Mainebiz

V O L . X X X I I N O. V M A R C H 9 , 2 0 2 6 12 L I F E S C I E N C E S / I N N OVAT I O N M aine's biotech industry is growing — and the evi- dence is the expansion of its physical presence. Agnieszka Carpenter, executive director of the Bioscience Association of Maine, says the recent wave of expansions demonstrates that Maine's life sciences sector is not only growing, but putting down long-term roots. "We're seeing expanded labs, new collaborations and increased research capacity that will generate high- quality jobs and strengthen Maine's competitive edge, particularly in bio- medical research, marine science and bio-based innovation," she says. e industry has seen a 31% increase in bioscience-related jobs in Maine in the last 5 years, and salaries are averaging $108,000. Maine Technology Institute announced in February the distribution of over $25 million in state funding to support economic growth across a range of sectors, through a bond approved by voters in 2024 — the first research and development bond passed in Maine since 2017. e funding was through MTI's Technology Asset Fund 3.0. "BioME worked with partners across the state to advocate for the bond because we understood that strategic public investment would unlock private growth," Carpenter says. "Given the strong return on the state's previous investment, BioME is currently supporting a proposed $50 million R&D bond to help scale research, commercialization and infra- structure across Maine." Four biotech firms received more than $4 million in funding through MTI, and have pledged a total of $8.5 million in matching funds for facili- ties and research expansion projects — a total investment of over $12.5 million. Researching new therapies e largest grant — $2 million — went to Jackson Laboratory, the global bio- medical research institution based in Bar Harbor. e funding will be focused on renovating a vivarium to create a state- of-the-art production facility to expand capacity for advanced research models critical to immunology, oncology and infectious disease research. Jackson Lab predicts the facility will create skilled jobs and strengthen Maine's biotechnology sector, and has pledged to match the grant with $3.43 million in additional funding. Mount Desert Island Biological Lab, also headquartered in Bar Harbor, received $960,000 to build a new facility to expand its translational drug research capacity. "e translational process starts with the discoveries, then you have to get a patent and then go out and look for investors," says Hermann Haller, president of Mount Desert Island Biological Lab. e organization is focused on devel- oping new therapies to treat disease and to set the stage for potential commer- cial enterprises through a collaboration with the Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences, based in East Boothbay. e partnership draws on Bigelow's extensive microalgae col- lection to identify bioactive molecules that may have therapeutic value for acute kidney injury, immune-related conditions and exposure to environ- mental toxins such as PFAS. e new facility will support testing and validation for compounds identi- fied through the collaboration, as well as other projects. e lab will train students not only to do experiments at the bench, but also to use AI and to understand the patent process and intellectual property. As Haller says, it's important for scientists to understand how to move the discoveries into the real world and onto the market. MDI Biological Lab trains stu- dents from a number of universities and collaborates with Northeastern University's Roux Institute, which is also expanding in Portland. MDI Biological Lab's newest research space will replace one of the 100-year- old campus's original buildings; detailed planning for the facility is still underway. Additionally, MDI Biological Lab has recently built student housing and is cur- rently renovating the century-old Neal Laboratory — a project made possible by a $1.6 million federal appropriation. e lab also received close to $2 million through the 2026 Labor, Health and Human Services and Education Appropriations bill, signed into law early this year. at funding will support the ren- ovation of Bowen Hall into a center for advancing science education and entrepreneurship. e 2,000-square- foot center will facilitate workforce training and research development under the Bioscience Initiative. "We aim to develop a new cohort of leaders for the biotech industry," Haller says. "e center will help students find their place in Maine's expanding life sciences industry." e center will host seminars, career development sessions, network- ing and industry meetings. A primary role will be to support training pro- grams sponsored by a federally funded network of 17 colleges, universities and independent research institutions, led by MDI Biological Lab. e program has provided hands- on research experience to more than Brick-and-mortar biotech additions With funding from Maine Technology Institute, innovators are building facilities and adding staff B y T i n a F i s c h e r P H O T O / T I M G R E E N WAY We aim to develop a new cohort of leaders for the biotech industry ... to help students find their place in Maine's expanding life sciences industry . — Hermann Haller MDI Biological Lab F O C U S Marin Skincare is expanding its production area in Portland. Pictured are co-founders Amber Boutiette and Patrick Breeding in their lab in Portland.

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