In pursuit of understanding the biological mechanisms of regenerative biology and how our cells age, MDI Biological Laboratory runs a number of comprehensive research programs:
COBRE
A Center of Biomedical Research Excellence (COBRE) grant was awarded to the MDI Biological Laboratory in September 2013 through funding from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). This grant builds upon and expands the Institution’s unique scientific expertise, providing support for junior scientists as they establish independent, extramurally funded research programs.
INBRE
The Maine IDeA Network of Biomedical Research Excellence (INBRE) is a collaborative network of Maine educational and research institutions led by the MDI Biological Laboratory and sponsored by the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
Kathryn W. Davis Center for Regenerative Biology and Aging
Scientists in the Davis Center use diverse animal models and cell systems to define the genetic mechanisms underlying tissue repair and regeneration and how the activity of various genes influences lifespan. In 2013, the Davis Center was designated a Center of Biomedical Research Excellence (COBRE) by the National Institutes of Health.
Visiting Scientists
The MDI Biological Laboratory has hosted short research visits and sabbaticals for academic and industry scientists for over a century. Laboratory space, campus housing, and scientific core facilities are available on a fee basis. Research involving laboratory animals is possible to the extent of the laboratory’s animal resources and with approval of the laboratory’s IACUC committee.
Science Education Partnership Award (SEPA)
The MDI Biological Laboratory is the recipient of a Science Education Partnership Award (SEPA) from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The project focuses on STEM education that engages students as citizen scientists and provides them with tools, skills and resources to make sense of data so that their results can inform actions at the local, regional, and even national level.