The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) awarded a $620,000 Project Grant to Michigan State University (MSU) under the Assistance to State Water Resources Research Institutes (CFDA 15.805) program. The grant, effective from January 1, 2025 through December 31, 2026, will fund research to determine the effects of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) on microbiome health and neurotoxicity in bluegill, an economically and ecologically important fish species in the Great Lakes region.
The key activities and expected outcomes of this research project include: 1) characterizing PFAS bioaccumulation and depuration in bluegill tissues; 2) determining changes in skin and gut microbiome composition; 3) identifying gene expression and metabolomic changes in the brain that indicate neurotoxicity; 4) linking microbiome dysbiosis to neurotoxicity through integrative analysis; and 5) disseminating findings through publications, a master's thesis, public datasets, and conference presentations. The project will also provide training opportunities for students and early career researchers in the water resources field.
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