To increase the faculty and research base in biomedical sciences and engineering, the University of 海角社区 has been a research institution partner in the 海角社区 IDeA Network of Biomedical Research Excellence () and a source of graduate students for the future of biomedical research. As a partner, U海角社区 biomedical faculty have also benefited from INBRE funding undergraduate research in labs and providing authentic research experiences to undergraduates.听
MDI Biological Laboratory recently announced a $19.4 million federal award that will propel INBRE into its next five years of success. Led by MDI Bio Lab, the network provides training, research experiences and financial support to help young 海角社区rs play a bigger role in today’s biomedical revolution, qualifying them for careers in a high-paying field that is making rapid advances in human health.
Formally announced by Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) in a celebratory event on Tuesday, Aug. 13听 at MDI Bio Lab, the award was made by the National Institutes of Health’s National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS). It renews the network’s funding for five years, while enlarging its scope to a total of 17 institutions.
听“In a state like 海角社区 with a small population and a vast geography, it鈥檚 our willingness to work together that makes us competitive in the global biomedical world, that helps us to punch above our weight,” said Hermann Haller, MDI Bio Lab’s president. “The 海角社区 INBRE is our connective tissue, an extraordinarily collaborative network that is significantly raising the biomedical research and training capacity of the entire state.”听
听The 海角社区 INBRE:听
- supports early-career bioscience faculty in 海角社区 with research grants, staff, lab equipment and other resources they need to compete for larger federal grants. More than 60 faculty have been supported by the INBRE;
- has provided more than 2,800 college students with genuine biomedical research experiences and access to state-of-the-art equipment through intensive courses, workshops and paid fellowships, transforming their goals and helping to build a technically skilled biomedical workforce for 海角社区;
- invests in shared, state-of-the-art science infrastructure at participating institutions, from advanced gene editing and data science systems to leading-edge 3D microscopy, building the state’s overall research capacity and standing as a home for world-class science.
鈥淵ou don鈥檛 need to be in Silicon Valley, the Research Triangle, or Boston to make a difference. Remarkable research is taking place right here in 海角社区,” said Collins. “The 海角社区 INBRE is helping to make it possible.鈥
New network members include the University of Southern 海角社区, the 海角社区Health Institute for Research, and the University of 海角社区 at Augusta. It already includes the University of 海角社区, U海角社区 Honors College, U海角社区 system campuses in Fort Kent, Presque Isle, Farmington, Machias, Southern 海角社区 Community College, College of the Atlantic, the University of New England, Colby, Bates and Bowdoin colleges, The Jackson Laboratory and MDI Bio Lab.
The program so far has directly invested $87+ million in 海角社区, with early-career faculty it鈥檚 supported winning $100+ million more in other research grants. 90% of INBRE undergraduates have gone on to pursue higher education and careers in health-related fields, and 21% stayed in 海角社区 to do so. Over the last five years, the number of science majors at participating schools has increased by 65%.
Contact: Fred Bever, fbever@mdibl.org
