Renewed NIH grant to expand UMaine’s impact on biotech workforce
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) awarded the University of Maine a competitive renewal of its T32 predoctoral training grant, expanding support for doctoral students in biomedical science and engineering. The Transdisciplinary Predoctoral Training Program in Biomedical Science and Engineering educates future scientists and engineers to work as innovative, team-based researchers. The five-year renewal of the award expands annual training slots from six to eight students and sustains one of only two active T32 programs in Maine.
UMaine’s T32 program, launched in 2019, was the first of its kind at the state’s flagship university. Led by co-principal investigators Clarissa Henry of UMaine and Lucy Liaw of the MaineHealth Institute for Research, the program has expanded opportunities for graduate students in the Graduate School of Biomedical Science and Engineering (GSBSE). In addition to UMaine and MaineHealth, the T32 built on collaborations with The Jackson Laboratory, Mount Desert Island Biological Laboratory, and the University of New England.
“This renewal attests to the quality of innovation and mentorship opportunities created by our robust network of collaborators on campus and across the state,” said Clarissa Henry, UMaine professor of biological sciences and principal investigator on the project. “We are proud that the majority of our graduates are building their careers here in Maine, fueling the growth of the biosciences sector and advancing research focused on pressing health challenges.”
Lucy Liaw, faculty scientist at the MaineHealth Institute for Research and co-principal investigator, emphasized the collaborative model: “The T32 has created a true statewide training network. By connecting students with mentors and resources across Maine’s institutions, we’re equipping the next generation of scientists with the skills to thrive in a team-based, transdisciplinary research environment.”
“GSBSE was created to connect top researchers with students across Maine, and this program embodies that vision,” said Gregory Cox, director of GSBSE and co-principal investigator. “Expanding the number of students we can support is both a testament to past success and an investment in Maine’s future.”
The first NIH T32 grant (2019–2024) delivered dividends for the Pine Tree State’s innovation economy:
- 80% of graduates remained in Maine, bolstering the state’s biotech sector
- 25% of trainees secured their own NIH fellowships (F31s)
- The program contributed to increased diversity and inclusion of students who are underrepresented in biomedical research.
- The award contributed to UMaine’s elite status as a Research-1 (R1) university, which was reaffirmed in February, and is the top classification bestowed by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education.
With more than 150 faculty and 90 students, GSBSE is a statewide Ph.D. program that spans computational biology, bioinformatics, mammalian genetics, molecular and developmental biology, biomedical engineering, neuroscience, and medical sciences. Sixty-four funded faculty members actively participate as co-mentors, providing students a robust network to pursue the transdisciplinary collaboration that propels modern biomedical research.
New training strategies endorsed by the program’s advisory committee will support fellows in their second and third years to maximize the benefits of co-mentorship. Eligible GSBSE students may apply to become NIH T32 fellows through a competitive process. The most recent call for proposals was issued this summer; selections will be announced in September 2025 for the 2025–26 academic year. Additional information is available online.
Contact: Erin Miller, erin.miller@maine.edu, Caroline Cornish, Caroline.Cornish@mainehealth.org