Department of Molecular and Biomedical Sciences

Pen Bay Pilot highlights UMaine, Northeastern research collaborations

The Penobscot Bay Pilot picked up a University of Maine news release highlighting a new program established to support research collaborations between the University of Maine and Northeastern University. Through a rigorous review process involving peer faculty reviewers and research leaders at each university, five projects were awarded $50,000 in seed funding intended to support […]

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Mainebiz posts release about Neuright being awarded grant

Mainebiz shared a University of Maine media release about the university biotech spinoff Neuright, Inc. being awarded $225,000 through the National Science Foundation’s Small Business Technology Transfer program. Magdalena Blaszkiewicz, who earned a doctoral degree in biomedical sciences, and Kristy Townsend, associate professor of neurobiology, co-founded the company. The goal is to develop diagnostic and […]

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The Maine question podcast logo

‘The Maine Question’ podcast looks at why viruses go viral

The latest episode of “The Maine Question” asks, why do viruses go viral? The novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19 has led to a pandemic that swept the globe, halted economies and upended life as we know it. In the seventh episode of the second season, host Ron Lisnet talks with Melissa Maginnis, an assistant professor […]

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BDN speaks with Maginnis about how to teach kids about COVID-19

The Bangor Daily News spoke with Melissa Maginnis, an assistant professor of microbiology at the University of Maine, about how she’s teaching her kids about the novel coronavirus. “We’ve seen the emergence of several of these viruses in the past couple decades, like SARS and MERS. It was predicted there would be another one that […]

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Graduate School announces 2020–21 Waldron, Hunter, Chase awardees

Ten doctoral candidates will each receive one of three 2020–21 awards: the Janet Waldron Doctoral Research Fellowship, the Susan J. Hunter Teaching Assistantship, and the Chase Distinguished Research Assistantship. These awards will support the students in their research and professional development. Janet Waldron Doctoral Research Fellowship Shelby Helwig, Psychological Sciences Frankie St. Amand, Interdisciplinary Studies […]

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Media share Khalil’s invention to improve breast cancer detection

WABI (Channel 5), WMTW in Portland and WVII (Channel 7) reported the University of Maine has been issued a patent for technology that could aid in the early detection of breast cancer by identifying dormant, potentially cancerous tissue before it progresses to an aggressive metastatic cancer. “Right now, radiology is based on reactive medicine. Meaning, let’s […]

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Klimis-Zacas shares wild blueberry wound-healing properties with WABI, WMTW

WABI (Channel 5) and WMTW (Channel 8) reported on Dorothy Klimis-Zacas’ discovery that wild blueberries have properties that significantly promote cell migration and speed of wound closure. The University of Maine professor of clinical nutrition will work to develop a topical cream with embedded bioactive compounds for the commercial marketplace. The CBS affiliate in Denver shared […]

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UMaine Medicine hosts seminar series

Health-related topics in biomedical science and biomedical engineering, social sciences and community health will be the focus of the spring 2020 University of Maine Medicine Seminar Series.  The series provides insights into current medical research and opportunities for collaborative research projects. Speakers include experts from the University of Maine and other universities, as well as […]

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Mother and baby

Opioid-dependent mothers have reduced social neuropeptide levels, give fewer gentle touches to babies

Mothers being treated for opioid-dependency showed impaired responsiveness and sensitivity to their babies, compared to mothers not dependent on opioids but similar in socioeconomic and lifestyle factors.  The opioid-dependent mothers’ sensitivity deficits were associated with reduced oxytocin (OT) release. OT, which is made in the hypothalamus of the brain, is normally released during mothers’ interactions […]

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