Research Overview

The Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences and Engineering (GSBSE) provides a flexible, collaborative research environment consisting of internationally known institutions at which students can freely explore a wide range of research interests. Through first year rotations, opportunities for research training are possible at five unique institutions: The Jackson Laboratory (JAX), Mount Desert Island Biological Laboratory (MDIBL), MaineHealth Institute of Research (MHIR), University of Maine (UM), and University of New England (UNE).

Faculty and students create a supportive, open research environment of shared scientific interests, collaboration, and expertise. Students develop intellectual independence in basic and applied translational or clinical research. Scientific communication, grant writing, teaching assistantships, conferences, and publication provide further opportunities for development.

Faculty research subject specialties are diverse. Research areas include aging, tissue remodeling and repair, metabolism, muscle, bone, and cardiovascular diseases, kidney vascularization, cancer, mouse model generation, genomics, bioinformatics, computational modeling, neuroscience, stress response, toxicology, infectious disease, stem cells, reproductive biology, cell signaling, biosensors, bioengineering, and photo physics.

In the first year, students rotate in at least three different research labs at multiple institutions or can concentrate at one institution. This enables students to gain a diverse scientific foundation. Core courses are completed by the second year. After forming a faculty committee, students propose a dissertation topic and at the end of the second year or beginning of the third year students take their candidacy exam. After which students focus on their research full-time until their PhD defense.

Researchers at multiple sites that are part of the GSBSE program seek a better understanding of the biological mechanisms underlying the aging process by investigating the genetic, cell signaling, and environmental clues that control aging and age-related diseases. Research topics include the immune system and aging, the impact of aging on regeneration, the regulation of stem-cell pluripotency, and developing treatments that retard or prevent specific diseases associated with aging.  The Center for Aging Research at The Jackson Laboratory and the Katharine Davis Center for Regenerative Medicine and Aging at MDIBL are focused locations for research on aging.

Researchers in the Field

Research topics in neuroscience range from normal neural development to disease and aging states. Topics include learning and memory, addiction, learning disabilities, and health disorders. Additional research interests are neuroimmunology, neurogenetics, axon guidance and patterning, computational neuroscience modeling, visual perception, chronic pain, the role of the primary cilia, thermoregulation, and the impacts of circadian rhythm.

Researchers in the field

Faculty use computational and experimental approaches to develop models to analyze large data sets, enabling the discovery of connections and generation of data-driven hypotheses. Bioinformatics and computational methods are used to inform the development of laboratory mouse models. Researchers are creating specialized image analysis and machine learning tools to make new discoveries from images ranging in scale from the whole body of a mouse to single molecules. Comparative genomics, systems genetic approaches to disease and environment, clinical outcomes modeling, network modeling, noncoding RNA analysis, and spatial and geographical genome mapping are included in this inter-disciplinary field.

Researchers in the field

Nanocellulose, biofilms, biomembranes, hydrogels, and the 3D printing of these materials are being investigated and the information applied to biomedical uses.  The surface behavior and interface interactions of these materials are areas of exploration. The creation and refining of 3D engineered models has led to discoveries about the bone marrow niche and blood cancer, adipocytes and cancer and heart disease, and inflammation and angiogenesis.  Sensors are being designed to detect bioterrorism, explosives, and microbial pathogens.

Faculty research  includes miniaturization of instruments, the creation of biomedical nanodevices, microrobots, microelectromechanical systems, biosensors  acoustical wave sensors, and wireless communications.  Specialized image analysis, computational modeling, and microscopy are part of the program.  Opportunities for focused research on single molecule imaging techniques including Fluorescence Photoactivation Localization Microscopy (FPALM), second harmonic generation, and multiphoton microscopy are available. 

Researchers in the Field

Researchers are identifying factors that initiate or predispose individuals to the cancer state and are uncovering ways to enhance the body’s ability to fight the uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells. Predictive genomics and computational biomedicine are being used to study cancer development. Extracellular matrix alterations and tumor growth, chromosomal instability, cell migration, cell signaling pathways, immune cell reprogramming, drug delivery, and the impact of lipid protein interactions on cancer are all being studied. Special areas of research include bone and blood cancers and oncofertility.

Researchers in the field

Research in the cardiovascular area addresses basic questions relevant to the establishment, remodeling, and pathology of the heart and circulatory system. Diseases such as diabetes, obesity, and dementia impact cardiovascular health and vice versa.  Molecular signaling pathways, factors affecting angiogenesis, and the microenvironment are areas of research.  Research on fluid dynamics and biomembranes is being used to understand the cardiovascular system.  The repair response of the cardiovascular system after injury and the normal regeneration of the vasculature are all areas of study.

Researchers in the field

Developmental biology is the study of how organisms grow and develop from a single cell to a complex, multi-cellular organism. It explores the processes of cell differentiation, tissue formation, and organ development, investigating how a fertilized egg transforms into a fully formed individual. This field examines both genetic control and environmental influences on developmental processes.

Researchers in the Field

Genomics includes discovering how genetic variation impacts development, homeostasis, or complex disease states such as cancer or metabolic disease. This includes investigation of topics such as the impact of non-coding RNAs or the factors leading to epigenetic variation. Computational analysis, bioinformatics, and statistics are used to discover new connections from large genomics datasets.

Researchers in the field

GSBSE researchers study how the body’s immune response and inflammation contribute to a variety of diseases, including infectious disease, cancer, diabetes. The impact of the microbiome on health is another area of research. Model systems such as zebrafish are being used to study Pseudomonas, Streptococcus, and yeast infection. Viruses being studied include JC polyomavirus and influenza. Chronic and acute inflammation resulting from toxicants, trauma, or disease are additional areas of research.

Researchers in the field

The study of metabolism addresses the vast genetic networks that contribute to complex diseases such as obesity. A National Institute of Health Centers of Biomedical Research Excellence (COBRE) grant in mesenchymal and neural regulation of metabolic networks at Maine Medical Center Research Institute (MMCRI) is funding unique metabolic research into the signaling pathways generated by and impacting adipocytes, bone marrow, myoblasts, nervous tissue, and the cardiovascular system. Research is clarifying the role of aging and diseases such as type 2 diabetes on heart and nervous system health and investigating epigenetic contributions to gene regulation, the role of mitochondria in fat energy metabolism and the unique characteristics of brown fat. Study of the molecular regulators of variation is funded by a recent 9.6-million-dollar Transformative Research Award at Maine Medical Center Research Institute.

Researchers in the Field

Molecular and Cellular Biology seeks understanding of broad aspects of development and disease, including cell signal transduction, stem cell fate determination, and tissue homeostasis at multiple levels that include intermolecular, cell-cell, tissue and organ function. Research in molecular and cellular biology includes theoretical modeling and applied research. Molecular and Cellular Biology research within GSBSE ranges from basic developmental and disease processes in cell and animal models from zebrafish to mouse, to studies in humans which emphasize vascular biology, stem cell biology, tissue development, homeostasis and pathology. Areas of active research include molecular diffusion and localization, membrane lipids, nanomaterials, models of bone marrow formation and adipogenesis, immunity, mitochondria and toxicants, the impact of the extracellular environment, and tissue regeneration and repair.

Researchers in the field

Research topics in neuroscience range from normal neural development to disease and aging states.  Topics include learning and memory, addiction, learning disabilities, and health disorders. Additional research interests are neuroimmunology, neurogenetics, axon guidance and patterning, computational neuroscience modeling, visual perception, chronic pain, the role of the primary cilia, thermoregulation, and the impacts of circadian rhythm. 

Researchers in the field

Stem cells may hold the key to breakthroughs in many of areas of research. Within the GSBSE faculty the role of stem cells during development, repair, and regeneration in muscle, cardiovascular, kidney, nervous tissue, and limbs are being intensely studied. The development of adipose progenitors and their role in metabolic disease, muscle precursor development, immune response, tissue hematopoiesis and blood cancers, signaling pathways in development and aging, fertility and germ granules are examples of the diverse areas of stem cell research that are part of the program.

Researchers in the field

The biology of stress involves the responses and adaptations of a cell or organism to external challenges and is one of the most striking characteristics of all live systems. GSBSE faculty are examining the effects of stress at the translational level in the areas of post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, stress hormones, and the effects of toxicants. At the cellular and molecular level, researchers are studying mitochondrial response, signaling pathways, changes in immunity that include T lymphocytes and the central nervous system, chromosomal instability, and altered development. Another area of study is nutrient restriction and changes to post-transcriptional gene expression. Disease states and their interactions induced by stress are also being studied and include obesity and perivascular adipose tissue vascular interactions, obesity and cardiovascular health, and effects on angiogenesis and the extracellular matrix.

Researchers in the field