Mainebiz

W W W. M A I N E B I Z . B I Z 13 J U N E 1 5 , 2 0 1 5 I N S I D E T H E N OT E B O O K S ome scientists thrive in intensely competitive, highly collabora- tive environments like the Boston/ Cambridge area, Silicon Valley or Research Triangle Park, N.C. Others fi nd all that hustle and bustle inhibiting to deep thought and time to try diff erent things. I discov- ered such researchers while reporting the cover story in this issue on Maine Medical Center Research Institute in Scarborough. ey were willing to give Maine a chance, and are thriv- ing in labs performing cutting-edge research in cancer, bone growth, fat metabolism and stem cells. e institutions where scientists do postdoctoral work and their fi rst job out of school shape the rest of their careers. at's why some pick large, well-known institutions in cities where they can notch up big points on their résumé. Such organizations are magnets for funding from federal agencies, foun- dations and private companies alike. But there are drawbacks, like the intense competition to get your own lab. Not to mention such environments can be over stimulating, and actually stifl e creative thinking. "Too much collaboration can be inhibiting," Michaela Reagan, a Harvard Medical School graduate who will join MMCRI in late September, told me. She's now fi nishing postdoctoral research in multiple myeloma at Boston's Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. e newly minted scientist will have her own lab at MMCRI, making it that institution's 13 th laboratory. "It's similar to where I grew up," the native Vermonter said of Maine. "I think it's a great environment. You don't have to be at Harvard to do good science." And while she's aware that Maine as a whole receives much less federal science funding than Massachusetts, she's undaunted about raising grant money. All MMCRI researchers have to raise all the funds for their own labs. She's bringing with her some money from an existing grant, plus some addi- tional funds she expects from a soon- to-be signed collaborative agreement with a biotech company. "I'm not concerned to come to Maine. Young postdocs need space, and Harvard is crowded," she said. e fi rst item on her agenda when she moves here in September: buying a hardy winter car like a Subaru. But federal monies have been tight- ening up over the past decade, and the trend shows no signs of abating. at worries Dr. Cliff ord Rosen, director of the Center for Clinical and Translational Research and a senior sci- entist at MMCRI. He recruited Reagan, and while he feels she can meet the task, he's worried about future researchers, given the lower success rate of getting a grant because of less funding. Another issue: grant approvals are being delayed until the federal govern- ment agrees on a budget. "Congressional debate determines your fate," he said. A recent report from the Massachu- setts Institute of Technology warned that the United States risks falling behind other countries like China in cutting- edge developments because of the federal funding cuts to basic research. Rosen said the state of Maine used to give MMCRI a couple $100,000 a year, but that dried up about two years ago, and he doesn't have much hope of seeing more money from the state. "If you add up all the funding into Maine, you might see more critical mass in funding, but it's all in little pockets. MMCRI is basic research, which is hard to fund," said Todd Keiller, director of the Offi ce of Technology Transfer at MMCRI. "We are doing the 'R' part of R&D." One positive for the future of sci- ence in Maine that Rosen cites is Susan Hunter's appointment as president of the University of Maine. A bone-cell biolo- gist by training, Hunter collaborated with Rosen in the 1980s. "My great hope is that she is a role model for people," Rosen told me. "As a state we haven't enhanced our universi- ties to feed the local economy." However, he says Portland has proven a great recruiting tool. "People and their spouses love to come to Portland," he said, adding that it's close to Boston. Actually, there's quite a bit of new happening What's new at Mainebiz? August 17, 2015 August 17, 2015 August 17, 2015 Vo l . X X I N o. X V I I I Vo l . X X I N o. X V I I I Vo l . X X I N o. X V I I I www.mainebiz.biz www.mainebiz.biz www.mainebiz.biz Coming August 17 Here's help to navigate the complex topic of health care Tools, advice and best practices to help your business thrive Ideas for saving money Tips on how to be healthier HEALTHY BUSINESS dbrassard@mainebiz.biz 207.761.8379 x327 @Mainebiz Questions? Comments? We welcome your feedback. Email us, call us, tweet us! You don't need to be in Cambridge to do great science L O r i Va L i G r a , Mainebiz senior writer, can be reached at L Va L i G r a @ m a i n e b i z . b i z and @ LVa L i G r a . Contractor of Choice for Northeastern Industrial and Energy Customers S K I L L , R E S P O N S I B I L I T Y & I N T E G R I T Y ( 2 0 7 ) 7 4 3 - 8 9 4 6 • BA N C R O F T C O N T R AC T I N G . C O M • S O U T H PA R I S , M A I N E Since 1977

• Cover