MDI Biological Laboratory

10/09/2026

Will we see you at the 2026 Bioscience Association of Maine's Annual Conference on Wednesday, October 14?

Jerilyn Bowers, MDI Bio Lab's Vice President of External Affairs & Chief of Staff will be part of the panel discussion Beyond the Data – Innovation Driving Maine’s Life Sciences.

BioME Annual Conferences are open to all and provides the community with an opportunity to learn about the life sciences industry in Maine, and connect with industry professionals, academia, research institutions and government.

Learn more and register today: https://biomaine.org/event/biome-annual-conference-2026/

10/08/2026

Happy DAF Day! 🎉

Did you know a Donor Advised Fund lets you set aside money for future giving — and you don’t need to be rich to do it? In fact, 69% of DAF gifts are under $1,000!

DAFs make it simple to support the causes that matter most, like MDI Bio Lab.

Interested in learning how? https://mdibl.org/support/the-star-point-society/spsmembership/

10/07/2026

From the Parkinson's Foundation: Prayag Murawala, Ph.D., recipient of a Parkinson’s Foundation Impact Award, believes that the regenerative properties of the axolotl salamander could hold the key to future restorative PD therapies

Prayag Murawala, PhD, believes that the regenerative properties of the axolotl salamander could hold the key to future restorative PD therapies.

10/06/2026

In 2013, a recent high school graduate from rural Maine arrived at MDI Bio Lab as a Summer Student Fellow. He wasn’t yet sure what a life in science could look like.

Today, Donald Brooks is a scientist and Ph.D. student—and a monthly Catalysts Circle donor at MDI Bio Lab.

In this story, Donald reflects on how that first summer of hands-on research helped him discover that science was not only something he was drawn to, but a future he could actually build.

This experience is also a powerful reminder of why investing in young scientists matters: a summer fellowship can spark a career, build confidence and open doors that last a lifetime.

And sometimes, those students come back to help open those doors for the next generation.

SURF alum Donald J. Brooks says his experience at MDI Bio Lab helped launch his career in science. Now, as a monthly donor, he is paying that opportunity forward so other students can discover the same possibilities.

10/05/2026

The 2026 ATK Conference brought together researchers, students, speakers and guests from around the world for three days of discovery, collaboration and conversation around the African turquoise killifish.

Thank you to everyone who contributed to making this year’s conference such a memorable one!

10/04/2026

10/02/2026

A little Friday afternoon reminder that while the seasons are changing, the curiosity, questions and new ideas are still bubbling away.

Happy Friday from MDI Bio Lab! 🫧

09/30/2026

Last week’s Foundations and Applications of Human course brought together an enthusiastic group of scientists for several days of hands-on learning, discussion, and exploration of human pluripotent stem cell research and the Maine coastline.

Thank you to everyone who joined us—and to our instructors for sharing their expertise! We loved having you here. 🔬

09/29/2026

What if a tiny fish could teach us something about restoring human vision?

Zebrafish can regenerate damaged retinas — and see again within days. Scientists at MDI Biological Laboratory are studying how they do it, and recently discovered a previously unknown population of cells that helps make this possible.

Could humans have a similar regenerative pathway? Early signs suggest we might.

Your support helps make discoveries like this possible. Please consider making a gift to MDI Biological Laboratory this fall: https://mdibl.org/support

09/28/2026

📕 New in the American Journal of Transplantation, "Evaluation of eculizumab for the prevention of delayed graft function after kidney transplantation in adults: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial" with Hermann Haller: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajt.2026.09.024