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ReBilD: Emerging Leaders in Regenerative Biology and Development 2025

This innovative ten-day course will feature concurrent experiments in regeneration and development, using an array of models and led by a dedicated cohort of outstanding teaching faculty. Hands-on work in MDI Biological Laboratory's advanced facilities will be complemented by round table discussions and informal dinners with multiple keynote lecturers, seminars, and other training activities. Course participants will be able to present their own research and network with other students and faculty at our coastal Maine campus, minutes from Acadia National Park.

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Overview

This innovative ten-day course will explore multiple models for both developmental and regenerative biology, comparative biology experiments, lectures, and seminars. The curriculum is designed for graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and career scientists interested in the nexus of developmental and regeneration research.

Within this dynamic environment each participant will work with and/or discuss:

  • invertebrate and vertebrate models such as planaria, Hydra, zebrafish, African turquoise killifish, axolotl, mouse, and spiny mouse
  • pathways controlling development
  • changes in regenerative potential

The program also aims to support the growing network of colleagues who are studying the crossroads between regeneration and development. MDI Bio Lab’s campus, near Acadia National Park and Bar Harbor, provides a relaxed setting for making new connections, with many opportunities for outdoor activities and recreation.

Applications are open! Complete applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the course has filled, at which time a waiting list will be maintained.

Course Directors

Iain Drummond, Ph.D.

MDI Biological Laboratory

Romain Madelaine, Ph.D.

MDI Biological Laboratory

Prayag Murawala, Ph.D.

MDI Biological Laboratory

Andrea Tilden, Ph.D.

MDI Biological Laboratory

Course Mentors

Karen Crawford, Ph.D.

MDI Biological Laboratory

Iain Drummond, Ph.D.

MDI Biological Laboratory

Joel H. Graber, Ph.D.

MDI Biological Laboratory

Longhua Guo, Ph.D.

University of Michigan

Celina Juliano, Ph.D.

University of California, Davis

Romain Madelaine, Ph.D.

MDI Biological Laboratory

Catherine McCusker, Ph.D.

University of Massachusetts, Boston

Karen Mruk, Ph.D.

East Carolina University

Prayag Murawala, Ph.D.

MDI Biological Laboratory

Speakers

Jonathan A. Epstein, M.D.

University of Pennsylvania, Perelman School of Medicine

Nadia Rosenthal, Ph.D., FMedSci, FAAHMS

The Jackson Laboratory

Elly Tanaka, Ph.D.

Austrian Academy of Sciences IMBA – Institute of Molecular Biotechnology

Hermann Haller, M.D.

MDI Biological Laboratory

Malcolm Maden, Ph.D.

University of Florida

Jeff Mumm, Ph.D.

Johns Hopkins University

Tatjana Piotrowski, Ph.D.

Stowers Institute

James Monaghan, Ph.D.

Northeastern University

James Godwin, Ph.D.

MDI Biological Laboratory

B. Duygu Özpolat, Ph.D.

University of Washington, St. Louis

Bo Wang, Ph.D.

Stanford University

Frederic Bonnet, Ph.D.

MDI Biological Laboratory

Jane Disney, Ph.D.

MDI Biological Laboratory

Edward Seckeler

MDI Biological Laboratory

Housing

Double occupancy rooms and shared bathrooms are provided. Single occupancy rooms may become available upon request, and under certain circumstances, please contact our Director of Campus Services (bharris@mdibl.org).

Tuition

$1,800 USD

The tuition includes all meals and housing.

 

Schedule

ReBilD_Flyer_2025

ReBilD: Emerging Leaders in Regenerative Biology and Development

Sunday, July 13

4:00 pm Arrival – Orientation of the campus
Drs. Drummond, Madelaine, Murawala

4:45 Welcome
Dr. Haller

5:00 Opening Keynote
Dr. Nadia Rosenthal

6:00 Welcome Reception

Monday, July 14

9:00 am IACUC and Animal Core tour
Eddie Seckler

10:00 History of Regeneration Research
Dr. Karen Crawford

11:00 Planaria Regeneration
Dr. Longhua Guo

12:00 pm LUNCH

1:00 Keynote Lecture
Dr. Hermann Haller

2:00 Round table discussion
Dr. Hermann Haller

2:30 Planaria/Axolotl Lab
Dr. Longhua Guo & Crawford

6:00 DINNER

Tuesday, July 15

9:00 am Spinal Cord Regeneration
Dr. Karen Mruk

10:00 Muscle Regeneration
Dr. Romain Madelaine

11:00 RCR Training
Dr. Jane Disney

12:00 pm LUNCH

1:00 Keynote Lecture
Dr. Bo Wang

2:00 Round table discussion
Dr. Bo Wang

2:30 Zebrafish Spinal Cord – lab 1
Dr. Karen Mruk and Dr. Romain Madelaine

6:00 DINNER

Wednesday, July 16

9:00 am Transgenesis in zebrafish and axolotl
Dr. Iain Drummond, Crawford, and Murawala

12:00 pm LUNCH

1:00 Keynote Lecture
Dr. Malcolm Maden

2:00 Round table discussion
Dr. Malcolm Maden

2:30 Zebrafish Spinal Cord – lab 2
Dr. Karen Mruk and Romain Madelaine

6:00 Acadian Sunset Cruise

Thursday, July 17

9:00 am Axolotl Digit Regeneration: Conserved Mechanisms, Divergent Patterning, and a Critical Role for Hedgehog Signaling
Dr. James Monaghan

10:00 The role of immune cells in limb regeneration
Dr. James Godwin

11:00  Kidney Regeneration
Dr. Iain Drummond

12:00 pm LUNCH

1:00 Keynote Lecture
Dr. Tatjana Piotrowski

2:00 Round table discussion
Dr. Tatjana Piotrowski

2:30 Zebrafish – kidney lab 1
Dr. Iain Drummond

6:00 DINNER

Friday, July 18

9:00 am Basics in Microscopy
Dr. Frederic Bonnet

10:00 Bioinformatics – lab 1
Dr. Joel Graber

12:00 pm LUNCH

1:00 Keynote Lecture
Dr. Jon Epstein

2:00 Round table discussion
Dr. Jon Epstein

2:30 Zebrafish – kidney lab2
Dr. Iain Drummond

6:00 DINNER

Saturday, July 19

9:00 am Student Symposium

12:00 pm LUNCH

1:00 Keynote Lecture
Dr. Duygu Özpolat

2:00 Round table discussion
Dr. Duygu Özpolat

2:30 Career Counseling Workshop
Dr. Arindam Majumdar, Dr. Elisabeth Marnik, Dr. Priyanka Murawala, & Dr. Aileen Huang-Saad

6:00 DINNER

Sunday, July 20

Optional – Hike in Acadia National Park with keynote speakers and mentors or catch up on work

Monday, July 21

9:00 am Hydra Regeneration
Dr. Celina Juliano

10:00 Bioinformatics lab 2
Dr. Joel Graber

12:00 pm LUNCH

1:00 Keynote Lecture
Dr. Jeff Mumm

2:00 Roundtable discussion
Dr. Jeff Mumm

2:30 Hydra Lab
Dr. Celina Juliano

6:00 DINNER

Tuesday, July 22

9:00 am Limb/tail Regeneration
Dr. Prayag Murawala

10:00 Accessory Limb Model
Dr. McCusker

11:00 Observe hydra lab and axolotl results

12:00 pm LUNCH

1:00 Keynote Lecture
Dr. Elly Tanaka

2:00 Round table discussion
Dr. Elly Tanaka

2:30 Axolotl Accessory Limb – lab
Dr. McCusker and Dr. Murawala

6:00 LOBSTER BAKE

Wednesday, July 23

9:00 am Departure

 

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