AquaTT

European Marine Research Knowledge Transfer and Uptake of Results

The Marine Knowledge Gate is an innovative tool which provides an inventory of European funded Marine Science and Technology Projects and their Knowledge Outputs. The inventory has an advanced search functionality, is regularly updated and is free to use. Please refer to the Search Tips, Technical Note and Disclaimer for further information.

MIDTAL: Microarray for the detection of Toxic Algae

Details: Last Updated: 09 January 2016

MIDTAL Banner

Project Title: Microarrays for the detection of Toxic Algae

Project Acronym: MIDTAL

Contract Type: FP7 - Small or medium-scale focused research project

Funding: EUR 2 230 000

Timeline: 2008 - 2012

Coordinator: Linda Medlin, Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom

Case Study Contact: lkm(at)mba.ac.uk

MIDTAL Website: www.midtal.com

Short Description: Microalgae in marine and brackish waters of Europe regularly cause harmful effects, considered from the human perspective, in that they threaten public health and cause economic damage to fisheries and tourism. These episodes encompass a broad range of phenomena collectively referred to as harmful algal blooms (HABs). They include discoloration of waters by mass occurrences of microalgae (true algal blooms that may or may not be harmful) to toxin-producing species that may be harmful even in low cell concentrations. The objective of MIDTAL is to design microarrays for the detection of toxic algae and their toxins.

MarineTT Identified barriers to Knowledge Transfer and Uptake of the Midtal outputs:

Lack of awareness of the nature of the Microarray, and it’s comparison to current analytical methods
There was a need to highlight the innovative aspects of the Microarray, Faster, cheaper, broader scope than current methods (QPCR, Microscopy, Fish probes etc.)
As the main output from the MIDTAL project is currently being commercialised there was a need to ensure uptake at market level.

MarineTT Actions:

Raising Awareness of the Microarray and molecular methods for the identification of Toxic algae species

Identified the End users as Environmental Monitoring Agencies at National and regional level, also secondary end users are research institutes investigating Marine toxic algae and Shellfish uptake of same.
Created a factsheet encompassing all the positive attributes of the Microarray e.g. Quicker, cheaper, broader spectrum of analysis, as well as contact details for the project co-ordinator, Linda Medlin.
Invited each identified end-user to attend a webinar hosted by MarineTT and including members of the Midtal project who would be available to answer all queries.

Please click here for a factsheet outlining the benefits associated with the MIDTAL microarray for the detection of algae species.

An informational webinar on the MIDTAL project was held on Tuesday the 12^th June 2012 in order to bring together the MIDTAL co-ordinator, principal investigators and partners with identified potential end-users, who could profit and gain from knowledge on this innovative advancement in Algae detection. A recording of the webinar can be viewed here.

For more information, please visit www.midtal.com

The research leading to these results has received funding from the European Union’s Seventh Framework Programme (FP7 /2007-2013) under grant agreement no 244164. This publication reflects the views only of the author, and the European Union cannot be held responsible for any use which maybe made of the information contained therein.

Follow us on

Get our Newsletter

powered by WAZOUR