Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative Awards $140 Million to Support Research
12 consortia to study oil impacts on Gulf of Mexico
PR Newswire
RESTON, Va., Nov. 14, 2014
RESTON, Va., Nov. 14, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — The Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI) has selected 12 research consortia to conduct scientific studies of the impacts of oil, dispersed oil, and dispersant on the Gulf of Mexico ecosystem and public health. These research investments focus on improving our fundamental understanding of the implications of events such as the Macondo well blowout, and on developing improved spill mitigation, oil and gas detection, characterization and remediation technologies. The consortia were chosen following a competitive, merit review process that evaluated research applications submitted to GoMRI in response to its RFP-IV program solicitation.
Through the RFP-IV program, GoMRI is awarding $140 million to support research to be carried out from 2015 through 2017.
For the past several years, GoMRI has reached out to the public health research community. “It was clear that research on public health is needed,” said Dr. Rita Colwell, Chairman of the GoMRI Research Board. “I’m pleased that in this round of awards there are funds to study public health issues in the Gulf of Mexico region associated with the oil spill. We are also funding research focused on increasing our knowledge of the biology of the Gulf and the interaction of oil with the ecosystem.”