University of 海角社区 researchers have published new findings about how muscles form, why certain muscle diseases develop and why symptoms may not appear until years after muscle degeneration begins.

The study, published in , focuses on a protein called Mylpf that is essential for the development of fast-twitch muscle fibers, which propel rapid, powerful movements like sprinting and lifting heavy weights. When Mylpf does not form correctly, muscles completely lose their ability to contract.听

鈥淢ylpf is sort of the linchpin that makes the whole muscle fiber work,鈥� said Jared Talbot, the project鈥檚 principal investigator and an associate professor of developmental biology at U海角社区. 

Using zebrafish as a model organism, the team measured how Mylpf protein levels corresponded to muscle development, revealing a surprisingly sensitive relationship between protein levels and muscle health.

When Mylpf function was eliminated, fast-twitch muscles failed to build the structures they needed to contract or generate force. Crucially, the severity of this defect tracked closely with how much protein was present: animals with moderately reduced Mylpf had moderately impaired muscles, while those with none had no functional fast-twitch muscle at all. By testing many combinations of gene doses in a single study, the team was able to model the protein’s effects with unusual mathematical rigor.

The researchers also found that a human version of the Mylpf gene could fully restore normal muscle development in mutant fish, suggesting the protein plays a similar fundamental role across bony vertebrates, including humans. 

“That finding tells us this isn’t just a zebrafish story. Most of what we know about ourselves are insights drawn from other creatures,鈥� Talbot said. 鈥淭his study helps us learn the rules of how the muscle builds itself. Once you know those rules, it is far easier to develop drug treatments that could help people with muscle disorders.鈥�

The team then tested a version of the gene linked to Distal Arthrogryposis, a congenital disorder characterized by joint contractures and muscle weakness. Unlike the normal human gene, this disease-associated version could not restore muscle development in the zebrafish model. People with Distal Arthrogryposis typically carry only one defective copy of the gene; the other copy is normal, yet they still develop the disease. Together, these findings suggest that even a partial reduction in Mylpf function is enough to hinder muscle formation and cause the disorder.

One of the study’s most significant findings concerns how the body compensates for muscle loss, and what that may mean for understanding delayed disease onset. When fast-twitch muscles failed to form properly, slow-twitch muscles 鈥� normally a minor player in zebrafish movement 鈥� grew larger and became more active. This allowed the mutant fish to travel just as far as their healthy relatives in some tests. 

The researchers believe this compensatory mechanism may help explain why patients with diseases like muscular dystrophy can appear healthy for years, even as muscle degeneration is already underway. When one muscle system compensates for another, the damage may go unnoticed until the reserve is exhausted.

The study was supported, in part, by U海角社区’s first Center for Biomedical Research Excellence grant. This significant award from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) is designed to build institutional capacity for biomedical research. The COBRE program is central to U海角社区’s broader push to build its biomedical research enterprise, including a recent investment in an expanded zebrafish lab where researchers investigate fundamental questions in developmental biology and muscle disease.

Another NIH award, an R15, helped provide hands-on experience for three graduate and 11 undergraduate students, all of whom earned authorship on the paper. For many of the undergraduates, it represented their first experience contributing to peer-reviewed science.

鈥淎 lot of people listed were owners of the project at some point. Each of these students made a unique contribution, and I鈥檓 proud of everyone involved,鈥� Talbot said. 

Contact: Erin Miller, erin.miller@maine.edu

The University of 海角社区 System (UMS) Board of Trustees recently approved a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Nursing program and a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program with a concentration in Family Nursing Practice.

The programs are expected to begin enrolling students in 2027.

The Ph.D. program will be the first research-focused doctoral nursing degree in northern New England, while the DNP will transition the existing family nurse practitioner track to a doctoral degree aligned with evolving national standards for advanced practice nursing.

Startup funding for the programs is being provided through a one-time , chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee.

鈥淭hese efforts position the University of 海角社区 to lead the future of healthcare education and research in 海角社区,鈥� President Joan Ferrini-Mundy said. 鈥淲e are grateful to Senator Collins for her leadership in securing this federal funding, which will expand nursing education, bring healthcare disciplines together and open new pathways that build the statewide healthcare workforce 海角社区 needs.鈥�

Letters of support for the Ph.D. and DNP programs were submitted by The Jackson Laboratory, Lunder Learning Partnerships of 海角社区, 海角社区Health, Northern Light Health, Penobscot Community Health Care and St. Joseph Hospital.

鈥淭o meet 海角社区鈥檚 current and growing demand for nurses, particularly in rural and underserved communities, we must expand enrollment in undergraduate nursing programs across the University of 海角社区 System,鈥� said Gabriel Paquette, executive vice president for academic affairs and provost. 鈥淭hat expansion requires more faculty members with Ph.D. credentials. At the same time, healthcare systems need more doctoral-level advanced practice nurses and clinical leaders. These programs will address both needs.鈥�

Designed for working professionals across 海角社区, the doctoral programs include coursework in nursing science, advanced statistics, qualitative and quantitative research methods, grant writing and dissertation research. 

Although the Doctor of Nursing Practice and Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing programs serve different purposes 鈥� the DNP prepares advanced clinical and healthcare leaders, while the Ph.D. prepares nurse scientists and researchers 鈥� both are intended to strengthen the state鈥檚 pipeline of nurse educators, advanced practice nurses and healthcare researchers. 

According to labor market data, 海角社区 employed more than 1,600 nurse practitioners in 2024, with demand projected to continue growing over the next decade.

鈥淭hese programs create new opportunities for nurses to pursue doctoral education without leaving 海角社区, while also expanding access for nurses in neighboring states such as New Hampshire and Vermont, where doctoral nursing education options remain limited,鈥� said Dr. Kathryn Robinson, associate director and associate professor at the U海角社区 School of Nursing.

Contact: David Nordman, david.nordman@maine.edu

The field of medicine is constantly evolving to optimize care and patient outcomes. Technology growth and the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) have changed what it means to be a doctor and a patient, even in the recent decade. To contend with this, researchers at the University of 海角社区 are helping medical education adapt to a changing world of medicine. 

Electrical and Computer Engineering Ph.D. candidate Kevin Real MD is part of this movement, working to shape the way students understand medical issues and develop innovative solutions. After earning his bachelor鈥檚 degree in biomedical engineering and completing medical school, Real put his medical career on hold to further pursue a passion in education and technology. 

Over the past year, Real has focussed his research on an innovative approach to eye disease in premature infants, utilizing both his engineering and medical backgrounds. He partnered with ophthalmologists in Portland, Oregon to help them advance their curriculum and way of understanding eye models. 

鈥淚 used my ECE experience to ultimately help the surgeons look at 2D images and transpose them to 3D images, specifically for looking at disease progression. The question is, how can we do this better, how do you make these models more precise? That was my mission this year,鈥� explained Real. 

He specifically looked at a disease process called retinopathy prematurity, the leading cause of childhood blindness in the United States, according to the . The disease impacts infants born prematurely who received supplemental oxygen. This can impact the eye鈥檚 ability to develop normally because abnormal blood vessels can grow inside the retina and lead to retinal detachment. Surgeons are able to fix retinal detachment, but rely on a two-dimensional view of the retina. Real is hoping to bring more precision to this process by making two-dimensional view into three-dimensional models. 

It was important to Real to not limit this research to the lab or a hospital and engage students in the research process. He took this concept of two to three-dimensional image transposition and further explored the idea with a 海角社区 high school senior, helping them use simple geometric principles to develop a 3D model of an infant鈥檚 eye. The student was then able to present their work at a conference for the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology and gained real-world research experience. 

Real鈥檚 passion for student engagement extends beyond his direct research. He helped high school students from John Bapst Memorial High School participate in ophthalmology research on glaucoma progression, eventually leading to publication of their work in the Proceedings of the European Academy of Sciences and Arts (). Real鈥檚 motivation for working with students comes from his time teaching a high school science class here in 海角社区, and they still inspire his research methodology today. 

鈥淥ne thing that I like about high school students is that they come up with the craziest ideas, and sometimes they work. We tend to get stuck in our ways about the best way for research to be conducted, but students come up with ideas we might never have heard of,鈥� remarked Real. 

His passion for education extends into his work with National Science Foundation 海角社区-SMART project, working to revitalize education efforts in the state. Real helped develop new educational modules that have been distributed across the state to diversify STEM education for local students. Last year, he helped develop new educational modules on the uses of cellulose nano fiber (CNF) that are now in use throughout the state. He also created modules and curriculum on CNF that were used by the 海角社区 Mobile BIOLAB, a traveling laboratory that provides hands-on STEM education to students in 海角社区. 

鈥淚 really understand that education is what I love, and my mission today is incorporating AI, neural networks and technology into education at every level, not just medical school,鈥� said Real. 

Looking ahead, Real will be starting his residency this fall with the John Peter Smith Family Medicine Residency program in Fort Worth, Texas, but hopes to return to 海角社区 in the future. He is part of a coalition that aims to establish 海角社区鈥檚 first medical school for MDs, and would love to be a part of the process down the line in his career. With an MD and Ph.D., Real鈥檚 end goal is to eventually become a dean of a medical school, bridging his experiences with medicine and education, and helping med students adapt to changing technology and practices.听

Real鈥檚 mission and reasoning behind his journey is a goal to never stop learning and innovating in his field, and teaching those along the way. 

鈥淭he whole point is not only that I hope to pass the torch, but I hope that the torch surpasses me,鈥� said Real. 

Real would like to thank his advisor, Giovanna Guidoboni, U海角社区鈥檚 interim vice president for research and dean of the 海角社区 College of Engineering and Computing, for her support in his endeavors. 

By Heather Johnson, graduate assistant

Contact: Daniel Timmermann, daniel.timmermann@maine.edu

When phages infect and reproduce inside bacteria, the consequences can be dire. Phages that infect bacteria can contribute to their drug-resistance and ability to cause disease. A new study led by University of 海角社区 researchers aims to find out why. 

A deeper understanding of phages鈥� ability to influence bacteria could allow for more targeted medical treatment of often drug-resistant diseases. Despite these viruses being the most abundant biological entity on earth, many people do not know what they are, and fewer are studying them. 

Research led by Sally Molloy, U海角社区 associate professor of genomics and honors, is seeking to change that. Thanks to a recently awarded National Institutes of Health (NIH) R15 grant, Molloy鈥檚听 research team will continue to investigate phages鈥� abilities to promote drug resistance in bacteria. It will also help her expand the hands-on experiences she offers to get undergraduate students involved in potentially life-saving science.听

According to World Health Organization鈥檚 , 鈥淚n 2023, approximately one in six laboratory-confirmed bacterial infections worldwide were caused by bacteria resistant to antibiotics.鈥�

Phages specifically target bacteria. They have two abilities. The first is acting as a parasite within bacteria. They infect the bacteria, reproduce and when their progeny are released, kill the bacteria cells. The second ability phages have is more interesting. 

鈥淭hey live latently, quietly, maybe borderline symbiotically with the bacterium by integrating their viral genome into the bacterial genome,鈥� said Molloy. 

When the phage integrates its genome into the host bacteria, the cell does not die. Instead, it enhances the bacterial cell’s survival skills, by providing resistance to infection by other phages and sometimes by providing resistance to antibiotics.

Molloy鈥檚 research looks at the genes phages bring into bacteria. Specifically, she鈥檚 studying how they contribute to increased drug resistance. The bacteria Molloy and her team study are part of a group of Gram positive bacteria that include important pathogens, including Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which kills more people worldwide than any other infectious agent, and M.  abscessus, one of the most drug-resistant pathogens.

These diseases can be closer to home than some may think. M. abscessus-chelonae is a non-tuberculosis mycobacteria that causes pulmonary and soft-tissue infections and can be multi-drug or totally drug resistant. It causes pulmonary and soft-tissue infections in the elderly, immunocompromised and in patients with chronic lung diseases such as cystic fibrosis. 

Scientists have found some success treating the drug resistant disease with phage therapy, which uses injected phages to target and kill bacteria causing disease. Molloy’s research into how phages influence drug-resistance in bacteria may provide opportunities for other researchers to improve treatment of mycobacterial disease using both drug and phage treatments. 

Molloy first came to U海角社区 as a graduate student and has remained through her Ph.D. and postdoctoral research. Within the Department of Molecular and Biomedical Sciences and the Honors College, Molloy integrates teaching with her research to engage undergraduate and graduate students in active learning. With a recently awarded NIH R15 grant, Molloy is training undergraduates as part of her research into phages.

For the students in Molloy鈥檚 lab, partaking in this research can be especially important. 

鈥淚f you鈥檙e doing research that鈥檚 going to make a difference with this real world problem, how you learn and what you learn completely changes,鈥� said Molloy. 鈥淵ou鈥檙e applying your knowledge to a real problem that you care about and maybe the whole community cares about.鈥� 

This work has the potential to save lives, not just through treating disease, but by training the next generation of doctors, scientists and researchers in the field of microbiology. 

鈥淲e鈥檙e training them for the work force and to be ready to be contributors for whatever problems they鈥檙e going to be working on,鈥� said Molloy. 

With the support of the NIH R15 grant, Molloy will be able to continue to bring more undergraduate students like Vejune Griciute and Edib Redzematovic into her lab, where they continue to work on understanding phages and their contribution to bacteria drug resistance. 

鈥淚t鈥檚 more motivating to learn things when you feel like you鈥檙e making important contributions to something that really matters, not only to you but to a community,鈥� she said.

The importance of phages cannot be underestimated. 

鈥淭hey impact our lives every single day,鈥� said Molloy. 鈥淲e鈥檙e exposed to them everywhere.鈥� With Molloy and her team of students, research is paving the way towards using the innate ability of phages as a treatment rather than a disease.

By Emma Beauregard, research media intern

Contact: Erin Miller, erin.miller@maine.edu 

The project team, made up of four senior biomedical engineering students, is developing an athletic shoe replacement indicator that measures structural changes in the footwear over time. Running shoes can lose cushioning and support after repeated loading cycles, even when visible wear is minimal. As the shoes鈥� midsoles degrade, impact forces transmitted to the body can increase, raising the risk of overuse injuries.

Replacing shoes too late is a common but overlooked problem among runners. Current methods for determining when to replace shoes, however, typically rely on mileage estimates or waiting for discomfort to occur.

鈥淭hat solution is unreliable,鈥� said U海角社区 senior Paul Rudman, 鈥淚f a shoe is replaced too late, the damage and wear might have already occurred. However, replacing before needed is costly, and the average person can not afford it.鈥�

The team鈥檚 indicator would instead collect data related to activity and force changes within the show, translating that information into a clear indicator for users. 

By indicating when a shoe has been structurally compromised, the device aims to help runners make informed decisions that balance cost and health considerations. It is designed to integrate seamlessly with existing shoe constructions.

鈥淭he indicator will simply make key measurements of a person鈥檚 activity and force changes in the shoe to reliably indicate the most financially and healthily time to replace your shoe,鈥� Rudman said.

Rudman focuses on modeling and materials design while also contributing to electrical component development. The other students involved in the project include Shawn Collins, who leads controller programming and testing; Mason Chase, who specializes in medical and design considerations; and Sreyas Sajen, who manages computations and force interaction analysis.

They are designing the replacement shoe indicator for their senior capstone project, which emphasizes applying interdisciplinary knowledge toward solving real world problems. Rudman and his colleagues are applying their past coursework in biomechanics, materials science and electronics curricula toward developing a product with clear market relevance.

鈥淲e learn to find existing problems and use the knowledge that we already possess to create a solution,鈥� Rudman said.

The athletics shoe replacement indicator project highlights how undergraduate research at U海角社区 can translate injury prevention research into practical technology aimed at supporting healthier movement for runners at all levels.

Story by William Bickford, graduate student writer

Contact: Taylor Ward, taylor.ward@maine.edu 

According to the , more than 3,000 海角社区 children experience brain injuries each year, and an estimated 20% 鈥� or 600 children 鈥� experience more severe trauma. Yet only about 130 receive formal school-based support for these injuries and often they often do not get the care needed to thrive.听

Jessica Riccardi, an assistant professor of communication sciences and disorders, leads the Brain Injury, Education, and Rehabilitation (BEaR) Lab at U海角社区. The team advances research as they support children with acquired brain injuries by working directly with them, their families and their practitioners to improve long-term outcomes for these children. Examples of support the lab provides includes professional development for schools and community organizations, consultation with educational teams on students with brain injury, and referring families to national, state and local resources for childhood brain injury. 

The team鈥檚 work is especially important in 海角社区, which does not have a pediatric rehabilitation hospital. The state鈥檚 only pediatric intensive care center is in Portland, limiting the availability of care options to children elsewhere in the state. Riccardi said the transition from hospital to school after traumatic brain injuries is often difficult for children, and 海角社区rs feel the problem more intensely due to limited access to medical services for kids, particularly in rural communities. The direct work the lab does is important to improving detection and connecting children to resources.

In addition to improving long-term outcomes for children with brain injuries, Riccardi鈥檚 lab also offers graduate and undergraduate students research and hands-on experiences with clinical populations. 

One of these students is Elise DeRosby, a communication sciences and disorders major from Hampden, 海角社区. DeRosby has been working with Riccardi for nearly two years in research that complements her interests, including working face-to-face with people.

In collaboration with U海角社区鈥檚 Virtual Environment and Multimodal Interaction (VEMI) Lab, DeRosby recently helped run a project that uses virtual reality equipment to assess cognitive communication in kids with brain injuries. Cognitive communication is when cognitive skills, such as memory, attention, planning and organization, influence your communication abilities. 

鈥淭hink about it in a school setting,鈥� Riccardi said. 鈥淚f they have a hard time maintaining attention, they鈥檙e going to do poorly on a test, not because they don鈥檛 know the content, but because they didn鈥檛 pay attention in the first place.鈥� 

To examine the cognitive communication of these kids, researchers put them in a virtual classroom where they had to make decisions in a simulated egg-drop science experiment. 

鈥淭hey have to choose a design for which model of egg carrier,鈥� said DeRosby. 鈥淭hey have to go through the process of picking a design, then instructions will tell them to collect materials and they have to assemble the design, then get the egg, put it in the design and drop it off bleachers in a school gym.鈥�

Using this virtual reality scenario, researchers can collect data on a child鈥檚 decision-making, attention and processing, all of which are components of cognitive communication. While much more data collection is necessary for this project to be useful, Riccardi and DeRosby hope that their research will help in developing resources for clinicians, particularly speech-language pathologists, to serve kids with brain injuries.

DeRosby鈥檚 research experiences in the BEaR Lab and U海角社区 more broadly have helped her understand what she wants to pursue in life. After originally pursuing molecular and cellular biology, DeRosby shifted to speech pathology to work more face-to-face with other people. 

With funding from U海角社区鈥檚 Center for Undergraduate Research, she was able to do that in the BEaR lab, studying art therapy for adults with brain injuries. Working with participants, learning about their injuries and experience and helping develop tools to help them was moving. 

鈥淚 think it is an eye-opening experience to get to interact with people. You don鈥檛 get that in the classroom,鈥� said DeRosby. 

While the lab鈥檚 research is contributing to understanding childhood brain injuries, it is also helping to develop the next generation of researchers and professionals who will be working with the communities that need it most. 

鈥淥ur clients often say that the person who took a moment to understand their challenges was the person who really changed their recovery,鈥� said Riccardi. Through her lab, Riccardi hopes the students in her lab can be 鈥渢hat person.鈥�  Raising empathy and understanding for those with brain injuries is an important first step towards success in these individuals鈥� lives. 

鈥淭aking the time to understand other people鈥檚 perspectives and where they come from,鈥� DeRosby said, 鈥渁ny human can learn that, and it will make us all better.鈥� 

If you are interested in learning more about the work Riccardi鈥檚 research team is doing, you can visit the BEaR Lab website, or contact Riccardi at jessica.riccardi@maine.edu. 

By Emma Beauregard, research media intern

Contact: Daniel Timmermann, daniel.timmerman@maine.edu

Why did you choose to come to U海角社区?

 I chose to come to U海角社区 for the research opportunities and sense of community

Describe any research, internships or scholarly pursuits in which you have participated. How have they prepared you for future opportunities in your chosen field?

I have been involved as an undergraduate research assistant in the Maginnis Lab on campus since freshman year, where I have researched signaling mechanisms in JC and BK polyomavirus. I have also been part of the Phage Genomics RLE. I did a summer internship at Dahl-Chase Pathology Services last summer, and I work part-time as a medical assistant at Penobscot Valley Dermatology. The research experiences have developed my science communication, problem solving and lab procedure skills, to name a few. The internship and work as a medical assistant have given me valuable clinical experience, highlighted the realities and inner workings of healthcare and given me the opportunity to learn about a vast range of different diseases.

Have there been other students who supported and inspired you or exposed you to something new? 

There have been so many students who have supported me and made my success possible. Notably, my partner Maddie Stockman has always been there for me. A previous student in the Maginnis Lab, Aiden Pike set a very high standard both professionally and personally, and I often reach out to him for career advice. Other people include Connor Aylesworth and Keegan Tripp.

Have you collaborated with a mentor, professor or role model who made your time at U海角社区 better, and if so, how?

Yes, yes, yes. I have been under the wonderful advising of Dr. Melissa Maginnis for the last four years, and I can’t sing her praises loud enough. She has been my mentor in the lab, helping me gain research experience, apply to grants and internships and develop experiments. She has also helped me throughout my academic career, guiding me in both classes and the medical school application process. Dr. Maginnis is a huge positive influence in my personal life, supporting me in all of my endeavors and goals.

What has coming to U海角社区 enabled you to explore beyond academics?

Coming to U海角社区 has allowed me to explore the outdoors. I have enjoyed backpacking trips with friends, many weekends hiking up in Baxter or down in Acadia, fly fishing in nearby bodies of water and countless hours running and biking on all of the trails near campus. I feel like I try to do a little bit of everything that U海角社区 has to offer, but I am definitely drawn to the outdoors.

Have you received any scholarships that supported you on your journey?

I have been generously supported by the Worthington Scholarship, the Chet Jordan Leadership Scholarship and other various scholarships, in addition to commitments from U海角社区.

What experiences have you had at U海角社区 that really highlight the ingenuity of 海角社区rs?

海角社区 Day Meal Packout highlights the ingenuity of 海角社区rs and U海角社区 students. The initiative started about a decade ago, when students recognized that many communities in our state have high levels of food insecurity. Wanting to do something to address this issue, students fundraised to purchase ingredients to create shelf-stable, nutrient dense meals through a program called End Hunger New England. These meals are packed by student and community volunteers during 海角社区 Day of Service, then distributed around the state. Fast forward about a decade and the project has funded over 800,000 meals for 海角社区rs in need. Students stepping up to address a need truly demonstrates the ingenuity of 海角社区rs.

Did you have an experience at U海角社区 that shaped or changed how you see the world?

My experience as the outreach coordinator with 海角社区 Day Meal Packout has helped shape how I see the world. Being involved with the project has shown me that it takes an army to accomplish something 鈥� we have a large leadership team working almost year-round to make the project happen 鈥� but all it takes is one person to spark something. Being involved with the project for multiple years has allowed me to watch as people join and share their passion and ideas for food insecurity and to understand that tangible action and change happen because of one individual’s spark and passion.

Describe U海角社区 in one word and explain. 

Hearty. 

鈥� For a number of reasons. First, a large reason why I chose the University of 海角社区 was the cheerful and vibrant culture. No where else did it seem like people were so happy to attend a school. You’ll be hard pressed to find another university with a student population that is as wholesome, as robust and as incredible as U海角社区. Second, I think you have to be a little hearty to survive the long winters here; six months is a long time under the snow! Third, our hockey fans are loud and proud.

What鈥檚 on the horizon? What are your plans for after you graduate?

After I graduate, I will be starting at Tufts University School of Medicine 海角社区 Track in July, where I will earn my MD with the intention to come back to 海角社区 and practice as a PCP in a rural area.

Contact: Ashley Yates, ashley.yates@maine.edu

Speaking as part of the 海角社区 College of Engineering and Computing Distinguished Lecture Series, co-hosted by the Office of the Vice President for Research, Michael F. Chiang said emerging technologies are making medical care more data-driven, consistent and accessible.

鈥淐linical practice and research are being rapidly reshaped by breakthroughs in artificial intelligence and data science,鈥� said Chiang, director of the National Eye Institute at the National Institutes of Health and elected member of the National Academy of Medicine.

Following the lecture, University of 海角社区 President Joan Ferrini-Mundy and Giovanna Guidoboni, interim vice president for research and dean of the 海角社区 College of Engineering and Computing, joined Chiang for a panel discussion moderated by Alon Harris, director of the Barry Family Center for Ophthalmic Artificial Intelligence and Human Health and professor at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York.

Ferrini-Mundy said the rapid pace of innovation is reshaping not only research, but the future of health care.

鈥淲e鈥檙e living in a time when clinical practice and research across fields 鈥� particularly in the medical field 鈥� are being rapidly reshaped by breakthroughs in artificial intelligence and data science,鈥� she said.

Harris, who is also faculty within the Graduate School of Biomedical Science and Engineering at U海角社区, reflected on the breadth of opportunity that exists across 海角社区 and that U海角社区 is uniquely positioned to lead.

鈥淚 had been here before, but during this visit I discovered there is so much more,鈥� he said. 鈥淭his place is so motivating, from the biological and biomedical labs, to the full scale automated vehicles and 3D printed homes with smart health sensors. The level of people we met and the research interests were truly thought-provoking.鈥�

Guidoboni said Chiang鈥檚 work reflects the data-driven, interdisciplinary approach central to research at U海角社区. Over the past 16 years, Guidoboni and Harris have advanced mathematical modeling and data science, including studies on ocular blood flow, eye disease risk and noninvasive health monitoring, with the development of digital twins to help translate the advances of science into personalized medical care.

Their work reflects a broader shift toward using advanced analytics to better understand and treat complex health conditions.

鈥淒r. Chiang鈥檚 work exemplifies the power of combining clinical insight with data science to transform patient care,鈥� Guidoboni said. 鈥淗is leadership at the National Eye Institute is inspiring, especially as these innovations expand access and improve outcomes in rural communities like 海角社区.鈥�

Chiang said advances in imaging have transformed ophthalmology from a largely descriptive field into one grounded in quantitative data, allowing clinicians to better measure and analyze disease.

He pointed to retinopathy of prematurity 鈥� a condition that can cause blindness in infants 鈥� as an example of how artificial intelligence can improve care. Studies have shown that even experts reviewing the same retinal images often disagree on whether disease is severe.

鈥淭hat discrepancy is real,鈥� Chiang said. 鈥淎nd this is where AI can help doctors make diagnoses that are more accurate and more consistent.鈥�

He also highlighted emerging research suggesting that the eye may offer insights into broader health conditions. Because clinicians can directly observe blood vessels and nerves in the eye, researchers are exploring whether imaging can help predict diseases elsewhere in the body.

鈥淚f that鈥檚 really true and generalizable, then that鈥檚 remarkable,鈥� he said, referring to studies linking eye imaging to neurological disease.

Chiang emphasized that progress in AI depends on access to large, high-quality datasets and collaboration across institutions.

鈥淕arbage in, garbage out,鈥� he said, cautioning that poor-quality data can limit the effectiveness of AI tools.

He also noted that technology could help reduce administrative burdens on physicians, who often spend significant time entering information into electronic health records.

鈥淭he technologies will help automate some of those things,鈥� he said, 鈥渟o doctors can spend more of their focus on the patient.鈥�

Advances in technology are also reshaping how and where care is delivered, particularly in rural areas like 海角社区.

Chiang pointed to opportunities to expand care beyond traditional clinical settings through telehealth, remote monitoring and home-based tools, reducing the need for patients to travel long distances for care.

鈥淚npatient hospital stays are shorter than they ever used to be,鈥� he said.

Those shifts, he added, raise broader questions about how physicians are trained and how healthcare systems adapt as medicine becomes increasingly data-driven.

As AI continues to evolve, Chiang said its impact will extend beyond diagnosis to reshape research, education and care delivery.

Contact: David Nordman, david.nordman@maine.edu

Glaucoma, an eye disease that slowly damages the optic nerve, is a leading cause of blindness worldwide and is undiagnosed in nearly half the people who have it.

Olayinka is focused on understanding how changes in blood flow inside the eye may help clinicians detect glaucoma earlier and more accurately. Her work blends engineering, biomedical imaging and data science, contributing to a growing area of vision research on campus.

Olayinka, a doctoral researcher in electrical and computer engineering, studies the relationship between blood pressure and intraocular pressure, tension occurring within the eyeball, and how they influence blood vessels behind the eye. Her recent project used advanced ultrasound imaging to compare blood-flow patterns in healthy individuals and people with glaucoma, adding new insight into how the disease affects the optic nerve. 

This work is part of the Laboratory for Computational and Mathematical Modeling in Medicine, Engineering and Technology (CoMET) Lab, led by Giovanna Guidoboni, dean of the 海角社区 College of Engineering and Computing and interim vice president for research of the University of 海角社区 and University of 海角社区 at Machias.

Olayinka shared her initial findings during the 2025 Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) Annual Meeting. An abstract for her presentation at the meeting was published in one of ARVO鈥檚 journals, .  

鈥淭hink of the eye like a garden that needs proper water pressure to stay healthy,鈥� Olayinka said. 鈥淏lood flowing into the eye 鈥� controlled by blood pressure 鈥� is like water coming through a hose, while the pressure inside the eye itself acts like resistance against that flow. In this study, we found that the balance between these two pressures works differently in glaucoma patients compared to healthy individuals.鈥�

A new understanding of glaucoma 

By measuring how these two pressures interact, Olayinka can demonstrate the ways in which reduced blood flow in the optic nerve may contribute to the nerve damage that defines glaucoma. Her results suggest that clinicians may benefit from looking at both blood pressure and eye pressure when assessing a patient鈥檚 risk.

鈥淲hat we found was that when we account for both mean arterial pressure, the average pressure pushing blood through your body, and intraocular pressure, the pressure inside the eye, we can better understand why glaucoma patients experience reduced blood flow to the optic nerve,鈥� Olayinka said. 鈥淭his reduced blood flow may contribute to the nerve damage that characterizes glaucoma. The findings suggest that managing both pressures, not just eye pressure alone, could be important for protecting vision in glaucoma patients.鈥�

As her ARVO 2025 abstract explored how different combinations of eye pressure and blood pressure shape blood-flow behavior in glaucoma, Olayinka鈥檚 next step focuses on building tools that can capture those hemodynamic patterns more efficiently.

Beyond these preliminary findings, Olayinka is developing an automated system to make this type of imaging analysis faster and more consistent. Currently, specialists must manually extract blood-flow measurements from ultrasound images, a slow process that can vary from person to person.

鈥淚 am most excited about the automated analysis pipeline I am developing to extract blood flow measurements from color Doppler images,鈥� Olayinka said. 鈥淭his speed and consistency could transform how we monitor glaucoma patients.鈥�

The future of routine eye exams

Olayinka hopes this system will someday give eye doctors real-time blood flow information during routine exams, helping them detect changes earlier and tailor treatments more precisely.

鈥淭his study is the result of more than 15 years of sustained work bridging engineering, computation and medicine,鈥� Guidoboni said. 鈥淭his work stems from a long-standing partnership with Dr. Alon Harris, an international leader in ocular physiology, pharmacology, imaging and technology from the Icahn School of Medicine in New York. This research effort has supported more than 50 trainees, including postdoctoral fellows, medical scientists, doctoral and master students, undergraduate students and high school students, while advancing our understanding of complex eye diseases like glaucoma.鈥�

鈥淚magine a future where, during a routine eye exam, a clinician can immediately see detailed blood flow patterns synchronized with the patient’s heartbeat, tracking 16 different hemodynamic parameters automatically,鈥� Olayinka said. 鈥淭his could enable earlier detection of blood flow changes, more personalized treatment decisions and better monitoring of how well treatments are working.鈥�

Before coming to U海角社区, Olayinka worked in the telecommunications industry in Nigeria, where she helped configure and integrate sensor systems across active network sites. She later taught cybersecurity at First Technical University 鈥� an experience that continues to influence how she communicates complex research topics.

鈥淢y teaching experience in Nigeria taught me that the best learning happens when students can see both the technical mechanisms and the real-world implications of what they are studying,鈥� Olayinka said.

At U海角社区, Olayinka is an active mentor for youth STEM programs. She also supports robotics teams, participates in engineering outreach and serves as a judge for middle school and high school science fairs.

鈥淭he most meaningful experience has been serving as a judge at the 海角社区 State Science Fair and the Middle School Science & Engineering Fair,鈥� Olayinka said. 鈥淲hat struck me most was the genuine curiosity and creativity these young students brought to their projects.鈥�

Her volunteer work reminds her of the importance of persistence 鈥� something she sees in both young learners and in her own research process. Across her biomedical modeling in AI and secure systems, Olayinka remains motivated by the question of how to turn complex, technical measurements into reliable tools that can help people.

Story by William Bickford, graduate student writer

Contact: Marcus Wolf, 207.581.3721; marcus.wolf@maine.edu

Miner, a U海角社区 Ph.D. candidate in biomedical engineering, is researching breast cancer cell dormancy in bone marrow at the Cancer Research Center of Lyon. These dormant cells can evade chemotherapy and are a major factor in cancer recurrence and poor prognosis. A deeper understanding of this process could reveal new therapeutic opportunities to prevent relapse in patients. 

Miner鈥檚 work 鈥� part of her dissertation 鈥� was made possible after she earned fellowships from two of the most prestigious international research awards available to U.S. students: the Fulbright U.S. Student Program and the STEM Chateaubriand Fellowship.

Outside the lab, Miner is immersing herself in French culture through her love for sports and the outdoors. She is skiing; practicing karate, of which she is a third-degree black belt; attending local events; and exploring the city鈥檚 museums, food offerings and historical sites. 

When she found out she was a Fulbright finalist, Miner was attending a research conference in Lucca, Italy.

鈥淚t was after dinner, and I was chatting with some friends I had met at the conference when I received an email that a notification was posted to my portal. I announced it to the group, and they all gathered around me as I nervously but eagerly logged in to see that I had been accepted,鈥� Miner said. 鈥淭he entire group celebrated with me and started sharing recommendations of all the amazing things I should experience during my trip abroad.鈥�

At U海角社区, Miner is a member of CompuMAINE, overseen by Andre Khalil, professor of biomedical engineering, and associate professor of bioengineering Karissa Tilbury鈥檚 lab. She was also a 海角社区 Top Scholar and outstanding graduating student for the 海角社区 College of Engineering and Computing during her undergraduate career. 

Miner has been conducting research since her first year of college. The research, which focussed on the potential benefits of electrical stimulation for Duchenne muscular dystrophy using zebrafish models, was in collaboration with professor of biological sciences Clarissa Henry鈥檚 lab. 

Originally from the small town of East Baldwin, 海角社区, Miner said that growing up around nature sparked both an adventurous spirit in her and curiosity about the world. When she learned about opportunities to conduct research abroad, she knew it was something she wanted to pursue. After attending an information session about the Fulbright U.S. Student Program hosted by the Office of Major Scholarships in March 2024, she realized this was the perfect path for her. 

海角社区 one-fifth of healthy people worldwide carry bacteria known as Streptococcus agalactiae (group B strep or GBS) in their bodies, but it can cause serious infections in those who are immunocompromised, including newborns, pregnant women and seniors. 

If newborns are exposed to GBS, they can contract meningitis, which can be fatal or cause lifelong neurological complications. 

A new study reveals that when GBS interacts with Candida albicans (C. albicans), a fungus and common culprit behind yeast infections, GBS is more likely to spread disease and become harder to treat in newborns. Infection by both microbes reduces the effectiveness of existing GBS treatments.听听

鈥淥ur hope is that our findings will aid clinicians by providing new insight into treatment decisions when they examine pregnant women for the presence of GBS prior to delivery, to include looking for co-infections with C. albicans,鈥� said study co-author Melody Neely, associate professor and chair of U海角社区鈥檚 Department of Molecular and Biomedical Sciences. 

Nearly one-third of women around the globe have some C. albicans in their genital tract, and GBS is found in 10-30% of pregnant women. Both can exist in parts of the gastrointestinal and reproductive systems, and be transferred from mother to baby in utero or during delivery. Previous research has shown a common association and co-infection by these microbes in patients.  

To examine how these organisms interact with each other, U海角社区 researchers and their colleagues grew cultures of GBS and C. albicans in the same culture tubes and in separate tubes. They found that GBS cells grow faster when they reside in the same environment as C. albicans. The two microbes don鈥檛 even need to interact with each other for C. albicans to enhance GBS growth, according to researchers. 

Researchers tested the infectious strength and drug resistance of GBS when exposed to C. albicans by injecting both simultaneously into the larvae of zebrafish. These paperclip-sized fish share genetic similarities to humans and have unique traits that allow scientists to watch disease processes and cellular development in real time. The team found that GBS was more infectious when combined with C.albicans in the larvae. It was also more resistant to antibiotic treatments. 

The study was the first to test how infectious and drug resistant GBS can be through a co-infection with C.albicans. The results are outlined in a paper published in the journal from the American Society for Microbiology.

鈥淲hile current treatments for the presence of GBS in pregnant women is to give intravenous antibiotics several hours prior to delivery, if C. albicans is also present, the antibiotic may not be as effective and therefore, not able to clear the GBS,” Neely said. 

While coinfection with C. albicans can make GBS stronger, their ability to influence each other may depend on the environment in which they grow and to what extent nutrients like amino acids and sugars are available. Researchers found that nutrient availability, which most likely impacts gene expression, impacts how these microbes interact with each other. 

鈥淭hese findings raise an important concern of whether individuals carrying both the bacteria and the fungi are at greater risk for dangerous disease, a question we would like to answer in the future,鈥� said Robert Wheeler, professor of microbiology who co-authored the study. 

U海角社区 alumna and former adjunct instructor Kathryn Patenaude, who now teaches at St. Joseph鈥檚 College of 海角社区, led the study in collaboration with Neely, Wheeler and other former and current graduate student researchers. 

Their publication follows the recent expansion of U海角社区’s zebrafish lab in Hichner Hall. Zebrafish are driving some of U海角社区鈥檚 most advanced biomedical discoveries, and the lab draws faculty and students who want to study muscular dystrophy, cancer, infections, toxins and other human health challenges. 

Contact: Marcus Wolf, 207.581.3721; marcus.wolf@maine.edu

The tropical minnows are prolific and mature quickly, transforming from an egg to a free-swimming fish in a matter of days. The clear skin they sport during their embryonic phase allows scientists to watch their cells divide, migrate and specialize without invasive procedures. 

These attributes make zebrafish the star of sophisticated research labs at the University of 海角社区, where scientists want to test treatments and learn how organs grow, tissues heal and diseases develop.

U海角社区鈥檚 zebrafish lab, which doubled in size this summer, draws faculty and students who want to study muscular dystrophy, cancer, infections, toxins and other human health challenges. The renovated facility in Hitchner Hall 鈥� supported by two National Institutes of Health grants totaling $650,000 and additional university investment 鈥� directly to existing zebrafish facilities, creating a unified research corridor with more room for experiments, training and collaborative projects. New spawning shelves triple daily experimental capacity, while dedicated nursery tanks allow researchers to rear fish at lower densities, halving the time needed to establish new genetic lines.

U海角社区 officials say the renovation underscores the university鈥檚 long-term commitment to world-class research infrastructure. The public is invited to take a behind-the-scenes video tour of the newly expanded lab space that is typically accessible only to researchers to see how it will shape the future of biomedical research in 海角社区.

Contact: Erin Miller, erin.miller@maine.edu

An independent study released today concludes that the University of 海角社区鈥檚 world-class education and research strengths uniquely position the institution to improve health access and outcomes by establishing 海角社区鈥檚 first public medical school, but that limited financial and residency capacity in the state make doing so infeasible at this time.

In response to a critical shortage of physicians in rural 海角社区 and recognizing the University of 海角社区 System’s (UMS) leadership in health-related workforce development and research, the 131st 海角社区 Legislature and Gov. Janet Mills the System to explore the feasibility of establishing a public allopathic medical school in Penobscot County. 

Through a competitive process, UMS Tripp Umbach, the nation鈥檚 leading medical education consultant, to conduct the comprehensive study, which was informed by interviews with more than 60 海角社区 health care, higher education and life science research leaders and submitted to the Legislature on Jan. 5.

The new report affirms 海角社区鈥檚 urgent physician workforce challenges, particularly in primary care and in rural communities, that are a result of the state having the oldest population in the nation, an aging physician workforce, and limited medical residency and clinical training capacity. Tripp Umbach additionally found that with no public medical school pathway, 海角社区 produces only one-third the national average rate of M.D. school applicants by state and most graduates from the two private medical education programs in the state ultimately leave 海角社区 to practice.   

As the state鈥檚 only R1 research university and the flagship of 海角社区鈥檚 leading producer of health care professionals (UMS), U海角社区 is identified by Tripp Umbach as the institution best suited to lead the future development of a public medical school, assuming a number of next strategic steps they outline are considered and implemented. UMS is already authorized by statute to operate a college of medicine and confer the degree of Doctor of Medicine (MD), though establishing a program would require approval by the System鈥檚 Board of Trustees through an inclusive, public process. 

Respondents to a statewide stakeholder survey administered by Tripp Umbach 鈥� most of them health care or community leaders 鈥� overwhelmingly agreed that 海角社区 needs a public medical school and that it should be part of UMS, with the majority agreeing it would address physician workforce shortages and improve health outcomes in underserved areas.

鈥淒ata indicate a need for a public medical school to provide an accessible pathway for 海角社区 students to pursue high-quality, high-value medical education and then be retained to practice in the state,鈥� writes Tripp Umbach. 鈥淪takeholders agree that U海角社区 should lead this initiative.鈥�

鈥楢 sustainable solution to 海角社区鈥檚 physician shortages鈥�

The study notes that U海角社区 already makes significant contributions to the state鈥檚 health care workforce through high-quality nursing and other allied health profession degree programs; research and clinical partnerships that span the state, including with 海角社区Health, Northern Light Health and VA 海角社区 Healthcare System; and world-class biomedical science and engineering. The System鈥檚 statewide footprint, including nursing education and simulation training facilities in rural regions such as Aroostook, Hancock and Washington counties, could additionally be leveraged by a future public medical school to support rural health care training. 

Ultimately, Tripp Umbach concludes that establishing a public M.D.-granting medical school is not currently financially feasible. They contend that the scale of investment required 鈥� $250 million in start-up costs and tens of millions in sustained operating support that must be supplemental to existing public, private and philanthropic funding 鈥� combined with limited medical residency capacity and the financial constraints facing 海角社区鈥檚 health care systems, makes such an undertaking 鈥渘ot prudent at this time.鈥�

However, they suggest strategic steps for the state and UMS to consider to lay the foundation for a future U海角社区 medical school. Tripp Umbach also notes that the new federal limits on graduate and professional student borrowing, which take effect this year, heighten the need for an affordable, high-quality public option. Their recommendations include: investing in research, nursing and allied health programs across UMS; strengthening undergraduate and graduate medical education pipelines and partnerships between current programs and U海角社区; expanding residency and clinical training capacity, particularly in rural areas; and building the System鈥檚 physical infrastructure, including a proposed health sciences complex in Orono for which $45 million in federal funding requested by U.S. Sen. Susan Collins is currently pending. 

鈥満＝巧缜� needs more doctors, and the University of 海角社区 has a proven track record of preparing the professional workforce who competently care for 海角社区rs and the cutting-edge research that is improving health outcomes statewide,鈥� said Chancellor Dannel Malloy and U海角社区 President Joan Ferrini-Mundy, who also serves as the System鈥檚 Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation. 

鈥淲hile concluding that there is currently a lack of necessary financial resources, this independent study confirms the state needs a public medical school and that our world-class flagship university has the outstanding academic programs and research that will be foundational if and when 海角社区 is ready to make that investment in the future. In the meantime, the University of 海角社区 System remains deeply committed to serving 海角社区 people and communities and to strengthening our programs and partnerships so that one day, aspiring physicians will have an affordable, high-quality pathway to earn their MD and be retained to practice here.鈥� 

Other findings from Tripp Umbach鈥檚 report include:

• 鈥淎 public M.D. program can provide a clear, strategic pathway for the University of 海角社区 to address the state鈥檚 most pressing healthcare and economic challenges鈥� An M.D. school not only carries the highest level of national and international recognition, but it also maximizes opportunities for state investment, federal research funding, and philanthropic support. Most importantly, it provides a sustainable solution to 海角社区鈥檚 physician shortages, ensuring that more locally trained physicians remain in the state to practice, as 68% of students who complete medical school and residencies in the same state stay to practice.鈥�
• 鈥淯MS and U海角社区 have many strengths that the State and private organizations can leverage to address a critical physician shortage, particularly in rural 海角社区.鈥�
• 鈥淯海角社区 is the only R1 research university in 海角社区 and accounts for more than 80% of the state’s federal R&D expenditures. A significant portion of U海角社区鈥檚 research is in health and medicine, and the university offers a unique statewide doctoral program in biomedical science and engineering.鈥� 
• U海角社区 鈥渉as research funding and output comparable to those of other new public medical schools.鈥�
• 鈥淒ue to expected physician shortages, especially in rural areas and primary care, Tripp Umbach recommends that the State of 海角社区, in partnership with UMS, reassess the feasibility of a public medical school within three years. Until this time, the State of 海角社区, in collaboration with UMS, should work with existing medical schools and hospitals to expand undergraduate medical education and graduate medical education until a public medical school becomes financially viable.鈥� 

In 2024-25, 海角社区鈥檚 public universities produced 870 health care graduates. U海角社区 鈥� the state鈥檚 only institution to have achieved the prestigious Carnegie R1 classification for research performance and productivity 鈥� and the University of Southern 海角社区, where the Catherine Cutler Institute houses multiple , including the 海角社区 Rural Health Research Institute, also brought millions of dollars in related research investment to the state.

The flagship is also the degree-granting institution that anchors 海角社区鈥檚 innovative , a multi-institutional education and research consortium that also includes The Jackson Laboratory, the 海角社区Health Institute of Research, the MDI Biological Laboratory and the University of New England. In 2018, U海角社区 launched its Institute of Medicine to coordinate the institution鈥檚 accelerating activities and partnerships in health and life science education and research.

Contact: Samantha Warren, 207.632.0389; samantha.warren@maine.edu

All of those features, and the fact that they are easy to grow and care for, make zebrafish great for studying some of the most serious diseases affecting people 鈥� from infections and cancer to muscular dystrophy.

The University of 海角社区 has ongoing and completed research projects that use zebrafish as a model, some of which have led to groundbreaking discoveries. In this episode of 鈥淭he 海角社区 Question鈥� podcast, U海角社区 faculty members Ben King, Melody Neely and Rob Wheeler explore how university research uses this remarkable little fish with host Ron Lisnet.

Listen to the podcast on , , , , or 鈥淭he 海角社区 Question鈥� website. 

What topics would you like to learn more about? What questions do you have for U海角社区 experts? Email them to mainequestion@maine.edu.

The aims to reduce isolation and long-term emotional stress from persistent challenges like anxiety, poverty and food insecurity, all of which can lead to chronic illness and heightened risk of early death among seniors. Through the initiative, community health workers meet with older adults to identify needs, reduce distress and strengthen community connection. Workers connect with seniors in person and through a digital platform run by the Community Caring Collaborative (CCC), a partner for the initiative. 

Since joining the research team in September 2024, Maker, who is studying nursing at U海角社区, has collected data and helped her colleagues form partnerships with local service providers. She has also deepened the team鈥檚 understanding of what it鈥檚 like to age in Washington County. 

The initiative recognizes that health is shaped not only by medical factors but by community hardships, relationships, dignity and access to trusted support. As a result, the team鈥檚 efforts focus on the whole-person and whole community experience of aging. Maker said she thanks this research project for her understanding of patient care. 

鈥淵ou have to get to know your patients and get to know their circumstances to treat them individually,鈥� said Maker. 鈥淲hen you are taking care of patients, you are looking at all of their symptoms, not just their disease.鈥�

Led by School of Nursing faculty Jordan Porter and Kate Darling the team began planning in early 2024 using a community-engaged research approach, avoiding solutions that don鈥檛 work in the unique contexts of rural communities. They also recruited doctoral nursing students Bif Churchill and Cynthia Cushing and 海角社区 Top Scholars Olivia Pelkey and Leilani Welsh to assist. 

Early conversations with the CCC and survey and focus-group data revealed dignity, connection and emotional safety are central themes, forming the foundation for the initiative鈥檚 design.

鈥淚t feels so life-giving and powerful because it’s really connecting with a lot of people because it is truly meeting the unique needs of older people in our community,鈥� Porter said. 

Ongoing work

The research team implemented a social care pathway in partnership with the CCC鈥檚 Connection Initiative platform and tailored it to the needs of older adults in Washington County, whether it be for food, housing, education, mental or physical health. Community health workers conduct surveys with older adults and submit resource requests through the CCC to connect them with local resources. After extensive training to ensure interactions feel relational rather than transactional, the team began collecting and evaluating data. 

The team is now interviewing older adults and community health workers and administering measures of distress, loneliness and social connection. Maker and an interdisciplinary team of undergraduate and graduate researchers will review the interview transcripts and evaluate whether the pathway reduces distress, strengthens connection, improves time-to-resource access or even decreases crises, such as emergency medical services. They will also analyze how older adults and community healthcare workers connect on the platform. 

The initiative builds relationships between the older adults in Washington County and their community, ensuring they have people to reach out to in times of distress.

鈥淭he unique approach of this project is dignity is an intervention,鈥� Porter said. 鈥淢eeting an older adult with presence, respect and emotional steadiness during a moment of distress helps regulate the nervous system, builds trust and opens the door to connection.鈥�

Maker shared that participating in the initiative has helped her feel more connected to her community and able to give back to the people she personally knows in a meaningful way. 

鈥淚t feels great to be able to do something for my community and make a difference to the people I personally know,鈥� Maker said. 

The Downeast Population Health Initiative is funded by the 海角社区 Community Population Health Initiative, a grant program of the 海角社区 Medical Association鈥檚 Center of Quality Improvement committed to supporting the health of 海角社区 communities through research and community-based health interventions.    

Story by Sophie Knox, research intern

Contact: Daniel Timmermann, daniel.timmerman@maine.edu听

The awardees, Kara O鈥橠onnell and Kaitlin Robinson, are nurse educators and practicing nurses who are working to improve access to healthcare across rural 海角社区. 

A major factor impacting healthcare, particularly in rural areas, is the closure and downsizing of facilities. The problem is twofold, Robinson explained. Not only does fewer and smaller facilities mean less access to healthcare and more drive time for patients, but it also means nursing students have fewer opportunities to learn in and serve those rural communities.

鈥淭he impact is then cyclical because if a student doesn’t have the opportunity to learn in an area either close to home or that is underserved due to a shortage of providers, they do not consider that as an option to work in and support post certification,鈥� Robinson said.

O鈥橠onnell spent nine years working as a nurse in emergency departments, where she said she was confronted with some of the greatest barriers and systemic issues impacting peoples鈥� health. 

鈥淥ver the years, it became apparent that simply 鈥榗aring鈥� wasn鈥檛 enough as a nurse,鈥� O鈥橠onnell said. 鈥淎dvocacy and contributing to a nursing workforce capable of addressing the most significant rural health issues became a focus for me.鈥�

Both O鈥橠onnell and Robinson express their gratitude to ANA-海角社区 for recognizing their efforts. They also thank their colleagues in U海角社区鈥檚 School of Nursing, who have supported their ability to network with healthcare agencies and community organizations, and have provided opportunities for them to continue clinical and professional development as nurses.

While pursuing his bachelor鈥檚, master鈥檚 and doctoral degrees, Juybari, a San Diego native, worked for Faster Logic LLC, a small defense-focused research and development company in his hometown, providing web and engineering support. Two semesters into his Ph.D. program in 2021, Juybari paused his studies for five months to serve as the company鈥檚 acting CEO after its founder, Raymond Moberly, unexpectedly passed away. Juybari led the company through a government audit and handled operations and personnel.

鈥淪tepping into that role was unexpected, but it was important to me to support the work Raymond had built over seven years,鈥� Juybari said. 鈥淚t was a demanding time, and I learned a great deal about leadership, people and how research moves from concept to real-world development. After working through circumstances beyond my control, the company ultimately dissolved. Once things settled, I returned to U海角社区 to continue my Ph.D., which had always been my long-term plan.鈥�

After completing his undergraduate economics and interdisciplinary studies degree at San Diego State University, he sought to expand his technical knowledge and research capabilities, which ultimately led him to pursue graduate study at U海角社区. Once he completed the math degree, Juybari immediately began his Ph.D. in electrical and computer engineering. 

鈥淲hen you have a good background in math, it makes learning AI much easier,鈥� Juybari said. 鈥淵ou start to realize AI is a bunch of matrix multiplications. Without that strong foundation, it can look like magic.鈥�

While working at the CompuMAINE Lab on coding and AI research, he learned how this technology could help save lives through improved AI for cancer diagnosis and reduce healthcare disparities. 

鈥淚 originally wanted to study economics, but it was math that brought me here,鈥� Juybari said. 鈥淎s I got deeper into research, I realized how many people die from cancer, sometimes simply because they were missed due to healthcare disparities. That really stuck with me.鈥�

Juybari鈥檚 Ph.D. research focuses on AI for medical imaging and cancer detection. He developed the Context-Guided Segmentation Network (CGS-Net), a model that combines detailed tissue features with broader contextual regions to improve the identification of cancerous tissue in microscopic images of biopsied tissue.

Earlier this year, Juybari and his colleagues published their research in the journal (part of the Nature portfolio) in a paper titled 鈥淐ontext-guided Segmentation for Histopathologic Cancer Segmentation.鈥� The paper was featured by the for its innovative approach to improving AI accuracy in medical imaging. The study introduced a novel method in which the model learns how to integrate both local tissue features and broader contextual information, demonstrating how careful model design can enhance predictions in complex histological datasets.

鈥淥ne of the biggest challenges I鈥檝e seen in medical AI is the lack of common benchmarks,鈥� Juybari said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 kind of like the wild west, where researchers use different datasets, and  medical image datasets are often large and complex.鈥�

U海角社区鈥檚 mentorship and resources have been central to Juybari鈥檚 success. His co-advisors, Andre Khalil and Yifeng Zhu, offered both guidance and freedom, allowing Juybari to explore ambitious ideas. The Advanced Research Computing, Security, and Information Management (ARCSIM) group provided the computing power and collaborative environment that enabled his research.

Collaboration has defined his graduate journey. Juybari鈥檚 partnership with fellow Ph.D. student Josh Hamilton has been a cornerstone of his research and personal life. They鈥檝e spent long nights tackling complex coding challenges, and have even shared key life moments.

鈥淚 couldn鈥檛 imagine U海角社区 without Josh,鈥� Juybari said. 鈥淲e work together on a majority of our research. Our strengths and weaknesses complement each other. We laugh a lot, it鈥檚 fun.鈥�

Juybari also met his wife, Simona Mitevska, while living in Stodder Hall in 2019. He was studying mathematics then, and she was pursuing master鈥檚 degrees in economics and global policy. Their shared love of numbers and research turned into a lasting relationship. Today, Mitevska works as a senior research analyst in U海角社区鈥檚 Office of Institutional Research and Assessment.

For Juybari, an interdisciplinary background and collaborative mindset are what drive him forward 鈥� whether leading a company or developing AI to fight cancer.

鈥淵ou can鈥檛 know it all,鈥� Juybari said. 鈥淓ven within AI, there are so many different parts to one model. You could be well-versed with one part, have an understanding of another, but not be an expert in everything. You have to work with teams and trust that others will know things you don鈥檛. If you try to do everything yourself, then what鈥檚 the point of working in a team?鈥�

Looking ahead, Juybari remains open to where his path leads next.

鈥淚 like to keep an open mind,鈥� Juybari said. 鈥淢y interdisciplinary background has taught me to see challenges from different angles. I鈥檓 driven more by curiosity and problem-solving than by following a fixed path, and I鈥檓 excited to see where that leads next. 鈥� 

Story by William Bickford, graduate student writer. 

Contact: Marcus Wolf, 207.581.3721; marcus.wolf@maine.edu 

A University of 海角社区 Ph.D. candidate in biomedical engineering, Hamilton鈥檚 work focuses on breast and pancreatic cancer by developing novel image analysis techniques to quantify the tissue structure that surrounds tumors, a project he began during his master鈥檚 program at U海角社区 and has continued into his doctoral research. 

Through his research, Hamilton works to better understand how the tissue around tumors affects cancer growth. He uses computer programming, image analysis and machine learning to study medical images, borrowing ideas from physics to look at patterns on different scales. 

His passion for cancer research first took shape while studying bioengineering, though the decision to tackle cancer stemmed from his personal experience.

鈥淚 found bioengineering first, and then realized, due to trauma, I wanted to make sure people didn鈥檛 have to feel that way because of something that they can鈥檛 control,鈥� Hamilton said. 

Working with his doctoral advisor, Andre Khalil, on analysis and physics, and with his former master鈥檚 degree advisor, Karissa Tilbury, on biology and imaging, Hamilton studies slides of tissue and breast scans to find ways to detect and potentially treat cancers earlier. His early work on examining collagen in pancreatic tumors, inspired by personal loss, set the stage for his future research on early cancer detection.

Hamilton has also participated in developing tools to make breast cancer detection more efficient. Alongside fellow Ph.D. student Jeremy Juybari and others, Hamilton played a role in the development of the Context Guided Segmentation Network (CGS-Net), an AI system that mimics how pathologists study tissue slides to improve the speed and accuracy of breast cancer diagnoses. He describes his research approach as big-picture, complementing the detail-oriented style of Juybari, with whom he has formed a long-standing friendship.

鈥淚 think one reason Jeremy and I work so well together is that we approach problems differently,鈥� Hamilton said. 鈥淗e鈥檚 extremely detail-oriented, while I鈥檓 more of a big-picture person. He thinks bottom-up, I think top-down, and that balance has made our research and friendship really strong. He鈥檚 the last person still here from when I joined the lab, and I鈥檓 probably closer to him outside of work than I am at work.鈥�

A senior member of the CompuMAINE lab, Hamilton also mentors undergraduate, master鈥檚 and fellow Ph.D. students while collaborating closely with Khalil and Tilbury. Outside the lab, Hamilton is deeply involved in teaching and mentoring. He recently took on full lecturer responsibilities for courses in medical image analysis.

鈥淚鈥檓 teaching Dr. Khalil鈥檚 medical image analysis courses while he鈥檚 on sabbatical, so it鈥檚 just me now,鈥� Hamilton said. 鈥淚鈥檓 not the teacher鈥檚 assistant or the tutor; I鈥檓 the teacher. That was a big milestone for me, and I鈥檝e really enjoyed it. I think you need empathy to be a good teacher, and I love seeing that light bulb moment when someone finally gets a concept.鈥�

Hamilton first came to U海角社区 as an undergraduate in 2017 because of scholarships, such as the Visual and Performing Arts (VAPA) Scholarship, and programs that allowed him to combine his interests in music and bioengineering. He has stayed for his master鈥檚 and Ph.D., drawn to the opportunities of conducting cutting-edge research in a smaller, rural university environment.

Outside of research and teaching, Hamilton maintains an active extracurricular life. A percussionist, he was formerly part of U海角社区鈥檚 pep band. He is also a competitive 鈥淪uper Smash Bros. Melee鈥� player, organizing tournaments and managing the state community.

It鈥檚 Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month, and as Hamilton works to develop tools to detect this disease faster, anyone interested in learning more about it and contributing to the fight against it can visit the website. 

Story by William Bickford, graduate student writer.

Contact: Marcus Wolf, 207.581.3721; marcus.wolf@maine.edu 

U海角社区鈥檚 T32 program, launched in 2019, was the first of its kind at the state鈥檚 flagship university and remains one of only two active programs in 海角社区. Led by co-principal investigators Clarissa Henry of U海角社区 and Lucy Liaw of the 海角社区Health Institute for Research (海角社区Health), the five-year renewal award expands annual slots from six to eight doctoral students. 

U海角社区鈥檚 program has already delivered dividends for the Pine Tree State鈥檚 innovation economy:

• 80% of graduates remained in 海角社区, now working at top labs including The Jackson Laboratory’s (JAX), 海角社区 Health and Mount Desert Island Biological Laboratory, bolstering the state鈥檚 biotech sector.
• 25% of trainees secured their own NIH fellowships (F31s).

The program provides competitive fellowships that allow students like Ashley Soucy (鈥�23G) to gain hands-on experience by working at medical research labs across 海角社区. Before graduating, Soucy worked in Liaw鈥檚 lab at 海角社区Health during her fellowship.

“Dr. Liaw continuously encourages her trainees to apply for opportunities that enhance their scientific education and professional development. Her guidance, combined with the opportunities provided through the Graduate School of Biomedical Science and Engineering and the T32, helped me to grow as a scientist and prepared me for the next steps in my career. I am grateful to have been part of a program that invests so strongly in its students and the future of biomedical research,鈥� said Soucy, who is now a senior project manager at JAX鈥檚 Rare Disease Translational Center.  

The program is administered through U海角社区鈥檚 Graduate School of Biomedical Science and Engineering (GSBSE), a statewide Ph.D. initiative that brings together faculty and resources from U海角社区, the 海角社区Health, JAX, Mount Desert Island Biological Laboratory and the University of New England. Students will tap into GSBSE鈥檚 robust network of co-mentors as they learn to pursue the transdisciplinary collaboration that propels modern biomedical research.

鈥淭his renewal attests to the quality of innovation and mentorship opportunities created by our robust network of collaborators on campus and across the state,鈥� said Clarissa Henry, U海角社区 professor of biological sciences and principal investigator on the project. 鈥淲e are proud that the majority of our graduates are building their careers here in 海角社区, fueling the growth of the biosciences sector and advancing research focused on pressing health challenges.鈥�

Liaw, faculty scientist at the 海角社区Health and co-principal investigator, spoke to the value of the program鈥檚 collaborative model. 鈥淭he T32 has created a true statewide training network. By connecting students with mentors and resources across 海角社区鈥檚 institutions, we鈥檙e equipping the next generation of scientists with the skills to thrive in a team-based, transdisciplinary research environment,鈥� she said.

Eligible GSBSE students may apply for a T32 fellowship in their second or third year of study. The most recent call for proposals was issued this summer, and new fellows will be selected in September 2025 for the 2025鈥�26 academic year.

Contact: Erin Miller, erin.miller@maine.edu, Caroline Cornish, Caroline.Cornish@mainehealth.org