The Maine Biomedical Research Network (INBRE)

Mount Desert Island Biological Lab, Salisbury Cove ME

Investigators

Linked publications & trials

Abstract

The Maine IDeA Network of Biomedical Research Excellence (ME-INBRE) is a statewide biomedical research network of public and private institutions led by the MDI Biological Laboratory (MDIBL). ME-INBRE consists of three private research institutes (MDIBL, The Jackson Laboratory, and MaineHealth Institute for Research), one public Ph.D.-degree granting R1 university (The University of Maine), twelve primarily undergraduate institutions (PUIs: Bates, Bowdoin, and Colby Colleges, College of the Atlantic, UMaine Honors College, UMaine Farmington, UMaine Machias, UMaine Presque Isle, UMaine Fort Kent, UMaine Augusta, University of Southern Maine, and University of New England), and one community college (Southern Maine Community College). All these institutions contribute to developing Maine’s capacity for biomedical research that engages undergraduate students and have confirmed their commitment through letters and Memoranda of Understanding. A Steering Committee comprising institutional leadership will ensure adherence to ME-INBRE's mission, an Executive committee comprising the faculty leads at each network institution will oversee implementation of ME-INBRE programs at their respective institutions, and an External Advisory Committee of esteemed scientists will provide advice and assess progress. An overarching goal of the ME-INBRE is to increase collaboration between scientists, institutions, and students, using data science as a collaborative platform. To that end, the Data Science Core will develop a statewide Community of Practice in data science, involving a working group of scientists from each network institution, and will offer data science training through workshops, courses, and mentored research experiences. A Collaborative Research Resources Core will provide crucial core technologies as well as resources for collaboration and connecting researchers with IDeA-funded core facilities, including core facility access awards. The Developmental Research Project Program will support the research and career development of exceptional faculty. Competitively selected Research Project Leaders will devote 50% of their effort to a Research Project, and Pilot Project Leaders from PUIs will devote 25% effort to projects that provide research experiences for undergraduate students. Collaborations with other Maine and regional IDeA programs will leverage core resources and research opportunities that will complement and extend ME-INBRE's programs. The Administrative Core will manage and coordinate all activities, including the ME-INBRE Student Research Program and a new Outreach initiative, and will implement internal formative evaluation of all ME-INBRE programs and activities to maximize their effectiveness.