The National Science Foundation (NSF) has awarded a three-year, $1 million grant to a team led by Electrical Engineering Prof. Yan Luo at University of Massachusetts Lowell, to develop an innovative data analytics platform named BioSPACE. The project aims to employ biosensors for the real-time detection of harmful organisms, specifically Vibrio and Pseudomonas, in aquaculture farms and coastal waters.
BioSPACE, short for Biosensing Surveillance of Pathogens in Aquaculture and Coastal Environments, seeks to provide continuous water monitoring. In the event of detection, the platform will promptly alert local and state agencies, enabling swift preventive measures against disease spread.
Luo emphasizes the critical role of this initiative in safeguarding public health, particularly in vulnerable coastal regions that serve communities with food, recreation, and protection from storms. The project addresses the need for real-time monitoring to prevent disease outbreaks that can devastate entire aquaculture farms.
Aquaculture involves breeding, rearing, and harvesting aquatic organisms, and it has become a crucial industry. In 2020, aquaculture farms in the United States produced 658 million pounds of fish, crustaceans, shellfish, and algae valued at $1.5 billion. Bivalve mollusks like oysters, clams, and mussels, along with salmon and shrimp, constitute over 80% of the aquaculture output by value.
Waterborne pathogens, whether natural or transmitted from various sources, pose a significant threat to aquaculture. Human pathogens, such as norovirus and E. coli, enter aquatic ecosystems through sewage discharges and farm runoff, jeopardizing the sustainability of the industry. The economic burden of waterborne diseases in the United States alone exceeds $3 billion annually, with global aquaculture losses surpassing $6 billion each year.
BioSPACE aims to provide an early warning system for pathogens, offering a rapid, portable, cost-effective, and user-friendly monitoring solution. The research team will initially focus on detecting bacterial and viral pathogens, such as Vibrio, prevalent in shrimp aquaculture and coastal waters.
Luo’s team includes co-principal investigators Assoc. Prof. Sheree Pagsuyoin and Assoc. Prof. Frederic Chain, along with senior personnel Asst. Prof. Sarah Gignoux-Wolfsohn. External collaborators include Northeastern University, the University of Arizona, and Woodpecker Microsystems.
This project marks a departure for Luo’s team, primarily focused on biosensor technology for public health applications, into the complex setting of seawater. The team will assess the performance and accuracy of biosensors in detecting specific aquatic pathogens, paving the way for a more resilient and sustainable aquaculture industry.
