$19.4 million grant to expand Maine’s biomedical sector will support UNE research

The University of New England is proud to announce its ongoing participation in the Maine IDeA Network of Biomedical Research Excellence (Maine INBRE), which has been awarded $19.4 million in federal funding to continue its efforts in expanding Maine's biomedical research capacity over the next five years.

The award was announced by Sen. Susan Collins of Maine during a celebratory event at the Mount Desert Island Biological Laboratory (MDIBL) on Aug. 13.

The grant, funded by the Institutional Development Award (IDeA) program and administered by the National Institute of General Medical Sciences, is designed to build research capacity in states that have historically received lower levels of funding from the National Institutes of Health. 

This new funding not only renews support for the Maine INBRE network but also expands its reach to a total of 17 institutions across the state. UNE joined the Maine INBRE network in the spring of 2020, and the University's contributions are part of a broader collaboration that includes institutions such as the University of Maine, the MaineHealth Institute for Research, and The Jackson Laboratory.

Since its inception, Maine INBRE, led by MDIBL, has been a driving force behind the success of early-career bioscience faculty in the state. The network has enabled more than 60 faculty members to compete for and secure larger federal grants by providing research grants, staff support, lab equipment, and other essential resources. 

The program has also had a deep impact on education, offering over 2,800 college students with authentic biomedical research experiences. These opportunities, coupled with access to state-of-the-art equipment through intensive courses, workshops, and paid fellowships, have transformed students’ goals and helped build a technically skilled biomedical workforce for Maine.

The $19.4 million renewal allows UNE undergraduates the opportunity to become INBRE research fellows while participating in INBRE training and workforce development programs. It also gives UNE faculty access to pilot funding to support their work, said Karen Houseknecht, Ph.D., associate provost for Research and Scholarship at UNE.

“UNE is pleased to be a member of the Maine INBRE network and proud to contribute to the state’s growing reputation as a leader in biomedical research,” said Houseknecht, a pharmacologist whose own research focuses on metabolism and drug discovery. “This grant is a testament to the collaborative spirit and scientific excellence that define our network. The Maine INBRE grant provides funding and infrastructure to support the biomedical research and workforce training carried on by faculty at the partner institutions, including UNE’s Dr. Jennifer Garcia.”

In 2023, Garcia, Ph.D., a biomedical investigator and assistant professor in the School of Biological Sciences at UNE, became the first UNE faculty member to receive INBRE research project funding. Her research is focused on understanding how a specific RNase T2 enzyme in yeast affects the cell’s management of phosphate, a crucial nutrient, and its influence on cell growth. Garcia's work will shed light on human disorders such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS.

Through the IDeA program, UNE continues to enhance its leadership in health sciences and biomedical research, making significant contributions to Maine’s scientific landscape.

The program also includes the Center of Biomedical Research Excellence, or COBRE, mechanism, which has bolstered UNE’s capacity for innovative research and education through its Center for Pain Research, funded by a COBRE award in 2012. Now in its third, five-year phase, the center — which houses the Histology and Imaging Core and Behavior Core — has enabled UNE researchers to make significant strides in understanding and improving human health and led to millions of dollars in subsequent NIH awards. 

In January, UNE announced a $10.8 million grant to support the establishment of the Center for Cell Signaling Research, the University’s second COBRE grant, housing the new In Vitro Analytical Core facility. With this latest award, UNE becomes the only institution of higher learning in Maine to boast two of the NIH-funded COBRE research centers, further solidifying the University’s role as a biomedical research engine for the state of Maine.

“COBRE and INBRE awards interact synergistically to build overall biomedical research infrastructure and workforce capacity,” said Geoffrey Ganter, Ph.D., professor of biology and director of the Histology and Imaging Core. 

Associate Provost Houseknecht further emphasized the strategic importance of the INBRE partnership, noting that its renewal builds upon UNE’s recent research investments, including the new Portland Laboratory for Biotechnology and Health Sciences, a state-of-the-art facility that aims to create strategic research partnerships while contributing to workforce development in Maine’s growing biotechnology sector.

She said such capacity will meaningfully contribute to UNE’s mission of improving the health of people, communities, and the natural world.

“Partnering with the Maine INBRE network is an important part of UNE's strategic commitment to driving biomedical research, innovation, and workforce development that have a profound impact, both locally and globally,” Houseknecht said.