ABOUT US

EMERTOX will create a robust and sustainable network of experts with excellent complementary competencies on marine algal toxins and on the detection of the organisms producing these toxins. The network will collaborate not only with national authorities but also with European ones, for the assessment and management of risks associated to emerging toxins and the species that produce them.

1.1 CONCEPT AND APPROACHES

- EMERTOX takes into account the reports of occurrence of marine toxins in North Atlantic coastal waters, usually after a human poisoning episode.

- Approach the problematic of emerging marine toxins using a multidisciplinary method, including physical oceanographers, marine biologists, geneticists, chemists, toxicologists, biotechnologists and engineers for sampling apparatus.

- The planned secondments between academic and non-academic institutions will allow the establishment of a perfect environment for interdisciplinary research.

- The interaction between academic and non-academic beneficiaries will allow a direct communication between the knowledge producers and the stakeholders.

- The evaluation of risks related to emerging harmful algae and the prediction of future scenarios, will help to recommend whether these emerging toxins should be monitored in Europe, and to develop appropriate strategies to protect human health.

1.2 GOALS

EMERTOX aims to predict the actual situation in emergent marine toxins and the producing organisms, develop new approaches to assess their occurrence and predict the possible future scenarios in the framework of global warming. The project will specific contribute to:

- Assess the current situation on potentially harmful algae and bacteria and the relevant emerging toxins in 8 countries belonging to different but geographically connected areas (Mediterranean Sea and North Atlantic).

- Develop innovative approaches to sample, and analyze the producing organisms and their toxins by chemical and biological methods including immunoassays and sensors.

- Estimate different future scenarios based on molecular data (routes of dispersion) and modelling.

1.3 EXPECTED IMPACTS

- Enhancing the potential and future career perspectives of the staff members.

- Developing new and lasting research collaborations, achieving transfer of knowledge between participating organisations and contribution to improving research and innovation potential at the European and global levels.