheric Research, NOAA Oceans and Human Health Initiative

 

For information about activities ongoing at the Centers of Excellence, please see:

Center of Excellence in Oceans and Human Health in the Great Lakes

Center of Excellence in Oceans and Human Health in the Southeast

Center of Excellence in Oceans and Human Health in the Pacific Northwest