Interactive Exhibits
At The University of Toledo, professors and other researchers care about the issues that affect people, the natural world and a spectrum of other concerns.
They perfected the design of a commonly used beehive to ensure the sustainability of pollinating bees.
They create experiments and develop filters that could make drinking water for Ohioans clean and safe.
Their research may help people with diabetes, hypertension, obesity and cancer overcome some of their biggest challenges, and potentially prevent these diseases from affecting future generations.
Their work could save the lives of many vulnerable individuals, including minors, from the labor and sexual exploitation of human traffickers.
They assess the process for resurfacing highways to determine how to save millions in revenue.
To see how several professors are targeting a variety of environmental, societal and
medical problems, please look through the following highlights. Their current work
addresses issues that impact populations from the banks of Lake Erie to the Gulf of
Mexico and beyond.
UToledo Biodesign Challenge: Apigiene Hive
The Apigiene Hive explores the use of biological materials to deter the number of mite infestations in bee hives. As a new design for the commonly used langstroth hive, Apigiene prevents the collapse of bee colonies. This is achieved by adding a fibrous brush filled with zebra mussel diatoms to the apiary entrance, which targets Varroa mites on the surface of adult bees.
Human Trafficking and Social Justice Institute
The Human Trafficking and Social Justice Institute is leading the fight to end human trafficking through research, evidence-based interventions and education.
Each year, at the oldest and largest conference on human trafficking, the Human Trafficking and Social Justice Institute hosts scholars and practitioners from around the world who work to end human trafficking. Scholars present their study results at the conference, an exchange of information that builds on a body of research to help victims recover and prevent at-risk youths from becoming victims. Survivors of human trafficking also speak with participants about the realities of human trafficking.
The Human Trafficking and Social Justice Institute targets its prevention curriculum at youth with the highest risk of being trafficked. Currently, a curriculum is being piloted with 100 youth in Ohio.
The Human Trafficking and Social Justice Institute has conducted research to develop an evidence-based intervention model called Partners Against Trafficking in Humans, or PATH. Through PATH, the institute researches and collects data to improve service delivery through a coordinated approach so victims become survivors, and survivors become thrivers.
UToledo Water Task Force
In response to the city of Toledo's August 2014 water crisis, The University of Toledo formed a task force to provide support and information to officials and the public. UToledo faculty members and researchers offered their expertise regarding the nature of the problem and suggested approaches that could protect the health of Lake Erie, the quality of drinking water in northwest Ohio and the health of the citizens of the region.
Use of Biofilters
After the city's "Do Not Drink" advisory, Dr. Jason Huntley, UToledo associate professor and microbiologist, focused his research on targeting microcystin toxins released by algal blooms. Huntley led his research team in creating a biofilter that uses naturally occurring Lake Erie bacteria to remove the microcystin from drinking water. This method also reduces or eliminates the use of chlorine and other chemicals.
The filters contain the specialized bacteria that degrade microcystin toxins from lake water as it flows through the filter. Huntley holds a provisional patent on this technology.
Grants from the Ohio Department of Higher Education, through the state's Harmful Algal Bloom Research Initiative, support this research. The initiative comprises 54 science teams at universities across the state that seek solutions to address Lake Erie's toxic algae.
The Effects of Emerging Environmental Toxins on Human Health
UToledo's Dr. David Kennedy, assistant professor of medicine, and Dr. Steven Haller, assistant professor of medicine, are researching the effects of emerging environmental toxins on human health. The microcystins released by harmful algal blooms are considered a growing public-health concern here in Ohio and around the world. Kennedy and Haller set out to provide local and global communities with innovative ways to prevent, diagnose and treat environmental toxin exposure, especially for at-risk patients.
Given the dependence on the Great Lakes as a source of clean drinking water, as well as recreation and agriculture, Kennedy and Haller's lab seeks to develop evidence-based guidelines and prevention strategies for emerging environmental toxin exposure, with an emphasis on at-risk patient populations. They also are creating new diagnostic tools to monitor the health effects of emerging environmental toxins across multiple organ systems and establish new treatments.
Reverse Osmoses Filters
Dr. Glenn Lipscomb, professor and chair of the UToledo Department of Engineering, focused his research on engineering osmotic systems for water and energy production. Reverse osmoses occurs when molecules are forced through a membrane using hydrostatic pressure. Through this filtration process, particles are removed, leaving only the water molecules. His team conducted research on common home filtration systems available to the public and found that these systems effectively remove microcystin toxin from drinking water. Glenn is developing a certification process for these systems.
Highway Structure Assessment
Dr. Eddie Y. Chou, professor of civil engineering at The University of Toledo, designed the original highway structure assessment model for the Ohio Department of Transportation 25 years ago. When Dr. Chou was recently consulted about the need for a new assessment for resurfacing roads in Ohio, he assembled a team of UToledo engineers to create a solution that would save ODOT millions of dollars. This project has been recognized by the Transportation Research Board as one of 32 High-Value Research Projects nationwide and was highlighted at its annual meeting in Washington, D.C.
Diabetes and Molecular Drug Research
Bilirubin is traditionally used as a marker for liver disease. While extremely high bilirubin levels are considered toxic, low levels also are harmful and increase body fat, diabetes, stroke and cardiovascular diseases. Researchers in Dr. Terry Hinds' lab discovered that moderately elevating levels of bilirubin is key to reducing metabolic and cardiovascular diseases. This exhibit explores new technology developed to use bilirubin as a therapeutic.
