Research in my laboratory focuses on defining the molecular mechanisms and genetic pathways by which animal cells sense and maintain salt and water balance. Our studies employ the roundworm C. elegans, a non-mammalian model organism that provides powerful experimental advantages for defining the genetic bases of fundamental physiological processes. These advantages include a fully sequenced genome, genetic tractability, and ease and economy of manipulating gene function. Our studies employ multiple methodological approaches including quantitative light and electron microscopy, molecular biology, functional genomics analyses, forward genetic screening, and genome-wide RNA interference screening.
Recent work in my laboratory has shown that cell dehydration causes rapid damage to cytoplasmic proteins. Ongoing studies focus on defining the mechanisms utilized by cells to detect, degrade, and repair proteins damaged by acute dehydration. We are also defining the mechanisms utilized by cells to protect proteins from damage during prolonged exposure to dehydrating conditions and the sensing and signaling pathways that activate genes required for cellular salt and water balance.
ClC genes encode ubiquitous proteins and that move Cl– ions and protons across cell and organelle membranes. Mutations in several human ClC genes cause kidney, bone, and muscle disorders. My laboratory utilizes the genetically-tractable model organism C. elegans to define the physiological consequences of ClC activity. Our studies employ a variety of methodological approaches including patch clamp electrophysiology, protein structure modeling, quantitative light microscopy, molecular biology, protein chemistry, functional genomics analyses, forward genetic screening and genome-wide RNA interference screening. Ongoing studies focus on defining the signaling pathways and phosphorylation dependent structural mechanisms that regulate a cell cycle and cell volume sensitive C. elegans ClC Cl– channel.
* * *
Dr. Strange was recognized by Maine magazine in June 2017 as one of 50 Mainers who are “leading by example.” The magazine highlighted Mainers who are driven to do what’s best for their communities, “no matter what the odds or expectations.” The leaders selected by the magazine were chosen because they “take action, even if they don’t know who will follow.” In the process they make their communities “healthier, more prosperous, more educated, more diverse, and more culturally rich.”
View the Maine magazine profile.
A Shot at Regeneration
Scientific American · March 25, 2019
Researchers Write about Brain-Machine Interfaces, How Eels Shock, and What Shark Bites Have to Do with Rebuilding Broken Bodies
Scientific American · March 19, 2019
New Accelerator Program Seeks to Bring Maine Bioscience Discoveries to Market
Portland Talks · February 19, 2019
New Accelerator Program Seeks to Bring Maine Bioscience Discoveries to Market
Kennebec Journal & Morning Sentinel · February 19, 2019
New Accelerator Program Seeks to Bring Maine Bioscience Discoveries to Market
Portland Press Herald · February 19, 2019
New Accelerator Program Seeks to Bring Maine Bioscience Discoveries to Market
centralmaine.com · February 19, 2019
Accelerator Hub to Boost Growth of Bio-Tech Industry in Maine and Beyond
Mainebiz · February 11, 2019
Research Firms Can Tap $3.5 Million to Improve Health in Maine
BioME · February 6, 2019
Research Firms Can Tap $3.5 Million to Improve Health in Maine
Bangor Daily News · February 6, 2019
The Feds Have Kicked in $3.5 Million to Spur Research Companies to Help Mainers Get Healthier
Bangor Daily News · February 6, 2019
MDI Lab Sees Breakthrough in Regenerative Medicine
The Working Waterfront · October 29, 2018
Week in Review: MDI Lab Gets $12 Million
Portland Press Herald · July 7, 2018
Do You Want to Live Longer? Maine Scientists Score $12M to Further Study to Find the Secret
News Center Maine · July 6, 2018
Strange on Regeneration
Mount Desert Islander · July 5, 2018
Maine Laboratory Receives $12 Million NIH Research Grant
98.9 WCLZ · July 3, 2018
Maine Laboratory Receives $12 Million NIH Research Grant
Maine's Coast 93.1 radio · July 3, 2018
$12M Grant to Further Research at MDI Biological Laboratory
ABC7/Fox 22 · July 3, 2018
Maine Laboratory Receives $12 Million NIH Research Grant
U.S. News and World Report · July 3, 2018
Head of Lab in Bar Harbor Wins $12 Million Research Grant
centralmaine.com · July 2, 2018
MDI Biological Lab President Kevin Strange Awarded $12M Grant
Mainebiz · July 2, 2018
MDI Biological Laboratory President Kevin Strange Awarded $12 Million NIH Grant
ALN Magazine · July 2, 2018
MDI Lab Gets $12M Grant to Study Aging, Body-Organ Regrowth
Bangor Daily News · June 29, 2018
MDI Biological Laboratory President Kevin Strange Awarded $12 Million NIH Grant
Press Release · June 28, 2018
'Unlocking Our Regenerative Power' to Be Subject of MDI Biological Laboratory Lecture
Press Release · June 27, 2018
MDI Biological Laboratory Receives $70,000 to Support Organoid Course
Press Release · June 26, 2018
Fund Honors William Procter
Mount Desert Islander · June 16, 2018
Regeneration of Human Tissue
Voice of Maine radio · June 4, 2018
The Laboratory by the Sea
Island Journal · May 24, 2018
MDI Biological Lab Establishes Scientific Innovation Fund
BioME · May 24, 2018
MDI Biological Laboratory Establishes Scientific Innovation Fund
Infosurhoy · May 23, 2018
MDI Biological Laboratory Establishes Scientific Innovation Fund
ALN Magazine · May 23, 2018
MDI Biological Lab Establishes Scientific Innovation Fund
Mainebiz · May 22, 2018
MDI Biological Laboratory Establishes Scientific Innovation Fund
BioIT World · May 21, 2018
MDI Biological Laboratory Establishes Scientific Innovation Fund
Press Release · May 21, 2018
MDI Biological Laboratory Establishes Scientific Innovation Fund
Bangor Daily News · May 21, 2018
MDI Biological Lab Announces Innovation Fund
Portland Press Herald · May 21, 2018
MDI Biological Laboratory Names New President
Mount Desert Islander · May 11, 2018
MDI Biological Laboratory Names New President
Bangor Daily News · May 11, 2018
MDI Biological Laboratory Has a New President
Mainebiz · May 10, 2018
MDI Biological Laboratory Names New President
Press Release · May 10, 2018
Building a Biotech Hub
Mount Desert Islander · February 22, 2018
Heart of a Fish
My Generation · January 5, 2018
Academics Back Authorship Statements to Stamp Out ‘Abuse’
Times Higher Education · November 30, 2017
Novo Biosciences Seeks USD 5-10m in Series A for Regenerative Medicine Molecule MSI-1436 – CEO
BioPharm Insight · November 7, 2017
Compound Could Regenerate Heart Muscle Tissue
Mount Desert Islander · September 29, 2017
Hope for Heart Attack Victims
Innovators Magazine · September 12, 2017
$1.5M Grant Advances Research of Therapy Drug for Heart Attack Victims
Mainebiz · September 12, 2017
Research Models Less Traveled By
Breaking Through · September 12, 2017
Regenerative Cardiac Drug Receives Federal Funding
RegMedNet · September 11, 2017
Novo Biosciences Receives Federal Grant to Advance Potential Heart Drug
Maine Technology Institute · September 8, 2017
Bar Harbor Company Gets $1.5 Million to Test Heart Attack Drug in Pigs
Central Maine: Kennebec Journal & Morning Sentinel · September 7, 2017
Novo Biosciences Receives Federal Grant to Advance Potential Heart Drug
Press Release · September 7, 2017
Bar Harbor Company Gets $1.5 Million to Test Heart Attack Drug in Pigs
Portland Press Herald · September 7, 2017
Health Group Giving Maine Firm Grant for Heart Attack Work
San Francisco Chronicle · September 7, 2017
MDI Biological Laboratory President Kevin Strange, Ph.D., Speaks to Maine Startups Insider About Novo Biosciences
Breaking Through · September 1, 2017
Research Models Less Traveled By
Charles River Laboratory · August 29, 2017
LSUHSC Cardiovascular Center and Novo Biosciences Receive $1.5 Million NIH Grant to Study Myocardial Regeneration
LSU Health New Orleans School of Medicine · August 28, 2017
University of Maine Students Conduct Biomedical Research During Summer Program
University of Maine · August 21, 2017
MDI Biological Laboratory Celebrates Banner Year
Mount Desert Islander · August 2, 2017
Ribbon Cutting for New MDI Biological Laboratory Building
WABI · July 27, 2017
New Center Opens at MDI Biological Laboratory
ABC7/Fox 22 · July 27, 2017
Where Will Maine's STEM Students Go to Work?
Mainebiz · July 10, 2017
MDI Biological Laboratory Scientist Receives Grant to Study Peripheral Neuropathy
The Foundation for Peripheral Neuropathy · July 8, 2017
Dr. Kevin Strange | 50 Mainers Leading by Example
Maine Magazine · July 5, 2017
Kevin Strange, Ph.D., Featured in Maine Magazine’s “50 Mainers” Issue
Breaking Through · July 5, 2017
MDI Biological Laboratory Offers 'Biomedical Bootcamp' for High Schoolers
Mainebiz · June 22, 2017
Living Long and Living Well: is it Possible to Do Both?
Regenerative Medicine Network · June 8, 2017
What If Stimulating Regeneration Were As Simple As Taking a Drug?
Breaking Through · May 31, 2017
Joel Graber, Ph.D., Joins MDI Biological Laboratory As Senior Staff Scientist
Bio IT World · April 28, 2017
Biomedical Startup Relocates to MDI Biological Laboratory
Mount Desert Islander · April 28, 2017
MDI Biological Laboratory to Provide Incubator Space to Monoclonals Inc.
Bangor Daily News · April 12, 2017
MDI Biological Laboratory's Maine Center for Biomedical Innovation Inspires Undergrads
Mount Desert Islander · April 3, 2017
Heart Drug Discovery Holds Hope
Mount Desert Islander · March 27, 2017
Bar Harbor Labs Make Advances With Major Diseases
Mainebiz · March 22, 2017
Looking Beyond Stem Cells and Tissue Engineering: What if Lost and Damaged Tissues and Organs Could Be Regenerated Simply by Taking a Drug?
Breaking Through · March 17, 2017
Tapping into Tissue Regeneration
Undark · March 16, 2017
Looking Beyond Stem Cells and Tissue Engineering: What If Lost and Damaged Tissues and Organs Could Be Regenerated Simply by Taking a Drug?
Regenerative Medicine Network · March 16, 2017
Drug Could Regenerate Damaged Tissue After A Heart Attack, Study Suggests
Huffington Post UK · March 14, 2017
MDI Biological Laboratory Scientists Publish Groundbreaking Study on New Heart Drug
Regenerative Medicine Network · March 13, 2017
If Zebrafish Can Re-Generate, Why Can't We?
Maine Public Radio · March 13, 2017
Hunch About Dogfish Leads MDI Scientists to Potential Heart Disease Breakthrough
Portland Press Herald · March 10, 2017
MDI Biological Laboratory Scientists Publish Groundbreaking Study on New Heart Drug
Press Release · March 10, 2017
Introduction to the MDI Biological Laboratory’s Center for Science Entrepreneurship
Regenerative Medicine Network · March 7, 2017
Maine Researcher Trying to Heal Human Hearts
WLBZ2 TV · March 6, 2017
Scientists at MDI Biological Laboratory Discover a Tiny Molecule That May Be Able to Heal a Damaged Heart
Bangor Daily News · February 27, 2017
Drug Successfully Treats Heart Disease in Zebrafish, Mice
ALN Magazine · September 16, 2016
New Patent Could Help Treat Heart Disease
Fox 22/ABC 7 TV · August 25, 2016
MDI Biological Laboratory Receives Patent for Heart Disease Research
WABI TV5/The CW · August 25, 2016
MDI Biological Laboratory Scientists Awarded Patent for Potential New Heart Disease Drug
Breaking Through · August 23, 2016
Bar Harbor Lab Gets Patent to Develop Molecule That Could Repair Heart Tissue
Portland Press Herald · August 23, 2016
MDI Bio Lab Scientists Score Patent for Heart Repair Medicine
Mainebiz · August 23, 2016
MDI Biological Laboratory Scientists Awarded Patent for Potential New Heart Disease Drug
Press Release · August 23, 2016
Could Humans Regrow Limbs?
Daily Mail · August 8, 2016
MDI Biological Laboratory President Plans to Step Down in July 2018
Press Release · July 28, 2016
Live Long, Live Healthy, Live to 150? Scientists on MDI Say It Can Be Done.
Bangor Daily News · July 12, 2016
A Century Ago, George Dorr Saw Acadia As Summer Home for Scientists
Bangor Daily News · July 12, 2016
MDI Biological Laboratory President Awarded $2.1M Grant to Study Protein Regulation
Press Release · July 17, 2015
MDI Biological Laboratory President Receives $2.1M Grant to Study Proteins
Bangor Daily News · July 14, 2015
Scientists Kevin Strange and Voot Yin Probe the Mysteries of Regenerative Tissue
Mainebiz · October 14, 2013
MDI Biological Laboratory Receives $13 Million Grant for Center of Biomedical Research Excellence
Press Release · September 25, 2013
Healing Thyself — MDI Lab Takes Heart in Regenerating Tissue
Mainebiz · March 4, 2013
MDI Lab Launches Regenerative Tissue Spin-Off
Mainebiz · February 19, 2013
MDI Lab’s First For-Profit Company
Bangor Daily News · February 19, 2013
Research Discovery Leads to New Private Company
Press Release · February 19, 2013
Rhythmic Ca²⁺ signaling: keeping time with microRNAs. Strange K, Yin VP. Curr Biol. 2012 Dec 4;22(23):R1000-1. doi: 10.1016/j.cub.2012.10.024. PMID: 23218004 [PubMed – in process]
CLC anion channel regulatory phosphorylation and conserved signal transduction domains. Miyazaki H, Yamada T, Parton A, Morrison R, Kim S, Beth AH, Strange K. Biophys J. 2012 Oct 17;103(8):1706-18. doi: 10.1016/j.bpj.2012.09.001. Epub 2012 Oct 16.PMID:23083714 [PubMed – in process]
GCN-2 dependent inhibition of protein synthesis activates osmosensitive gene transcription via WNK and Ste20 kinase signaling. Lee EC, Strange K. Am J Physiol Cell Physiol. 2012 Dec 15;303(12):C1269-77. doi: 10.1152/ajpcell.00294.2012. Epub 2012 Oct 17. PMID:23076791 [PubMed – indexed for MEDLINE]
Characterization of the proteostasis roles of glycerol accumulation, protein degradation and protein synthesis during osmotic stress in C. elegans. Burkewitz K, Choe KP, Lee EC, Deonarine A, Strange K. PLoS One. 2012;7(3):e34153. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0034153. Epub 2012 Mar 28.PMID:22470531[PubMed – indexed for MEDLINE]
Differential regulation of a CLC anion channel by SPAK kinase ortholog-mediated multisite phosphorylation. Miyazaki H, Strange K. Am J Physiol Cell Physiol. 2012 Jun 15;302(12):C1702-12. doi: 10.1152/ajpcell.00419.2011. Epub 2012 Feb 22.PMID:22357738[PubMed – indexed for MEDLINE]
High-throughput screening and biosensing with fluorescent C. elegans strains. Leung CK, Deonarine A, Strange K, Choe KP. J Vis Exp. 2011 May 19;(51). doi:pii: 2745. 10.3791/2745.PMID:21633332 [PubMed – indexed for MEDLINE]
Hypertonic stress induces rapid and widespread protein damage in C. elegans. Burkewitz K, Choe K, Strange K. Am J Physiol Cell Physiol. 2011 Sep;301(3):C566-76. doi: 10.1152/ajpcell.00030.2011. Epub 2011 May 25.PMID:21613604 [PubMed – indexed for MEDLINE]
Putting the pieces together: a crystal clear window into CLC anion channel regulation. Strange K. Channels (Austin). 2011 Mar-Apr;5(2):101-5. Epub 2011 Mar 1.PMID: 21317557 [PubMed – indexed for MEDLINE]
C. elegans STK39/SPAK ortholog-mediated inhibition of ClC anion channel activity is regulated by WNK-independent ERK kinase signaling. Falin RA, Miyazaki H, Strange K. Am J Physiol Cell Physiol. 2011 Mar;300(3):C624-35. doi: 10.1152/ajpcell.00343.2010. Epub 2010 Dec 15.PMID:21160027[PubMed – indexed for MEDLINE].
Cell physiology at the Mount Desert Island Biological Laboratory: a brief look back and forward. Strange K. Am J Physiol Cell Physiol. 2011 Jan;300(1):C1-5. doi: 10.1152/ajpcell.00448.2010. Epub 2010 Nov 10. PMID: 21068363 [PubMed – indexed for MEDLINE]