Cooperative Agreement for CESU-affiliated Partner with the South-Florida Caribbean Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit | G23AS00412

FAQs: USGS Cooperative Agreement (South-Florida Caribbean CESU) - Cyanotoxin Omics and Computational Research

1. What is this funding opportunity?

This is a US Geological Survey (USGS) discretionary funding opportunity offered as a cooperative agreement under the Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Units (CESU) Program. It supports research and development that uses modern "omics" and computational methods to better understand toxin production by cyanobacteria and other algae.

2. What is the main goal of the project?

The core goal is to clarify why, when, and how cyanobacteria and other algae produce toxins (cyanotoxins), and to generate knowledge that helps improve mitigation and prevention strategies for Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) at a national level.

3. What scientific problem is USGS trying to address?

The opportunity targets a key challenge in HAB science: toxin production is not reliably predictable just from the presence of cyanobacteria. Blooms can differ widely in toxicity across regions, seasons, and environmental conditions. USGS is seeking work that explains both the drivers (conditions and triggers) and control mechanisms (genetic, metabolic, and ecological processes) behind toxin expression.

4. Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is limited to organizations that are already participating partners in the South-Florida Caribbean Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) network. It is not open to the general public or to organizations outside this CESU partnership.

5. Is this open to organizations outside the South-Florida Caribbean CESU?

No. The eligibility described is narrow and specifically tied to participating partners of the South-Florida Caribbean CESU.

6. What type of funding instrument is being used?

The instrument is a cooperative agreement, not a standard grant. This typically indicates substantial involvement by the federal agency during the project, such as coordination on study design, shared research activities, or data integration efforts.

7. What research approaches are emphasized in this opportunity?

The scientific focus emphasizes phylogenetics, metagenomics, proteomics, and bioinformatics, especially where these approaches are integrated to explain toxin production mechanisms and improve understanding of HAB dynamics.

8. How does phylogenetics fit into the project purpose?

Phylogenetics can be used to map evolutionary relationships among cyanobacteria and algae. This may help reveal how toxin-producing traits emerged, diversified, and spread, which can inform understanding of toxicity patterns across different taxa and environments.

9. How does metagenomics fit into the project purpose?

Metagenomics enables analysis of genetic material directly from environmental samples. This allows detection and characterization of toxin-related genes and examination of the broader microbial community context without requiring laboratory culturing of organisms.

10. How does proteomics fit into the project purpose?

Proteomics examines expressed proteins, which can show what biological pathways are active under bloom or pre-bloom conditions. This adds functional evidence beyond gene presence, helping connect molecular activity to toxin production outcomes.

11. What role does bioinformatics play in the proposed work?

Bioinformatics is the connective tissue across these data streams. It can support genome assembly, annotation of toxin biosynthesis pathways, comparisons of strains or communities across locations and time, and linking molecular signals to observed toxin levels.

12. What kinds of outcomes is this research expected to support?

The expected impact is improved understanding that can contribute to more effective monitoring, forecasting, and management actions for HABs. Examples described include earlier warning indicators, better targeting of interventions, and improved strategies to reduce health, ecological, and economic impacts.

13. What is the award ceiling for this opportunity?

The listed award ceiling is $100,000, which indicates the maximum expected federal funding amount for an individual award under this announcement.

14. How many awards will be made?

The listing indicates that awards are expected, but the number of expected awards is not specified in the provided information.

15. What is the opportunity number?

The opportunity number is G23AS00412.

16. What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?

The opportunity is cataloged under CFDA number 15.808.

17. What is the funding activity category?

The funding activity category is Science and Technology and other Research and Development.

18. When was the opportunity created, and what was the original closing date?

The opportunity was created on June 13, 2023, and the original closing date was July 21, 2023.

19. What does it mean that this is issued under the CESU Program?

It means the opportunity is part of the CESU framework, which is intended to foster collaborative research, technical assistance, and education partnerships. In this case, the collaboration is targeted to a specific CESU network: the South-Florida Caribbean CESU.

20. What is the practical intent of the funded work?

Practically, USGS is looking to fund science that clarifies mechanisms and environmental or biological processes that drive cyanotoxin production, generating actionable knowledge that can strengthen HAB mitigation and prevention strategies.