University of New England

The following institutions have created the Maine Biomedical Research Coalition to foster biomedical research in Maine as an important part of the current and future Maine economy.

Foundation for Blood Research, Scarborough, Maine
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The Foundation for Blood Research finds more effective ways to identify, manage, and prevent human disease through clinical and laboratory investigation, epidemiology, outreach science education, computer-based analysis, public health program design, population screening, and clinical testing.

Maine Institute for Human Genetics and Health, Brewer, Maine
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The Maine Institute for Human Genetics and Health, a subsidiary of Eastern Maine Healthcare Systems, is bringing together scientists and bioscience-related businesses to work together in a new state-of-the-art facility located in Brewer.

In partnership with researchers at The Jackson Laboratory in Bar Harbor and faculty at the University of Maine, Maine Institute for Human Genetics and Health scientists will translate basic genetics research findings into new treatments for chronic conditions, such as diabetes, cancer, obesity, and cardiovascular and pulmonary disease.

The goals of the three collaborating institutes are to improve the health of people living in the region and beyond through breakthrough research, to innovate approaches to disease prevention and management, to hold down healthcare costs, to expand graduate level science education in Maine, and to spur the regional Maine economy by attracting new bioscience based businesses.

Announcement of the Maine Institute for Human Genetics and Health initiative was a cornerstone in Governor John Baldacci’s January 2005 “State of the State” address. He described the collaboration between EMHS, The Jackson Laboratory, and the University of Maine as a dynamic first step toward creating a synergy between eastern and northern Maine’s medical, academic, and business sectors. This initiative is proving to be similar to successful public-private collaborations in North Carolina, Massachusetts, and southern Maine.


Maine Medical Center Research Institute, Scarborough, Maine
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As the home of research at Maine Medical Center, the Research Institute strives to provide a growing, visionary, and nurturing environment for scientists. Core strengths are molecular biology and genetics, outcomes and health services research, and clinical research.  Because MMCRI plays such an important role in the academic environment of MMC it is uniquely valued in the MMC community.

Biomedical research is integral to excellence in medical care. The mission of research at Maine Medical Center is to foster inquiry among our clinicians; support rigorous, focused scientific investigation; teach health care providers to engage in biomedical research; and bring beneficial discoveries to our patients, our community, and our world.

MMCRI is divided into both laboratory based and clinical research divisions, including the Center for Molecular Medicine, Clinical and Translational Research, the Center for Psychiatric Research, and the Center for Outcomes Research and Evaluation.


Mount Desert Island Biological Laboratory, Salisbury Cove, Maine
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The Mount Desert Island Biological Laboratory is an independent, nonprofit, marine research institution founded in 1898. The Laboratory is located in the village of Salisbury Cove, Maine. Research is conducted at the Mount Desert Island Biological Laboratory (MDIBL) in the areas of marine biomedicine and physiology, marine molecular biology and functional genomics, bioinformatics, environmental toxicology and toxicogenomics, transgenic species, and neuroscience.  MDIBL employs 37 scientists and staff year-round and has a vibrant summer community of scientists and students that can reach 200. Students and scientists live and work on campus.

The Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, Maine
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The mission of Jackson Laboratory is to discover the genetic basis for preventing, treating and curing human disease, and enable research and education for the global biomedical community. Jackson Laboratory's mouse models and genetics research lead the world to solutions for cancer and other complex and intractable diseases. Jackson Lab employs more than 1,200 people and has operating revenues of more than $130 million.

University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine, Biddeford, Maine
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The mission of UNECOM is to provide for the education of osteopathic physicians and other health professionals. The college is dedicated to the improvement of life through education, research, and service, emphasizing health, healing, and primary care for the people of New England and the nation.

UNECOM, in its strategic plan, has identified the following general areas of biomedical research: pathophysiologic mechanisms of diseases associated with aging; prevention and treatment of diseases encountered in primary care, e.g., diabetes, obesity; evaluation of manipulative medicine through studies of efficacy and outcome.

To this end, the biomedical research currently being conducted at UNECOM falls into three broad areas that are consistent with the strategic plan: cardiovascular complications associated with diabetes; neuropharmacology and neurophysiology of learning, drug addiction and pain; efficacy and effectiveness of osteopathic manipulative treatment of low back pain and carpal tunnel syndrome.