Researchers look into impact of toxic algae
Medical professionals have no way to diagnose people who become ill from ingesting western Lake Erie’s chief algal toxin or making body contact with it — but the University of Toledo Medical Center hopes to change that.
UTMC, formerly the Medical College of Ohio hospital, is working with Wayne State University and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on a scientific method to diagnose the toxin, which attacks primarily the liver.
“In this case, we’re dealing with some very interesting scientific questions that could be recognized nationally,” Frank Calzonetti, UT vice president of research, said of the cutting-edge research, which involves about two dozen experts from multiple disciplines.
Michael Basial