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B U S I N E S S P RO F I L E S 54 B U S I N E S S P R O F I L E S P O N S O R E D C O N T E N T We are directly creating new jobs ourselves. Ten years ago, MDI Bio Lab employed 73 people. Last year that number was 113, and it is still rising. In the same period, we expanded the number of research groups here to 11 and we are on a path to add four more. Our cadre of scientists (many from Maine and the U.S., and many from abroad) is reaching new levels of understanding about how to regenerate limbs, tissue and organs, and how to slow the onset of age-related disease. ey occupy a special niche in the world of biomedical research, working with non-traditional animal models for human health: axolotl salamanders, which can regenerate their limbs, tails, organs and even their brains; African Turquoise Killifish, whose short lifespans make them ideal for aging studies; and zebrafish, whose partial transparency makes them a superb subject for inquiries with our state-of-the-art 3D microscopes. Bioscience Jobs for Talent from Maine and Abroad Growing up in rural Dover-Foxcroft, Maine, Gabriela Johnson never imagined her fascination with axolotl salamanders would lead her to a science career in Bar Harbor. Now a Ph.D. candi- date in the lab of MDI Bio Lab scientist (and Australia native) James Godwin, Ph.D., Johnson is developing new tools for understanding the cellular and genetic mechanics of regen- eration, knowledge that could help improve our ability to heal from disease and injury. "I love that MDI Bio Lab is a small community," Johnson said. "You can share ideas, get a lot of feedback and learn about different aspects of regeneration and aging. Everyone is very accessible and open. It's one benefit of being a small organization. Even as we're expanding, we remain a tight- knit community." MDI Biological Laboratory is also breaking new ground in the emerging biotechnology field of "organoids" — three- dimensional, lab-grown tissues that mimic the functions of human organs. We specialize in growing kidney organoids derived from S i n c e 1 8 9 8 , i n n o vat i v e s c i e n t i s t s a n d t h e i r students have gathered on the seaside campus of MDI Biological Laboratory to pursue their most passionate interests in animal and human biology. Today we're a collaborative consortium of international scien- tists pushing the boundaries of regenerative medicine and aging research. We are a nonprofit, and we are immersed in basic research on still-unsolved questions about the fundamental mechanics of life. We are designing and using powerful biotech tools to accelerate the pace of discovery and the development of real-world applica- tions. at's put us on the leading edge of a modern biomedical revolution that's poised to significantly improve human health. "is is an inflection point in scientific history, and in ours," says the institute's President, HermannHaller, M.D. "At the MDI Bio Lab, our international team of research faculty, students and staff are building the scientific foundations of a future when we can be confident not only of a longer life, but a better one." We are collaborating to enhance our lives by cracking nature's codes: Slowing down the aging process and the onset of its associated diseases Combatting environmental stresses that make us susceptible to cancers and decline Regenerating damaged cells, tissues, organs and limbs And MDI Bio Lab is doing its part to help grow the high-paying biomedical sector in Maine. We lead a statewide collaborative net- work of 14 research and education institutions that share faculty and scientific infrastructure for training the next generation of scientific leaders. Hundreds of students — from high schoolers to post-docs — gain research experience on our campus each year, learning essential skills needed to join the bioscience workforce of the future. MDI Biological Laboratory 125 Years of Discovery Above: MDI Bio Lab was founded in 1898 as a summer school for biology students. Today, we're an independent, year-round, international hub for the science of regeneration and aging. Right: MDI Bio Lab has a strong history of mentorship; Dover- Foxcroft native Gabriela Johnson is working on her Ph.D. in the laboratory of James Godwin, Ph.D., a world leader in the science of regeneration. P H O T O C O U R T E S Y O F M D I B I O L O G I C A L L A B O R A T O R Y P H O T O C O U R T E S Y O F M D I B I O L O G I C A L L A B O R A T O R Y

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