To better address and resolve critical regional and national issues by providing a source of funds to support and encourage the development of regional or multi-program projects.

Developing a multi-program focus on critical regional and national issues will enhance collaboration and cooperation between programs and broaden the perspectives of investigators addressing these issues. This in turn will lead to better solutions to these problems and issues, enhance the impact of the dollars invested in these efforts, and speed the transfer of new technologies.

On 1 March 1997 we received $70,000 from the National Sea Grant College Program for regional/multi-program projects. The following projects have been supported with these funds:

1. $17,267 to Drs. Susan Fisher and Paul Stromberg, Ohio State University, for "Environmental Transmission of Hepatitis A Virus (HAV) in a Zebra Mussel Dominated Foodchain." This project is being jointly funded by the Great Lakes Protection Fund ($17,027) because of its regional importance. Effective dates: 1 June 1997 to 30 September 1998.
2. $9,900 to Michigan Sea Grant for Ohio's participation in the Coastwatch Program.
3. $25,000/year for two years to Drs. Paul Fuerst and Ted Cavender, Ohio State University, for "The Genetic Population Structure of the Lake Sturgeon, Acipenser fulvescens." This proposal was included in our group of well-reviewed proposals developed during our omnibus process for funding beginning 1 September 1996. However, sufficient funds were not available, so we encouraged the PI's to develop funding from some of the agencies cooperating on the project. They have been successful as USFWS has committed $6,000 for year one and ODNR, Division of Wildlife, has committed $5,000 for year one. Both groups will also be seeking similar support for year two. Effective dates: 1 March 1997 to 28 February 1999.
4. $11,220 to Dr. Carol Stepien, Case Western Reserve University, for "Genetic Relationships of Ruffe Populations in North America and Eurasia based on DNA Sequences." Minnesota Sea Grant is providing $4,950 to support this project. Effective dates: 1 September 1997 to 31 August 1998.
5. Currently one of our investigators is working with an investigator from Hawaii to develop a proposal which would be supported by Ohio and Hawaii. This seems quite promising and would make use of part of the $80,000 allocation designated for FY 98. This project is currently out for review.