Biotechnology
AlphaFold AI Program Reshapes Research
Historically, revealing the shape of a single protein was laborious and expensive. Not any more.
Continue ReadingDiscovery
Double Duty: A Shared DNA Sequence’s Unexpected Role in Gene Expression
MDI Bio Lab scientists uncover a new layer of gene regulation in a type of RNA that was once dismissed as genetic "junk."
Continue ReadingAlum Spotlight
Paying Forward an Opportunity
Donald J. Brooks came to MDI Biological Laboratory as a SURF student, where his first experience in research helped launch his career in science. Now, as a monthly donor, he is paying that opportunity forward so other students can discover the same possibilities. In this reflection, a member of the MDI Bio Lab Class of ’13 shares why the experience still matters to him.
Continue ReadingAging
Sonia Sandhi’s Journey to a Ph.D. in Aging Research
Sonia Sandhi grew up not knowing what a Ph.D. was — she knows now. Sonia just earned her doctorate in the latest sign of momentum for MDI Bio Lab’s graduate fellowship program.
Continue ReadingKidney Disease
MDI Biological Laboratory Receives Historic Archive of Award-Winning Scientific Films
The MDI Biological Laboratory has received a significant gift from Dr. Reinier Beeuwkes: an archive of 16mm scientific films documenting the microscopic blood vessels of the human kidney and heart in unprecedented, dynamic detail.
Continue ReadingMaine INBRE
The Maine INBRE: Shaping Maine’s “Scientific Identity” for 25 Years
Some 70 scientists, academic leaders and students from all corners of Maine joined together at the MDI Biological Laboratory this month to celebrate the pioneering achievements of the Maine IDeA Network of Biomedical Research Excellence (Maine INBRE).
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Leading Research and Media Communicator Joins Board of Trustees
MDI Biological Laboratory has appointed Jennifer K. Benz to its Board of Trustees, adding a nationally recognized voice in science communication and public affairs research to the institution's governance.
Continue ReadingSummer Student Spotlight
SURF2026: Meet Anna Yegorova
For University of Maryland student Anna Yegorova, the 2026 Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship program offered the perfect combination of cutting-edge regenerative biology research and the chance to spend a summer in one of the most beautiful places in the country.
Continue ReadingSummer Student Spotlight
SURF2026: Meet Kirin Guay
UMaine Orono student Kirin Guay joined the Updike Lab through the 2026 Summer Research Fellowship program. From building research skills to gaining confidence as a science communicator, opportunities to grow have been plentiful — both in and out of the lab.
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