Using Big Data to Extend Healthy Lifespan |
FALL 2020
BREAKING THROUGH FALL 2020 › 1
4 UNDERSTANDING THE AGING MIND: A team approach to understanding the relationship between aging and dementia 8 UTILIZING BIG DATA TO ANSWER BIG QUESTIONS: How big data is shaping the future of research 12 LAB NOTES: The latest developments at the MDI Biological Laboratory 16 THIS IS WHY: Don & Heather Parker: A legacy of giving
Regenerating Tendons Each year more than 15 million soft tissue and ligament injuries are reported in the U.S. alone. Thanks to a grant from the German Research Foundation, Prayag Murawala, Ph.D., assistant professor at the MDI Biological Laboratory, is studying tendon biology and regeneration in the axolotl (Mexican salamander) limb. Often associated with athletes, tendon injuries are also common among the elderly due to age-related degeneration. Read more at mdibl.org/tendon-regeneration
2 ‚ BREAKING THROUGH FALL 2020
FROM THE PRESIDENT
Dear Friends, It is fair to say that 2020 has been a year of unprecedented challenges. Yet despite these challenges, the MDI Biological Laboratory continues to thrive. I am extremely proud of the way our entire community — our staff, students and supporters — has come together to overcome the disruptions presented by Coronavirus and to show their dedication to science. Together, we have made remarkable progress over the last year: • We recruited two new international faculty members. Prayag Murawala, Ph.D. from Vienna, Austria studies limb and tendon regeneration in the axolotl (Mexican salamander) and Romain Madelaine, Ph.D. from Toulouse, France studies nerve and muscle regeneration in the zebrafish. • Thanks to the tireless efforts of our education and bioinformatics departments to adapt to online based instruction, 480 people participated in our virtual courses, conferences and fellowships — focusing on the power of big data to answer important biological questions. • Faculty and staff have adapted to work-from-home or staggered lab schedules and implemented strict safety protocols. Our employees have shown 100% commitment to keeping our community COVID-free. The global pandemic is shining a spotlight on the importance of science in ensuring our collective health and safety like no time before. We remain steadfast in our commitment to translate our research for the benefit of society — and to ensure that all of us live longer, healthier lives. I know that you share that commitment as well. This year your support is more important than ever. Thanks to the generosity of an anonymous donor, all new or increased gifts made or pledged by December 31 will be doubled. If you believe in our mission; if you believe in better health; if you believe in science, I urge you to go to mdibl.org/donate-now and give whatever you can to help ensure a healthier future for you and your loved ones. Every dollar counts. Whether you are a stalwart supporter, alumnus old or new, or have recently been introduced to the MDI Biological Laboratory, thank you for being part of our community. I am grateful to be on this exciting journey of scientific discovery with you.
With appreciation and gratitude,
Hermann Haller, M.D. President
BREAKING THROUGH FALL 2020 › 3
SPOTLIGHT ON RESEARCH
14M estimated people with Alzheimer’s
UNDERSTANDING THE AGING MIND A TEAM APPROACH TO UNDERSTANDING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN AGING AND DEMENTIA
6M people with Alzheimer’s
TODAY
$305
IN 30 YEARS
If there is a threat with the potential to overwhelm the health care system on a scale comparable to that of COVID-19, it is dementia.
$1.1
We are on the brink of an epidemic of this deadly disease: the number of people living with dementia is expected to more than double by 2050, from 6 million to 14 million.
BILLION
TRILLION
will be spent on treating patients with dementia in 2020.
is the projected cost of the same treatment by 2050.
Between 2000 and 2018 heart disease deaths decreased by 7.8%, while
Alzheimer’s deaths have increased by
146%
1 in 3
seniors die with Alzheimer’s or other dementia. It kills more than breast and prostate cancers combined.
SOURCE: HTTPS://WWW.ALZ.ORG/ALZHEIMERS-DEMENTIA/FACTS-FIGURES
Alzheimer’s is the most common form of dementia, where a progressive loss of neurons in the brain slowly destroys memories and thinking skills. Currently one out of three seniors die with Alzheimer’s or other form of dementia. MDI Biological Laboratory scientists are working to understand the mechanisms of aging, and how genetic, dietary and pharmacological interventions can extend healthy lifespan and delay the onset of degenerative diseases. The institution’s role in developing new therapies to promote longevity and prevent age-related diseases has expanded with the addition of Romain Madelaine, Ph.D. to the faculty and by the recent achievements of faculty members Samuel Beck, Ph.D. and Jarod Rollins, Ph.D.
BREAKING THROUGH FALL 2020 › 5
Romain Madelaine joins faculty Madelaine, who recently joined the faculty as assistant professor, is studying the zebrafish to find out why it can regenerate neuronal tissue while adult mammals, including humans, cannot. An increased understanding of neuron regeneration could lead to new treatments for Alzheimer’s and other age-related neurodegenerative diseases. The quest to regenerate neurons has largely focused on the transplantation of stem cells, which are cells with the unique ability to “differentiate” or transform into specialized cell types, including neurons. But the complex process of transplanting stem cells carries the risk that the host organism’s immune system could reject the newly differentiated neurons because it perceives them as foreign. Madelaine’s research promises to bypass that problem by stimulating the organism’s own (endogenous) neural stem cells to transform into neurons. Because zebrafish readily regenerate neurons, understanding the mechanisms controlling neuronal regeneration in zebrafish is the first step in identifying strategies to promote endogenous neuronal regeneration in humans.
Madelaine formerly studied the molecular mechanisms of aging at the Institut des Maladies Métaboliques et Cardiovasculaires in Toulouse, France. Prior to that, he was a post-doctoral fellow at Stanford University, where he studied the regeneration of neurons involved in the senses of sight and smell.
Patent application for new drug If the goal of Madelaine’s research is to replace neurons damaged by Alzheimer’s, the goal of Beck’s and Rollins’ research is to delay its onset and progression. They are seeking to identify drugs that target the genetic pathways implicated in the disease. They recently filed a patent application for a family of drugs to treat age-related inflammatory diseases, including neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. The potential treatments were identified by screening drugs known to suppress gene expression changes caused by the disruption of the architecture of the chromatin, which is the part of the nucleus that carries genetic instructions in the form of DNA. The patent application is an outgrowth of Beck’s research on progeria, a rare genetic disorder linked with disruption of the
chromatin architecture in which children age prematurely. Beck has found that disruption of the chromatin architecture leads to increased secretion of harmful factors in the cell that are drivers of many of the pathological hallmarks of aging, including chronic inflammation, or “inflammaging.” The family of drugs was identified by Beck through a bioinformatics analysis of publicly available genomics data. The approach, which Beck calls “extracting knowledge from community wisdom,” also identified dozens of other drugs that Beck and Rollins plan to screen for their anti-aging properties. Their aim is to repurpose drugs that have been found to be safe for the treatment of other diseases for use as anti-aging therapies. “Our discovery of the anti-aging properties of this family of drugs is a validation of our approach,” Beck said. “We looked for drugs that are safe, which dramatically reduces the time and expense of drug development, and that suppress the expression of genes that we had identified as being associated with aging, and then we tested them for their anti-aging properties. Our approach worked, which is pretty exciting.”
“My hope is that within the next decade we will solve the challenge of successfully stimulating our own neural stem cells to regenerate neurons lost during neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.” ROMAIN MADELAINE, PH.D. ASSISTANT PROFESSOR, MDI BIOLOGICAL LABORATORY
6 ‹ BREAKING THROUGH FALL 2020
The drug screens were conducted in C. elegans, a nematode worm that is a popular model in aging research because of its short lifespan. In addition to screening the other drugs Beck has identified for their anti-aging properties, Beck and Rollins will conduct additional research on the drugs that are the subject of the patent application in C. elegans and in mice — the latter in collaboration with The Jackson Laboratory.
Grant awarded for the study of Alzheimer’s The MDI Biological Laboratory has also received a one-year $433,500 grant from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences, an institute of the National Institutes of Health, for the study of Alzheimer’s. The grant, which was awarded to Beck and Rollins, is a supplement to the 2018 COBRE (Center of Biomedical Research Excellence) grant that funds their research. Beck’s research will focus on the unmet need for biological markers that can be used in the early diagnosis of Alzheimer’s — before it leads to severe brain damage. He is seeking to develop disruption of the chromatin architecture as a biomarker for early diagnosis. Rollins, using C. elegans as a model, will study how disruption in the function of the ribosome, which is the complex molecular “factory” in the cell where proteins are made, contributes to the disease. In particular, Rollins will study how tau proteins, which form aggregates or “tangles” in the brain, lead to ribosome dysfunction. He will also investigate the role of ribosome dysfunction in the formation of memories, and how progressive memory loss can potentially be mitigated through drugs or lifestyle interventions such as intermittent fasting. Together, these innovative approaches will lead to new insights and treatments for Alzheimer’s disease, helping turn the tide on this emerging epidemic.
Big Questions SUPPORT OUR WORK ›
Scientists in the Kathryn W. Davis Center
This year, thanks to an anonymous challenge gift, your gift will play an even greater role in supporting our scientists.
are working together to find the answers
for Regenerative Medicine and Aging to some of the biggest questions in aging and regenerative biology:
Give by December 31 and double your impact: mdibl.org/ donate-now
ROMAIN MADELAINE, PH.D. ASSISTANT PROFESSOR
Can we stimulate our own neuronal stem cells to regenerate neurons?
JAROD ROLLINS, PH.D. ASSISTANT PROFESSOR
How does diet impact the rate at which we age?
SAMUEL BECK, PH.D. ASSISTANT PROFESSOR
What can big data tell us about the mechanisms of aging and age-related disease? BREAKING THROUGH FALL 2020 › 7
Utilizing Big Data to Answer Big Questions We live in an era of “big data” where it is possible to measure everything – from consumer purchases to the movement of billions of stars to every beat of the human heart. With any number of devices continuously gathering unimaginable amounts of data from every facet of our lives, big data is shaping our future.
N
owhere is this more evident than in biology.
Thanks to recent advances in technology, biologists have amassed countless terabytes of data as they sequenced millions of genomes, recorded high-resolution videos of microscopic cells interacting with one another, and mapped the distinct lineage and function of individual cells. Within this data lie answers to some of our most pressing biological questions. But manual analysis of this data is virtually impossible. Thus the need to develop new computational tools and harness the power of artificial intelligence has given rise to the field of computational biology, or bioinformatics. Bioinformatics utilizes large scale, highly efficient and robust statistical analysis to manage, analyze and interpret the vast amount of data created by modern experiments in just a fraction of the time it would take humans to manually run these calculations. Joel Graber, Ph.D., senior staff scientist and director of the Bioinformatics Core at MDI Biological Laboratory explains that a typical experiment yields thirty million or more individual pieces of information for a
single sample. “Analysis by a human,” he adds, “if they were to look at each piece of data for just one second, would take more than 8,333 hours of non-stop work to complete.” In analyzing samples with up to tens of millions of data points, members of the Bioinformatics Core must not only possess intimate knowledge of multiple computing programs and external reference data sets, but also a deep and detailed understanding of the wide array of complex biological questions being investigated by the research groups at MDI Biological Laboratory. These questions range from: Is aging due to a loss of tissue regeneration?, to How do stem cells maintain pluripotency?, and How much does your health, susceptibility to disease and rate of aging depend on the environment in which you were raised? “Our job is to be a bridge between the computational work and the individual researcher to help them find answers,” Graber says. “There are many approaches and tools for analysis, but the key is finding the one that best matches the question. For us, one of the most critical aspects of our work is the ability to communicate clearly with our bench scientist colleagues.” BREAKING THROUGH FALL 2020 › 9
In order to provide its scientists with the expertise they need to effectively analyze and interpret large data sets, leadership at the MDI Biological Laboratory established a Bioinformatics Core. “Having a specialized team of professional bioinformaticians is essential for 21st century science,” says Hermann Haller, M.D., president of the MDI Biological Laboratory. “The expertise provided by Joel and his team benefits all of the individual research groups here,” he said. “It is also a resource that makes MDIBL very attractive to visiting scientists. They can come here with their data sets and focus, with expert help from our Bioinformatics Core, on analyzing and interpreting their work.” Graber, like many other researchers in this field, is “self-taught.” With a doctorate in experimental accelerator physics, he transitioned to biology in the early days of “genome science.” In coming to the MDI Biological Laboratory in 2017, Graber made the decision to cease his own research program and focus his knowledge and expertise on helping scientists harness the power of big data. But as the field has grown exponentially, he recognizes the critical need for comprehensive training programs to meet the worldwide demand for skilled bioinformatics professionals. Under his leadership, the Bioinformatics Core is a key contributor to the development of MDI Biological Laboratory’s robust bioinformatics training programs, ensuring students, educators and scientists receive quality training in this increasingly invaluable field. As part of the Maine IDeA Network of Biomedical Research Excellence (INBRE), a statewide network of educational and research institutions funded by the National Institutes of Health, Graber and his team lead hands-on training programs for Maine undergraduate students. Andrea Tilden, an associate professor of biology at Colby College and INBRE steering committee member says that being able to expose 10 ‹ BREAKING THROUGH FALL 2020
students to bioinformatics increases their knowledge and provides them with a marketable skillset. “The bioinformatics-based courses are unique,” she says. “Students not only get intensive computational training, but they receive it in the context of doing research at the bench. It’s a wonderful experience that they wouldn’t get anywhere else.” In 2020, these bioinformatics-based training programs took on even greater significance as COVID-19 forced MDIBL to quickly pivot to online teaching and virtual research experiences. Thanks to instruction and mentoring from Graber and his colleagues, 23 high school and undergraduate students conducted successful computational research projects during the Laboratory’s first-ever virtual summer fellowship program. Yet another example of why Graber and his team excel in this fastpaced and rapidly changing field.
LEARN MORE › Stay informed about this topic and others. Subscribe to our e-newsletter at mdibl.org/subscribe
THE T-3 AND APPLIED BIOINFORMATICS COURSES:
Lighting Up the Neighborhood
Scientists often talk about the “streetlight effect,” or the tendency to look for answers where it is possible, just as one might look for lost car keys in the circle of light under a streetlight. Because of the streetlight effect, many scientists look for answers where they have the tools to do so, rather than where they think they are most
“When everything is illuminated you start seeing things you never imagined were there. Once you start seeing that there’s so much
likely to find the answer. But what if it were possible to search the
more out there than the tiny circle of light you
entire neighborhood?
were looking at, it becomes very exciting.
Bruce A. Stanton, Ph.D., director of the MDI Biological Laboratory’s
That’s what bioinformatics does: it illuminates
Applied Bioinformatics course and a professor at the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, uses the streetlight analogy to illustrate
things you didn’t even know you didn’t know.”
the power of big data: instead of looking under the streetlight,
– BRUCE A. STANTON, PH.D., MDI BIOLOGICAL LABORATORY
scientists can probe for answers in the mountains of big data being generated by genomics — in other words, all over the neighborhood. “When everything is illuminated you start seeing things you never imagined were there,” Stanton said. “Once you start seeing that there’s so much more out there than the tiny circle of light you were looking at, it becomes very exciting. That’s what bioinformatics does: it illuminates things you didn’t even know you didn’t know.” While bioinformatics, or the science of collecting and analyzing
disease specialist, Neely is using the skills she learned to analyze the genomes of bacteria infected with viruses called bacteriophages that are associated with bacterial virulence. In particular, she studies bacteriophages associated with Group B streptococcus (GBS), a leading cause of meningitis, sepsis and pneumonia in newborns. Her research could lead to new, more specific, therapies
complex biological data, has become an essential tool in biology,
for GBS than broad-spectrum antibiotics, which can have negative
the problem is that the potential for extracting information vastly
side effects in babies.
exceeds the number of biologists skilled at mining it. The MDI Biological Laboratory is addressing this gap through
Neely is also passing her newfound bioinformatics knowledge along to undergraduate and graduate students so they can use it in
two courses: Bioinformatics T3: Train the Trainer, which is
their research, and also so they can include the highly marketable
geared toward college and university instructors, and Applied
skill on their resumes.
Bioinformatics, which is for graduate students, post-doctoral trainees and researchers interested in incorporating bioinformatics into their studies. More than 50 students from educational and research institutions across the country participated in the 2020 offerings, which were held online in July.
“The T-3 course was the first time I’ve ever done bioinformatics,” Neely said. “It was a steep learning curve for me, but the faculty did a great job at making sure no one was left behind. Despite the fact that the members of the class for the most part weren’t major genomics people, the faculty helped make the skills for analyzing
One student in the T-3 course was Melody N. Neely, Ph.D., an
genomic information readily accessible. It’s fabulous that the MDI
associate professor at the University of Maine. An infectious
Biological Laboratory has made this course available.” BREAKING THROUGH FALL 2020 › 11
LAB NOTES
Community news about the developments and scientists that are shaping the future of the MDI Biological Laboratory. For the latest news, visit mdibl.org/news
RESEARCH SPOTLIGHT ›
$3.14 Million Awarded for Kidney Research MDI Biological Laboratory has received a grant
how to make embryonic stem cells and turn
of $3.14 million over five years from the National
them into kidney cells,” he said. “The challenge is
Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney
getting such a complicated system to work and
Diseases (NIDDK). The funds will support the
scaling it to the point where it is capable of
(Re)Building a Kidney (RBK) consortium, a
filtering 180 liters of fluid a day, the capacity of
collaborative of nearly 100 international scientists,
two human kidneys. We know fish can do it.
including Iain Drummond, Ph.D., professor and
Let’s make mice do it — and then let’s make
director of the MDI Biological Laboratory’s
humans do it.”
Kathryn W. Davis Center for Regenerative Medicine and Aging. Drummond is a member of the RBK steering committee and one of three Principal Investigators funded by this grant. Previous work by Drummond and his colleagues laid the foundation for the development of human-derived replacement kidney tissue by creating tissue in the form of a three dimensional mini-organ called an organoid. This organoid can then be transplanted into a host such as a mouse and potentially scaled to create an artificial human kidney. Going forward, the challenge facing the consortium is to induce engrafted kidney replacement tissue to function, which involves creating “plumbing” that is integrated with that of the host organism in order to allow for the outflow of waste. Drummond, whose research deals primarily with the plumbing problem, compares it to that of connecting a new pipe to an existing system. About 38 million Americans have chronic kidney disease and the numbers are rising. With dialysis and transplantation as the only options for end-stage renal disease, the need for kidney replacement tissue is critical. Though quick to point out that breakthroughs often take longer than expected, Dr. Drummond believes creating functional replacement tissue is less than a decade away. “We’ve figured out
12 ‹ BREAKING THROUGH FALL 2020
BELOW: Iain Drummond, Ph.D., professor and Director of the Kathryn W. Davis Center for Regenerative Medicine and Aging.
LAB NOTES
RESEARCH SPOTLIGHT ›
Coffman Lab Deciphers Role of a Stress Response Gene
The Coffman team has found that chronic cortisol
ABOVE:
Scientists have long known that chronic stress
Associate professor James A. Coffman, Ph.D.
experienced early in life, as early as in the
exposure affects gene activity mainly via the
womb, can shorten lifespan and contribute to
glucocorticoid receptor (GR), a transcriptional
age-related chronic diseases like arthritis,
regulatory protein that is activated by cortisol.
asthma, cancer, cardiovascular disease and
They have also found that upregulation of
diabetes — long after the source of stress has
proinflammatory gene activity in cortisol-treated
been removed.
zebrafish depends as well on a GR target gene
But the mechanisms behind these effects are not well understood. Associate professor James A. Coffman, Ph.D. and his team are shedding new light on the gene regulatory pathways activated by cortisol, a hormone secreted by the adrenal glands in response to stress. Chronic stress, caused by a variety of psychosocial factors including trauma or economic adversity, is known to lead to persistently elevated cortisol, an important regulator of inflammation. Persistently elevated cortisol can, in turn, make cells more resistant to the hormone, undermining its ability to effectively control inflammation, setting the stage for the development of chronic inflammation and inflammatory disease.
called klf9, another transcriptional regulator. “A healthy immune system behaves like a wellregulated militia that responds rapidly to the body’s commands to mobilize or stand down, mounting an inflammatory response for only as long as needed to clear an infection or stimulate wound healing,” Coffman explained. “We believe klf9 is a key gene for understanding the optimal regulation of inflammation and how it is compromised by early-life stress.” Coffman is especially intrigued by the role that klf9 may play in “inflammaging,” a chronic, lowgrade inflammation that is believed to accelerate aging and exacerbate many age-related diseases. In the future, he would like to explore the role of klf9 in age-related neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s.
BREAKING THROUGH FALL 2020 › 13
LAB NOTES
EDUCATION SPOTLIGHT ›
EDUCATION SPOTLIGHT ›
UNE added to Maine INBRE research network
Virtual Education at MDIBL
The University of New England (UNE) recently became the 14th member of the Maine IDeA Network of Biomedical Research Excellence (INBRE), a collaborative network of state educational and research institutions that strives to
When it became apparent last March that MDI Biological Laboratory’s 2020 summer programming wouldn’t be able to proceed as it normally does due to COVID-19, our education department worked tirelessly to pivot from in-person instruction to online learning — and our students rose to the challenge.
strengthen Maine’s capacity to conduct cutting-edge biomedical research. Led by the MDI Biological Laboratory, the Maine INBRE is sponsored and funded by the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The network was formed as part of the Institutional Development Award (IDeA) program, which builds research capacity in states that historically have had low levels of NIH funding. Since its inception in 2001, the Maine INBRE
Our 2020 summer fellows immersed them-
program has brought in $86 million in
selves in bioinformatics, using powerful
direct federal research funding and leveraged $84 million in additional federal grants. In 2019 the MDI Biological Laboratory was awarded nearly $18 million to renew the Maine INBRE grant for another five years.
computing capacity to manage and analyze complex experimental data. While many other institutions cancelled or deferred their summer educational programs, MDIBL summer fellows and mentors formed a vibrant virtual research community, seizing the oppor-
More than 2,400 students across Maine
tunity to learn new computational skills. Sophia
have received hands-on biomedical
Guitar, a rising high school senior who completed
research training through the program.
her fellowship from Florida, commended Drs. James Coffman and Joel Graber for their guid-
“We are hugely excited about joining the Maine INBRE network,” said Karen Houseknecht, Ph.D., UNE associate provost
ance and patience throughout the summer. “They are extraordinary teachers. I felt that my input was really valued,” she said. “I loved lab
for Research and Scholarship. “This
discovery before my time with MDIBL. Now I am
increases our opportunities to collaborate
completely confident this is my path forward
with our partners in the state on under-
and I am deeply grateful for this experience.”
graduate education and research, and graduate research. It gives us greater access not only to federal funding but also to research infrastructure across the state.”
Over the summer, the education department successfully hosted three symposiums, five courses and 23 summer fellowships — providing a total of 480 participants with virtual research experiences and trainings.
14 ‹ BREAKING THROUGH FALL 2020
ABOVE 2020 summer fellows and mentors participating in a virtual learning session.
LAB NOTES
EDUCATION SPOTLIGHT ›
Training the Next Generation of Academic Researchers MDI Biological Laboratory’s robust postdoctoral training program provides young scientists with the training they need to launch successful professional careers. We are proud that two of our most recent fellows have accepted faculty positions in Maine, expanding the state’s capacity for biomedical research, and fostering the next generation of scientists, physicians and entrepreneurs. Elisabeth Marnik, Ph.D., while
Juyoung Shim, Ph.D. completed
training with Dustin Updike, associate
her post-doctoral training with
professor at the MDI Biological
Dr. Aric Rogers, assistant professor
Laboratory, focused on understanding
at the MDI Biological Laboratory,
the factors that allow germ cells
while studying the role of dietary
(cells that make up sperm and eggs)
restriction on gene regulation and
to turn into all other cell types.
lifespan extension in C. elegans.
Studying C. elegans, a microscopic roundworm, Marnik is particularly interested in understanding how these factors, when misexpressed, contribute to the formation of cancer.
Arriving in Presque Isle, Maine as an international student in 1994, Shim has completed all stages of her education within the state, earning her Ph.D. in Biochemistry and
A first-generation college student,
Molecular Biology from the University
Marnik credits her undergraduate
of Maine in 2018.
mentors with giving her the support and encouragement she needed to graduate and ultimately pursue her Ph.D. Inspired by their example, Marnik’s goal has been to pursue a faculty position at a primarily undergraduate institution where she could provide the same kind of mentorship to the next generation of scientists.
In September 2019, Shim accepted an assistant professorship in the biology department at the University of Maine at Augusta. She hopes to expand her understanding of aging biology and toxicology, both of which she studied while at MDI Biological Laboratory. Her work seeks to understand how adaptive responses
In August of this year, she accepted
and associated gene regulation
a position as an assistant professor
maintain healthy tissue function.
in molecular biochemistry at Husson University in Bangor, Maine. She plans to continue her research with
C. elegans, using it as a platform to provide hands-on research experABOVE, top to bottom:
iences for her students.
Elisabeth Marnik, Ph.D., and Juyoung Shim, Ph.D. You can read Marnik’s blog contributions to the Genetics Society of America at bit.ly/ marnikblog.
Congratulations to Marnik and Shim as they take these important steps in their professional careers and help strengthen Maine’s research capacity.
BREAKING THROUGH FALL 2020 › 15
PICTURED: Don and Heather Parker recently became members of the John S. Kingsley Society, a group formed to recognize donors who make a planned gift to MDI Biological Laboratory.
16 ‹ BREAKING THROUGH SPRING 2020
THIS IS WHY YOUR GIFT MATTERS
Don and Heather Parker: A Legacy of Giving Don and Heather Parker’s journey with MDI Biological Laboratory began when their daughter Laurel was selected to be a high school summer fellow during her junior year. Now, more than two decades later, they are a valued part of the MDI Biological Laboratory community. Long-time annual donors, recently the Parkers became members of the John S. Kingsley Society, a group formed to recognize donors who make a planned gift to the institution.
BREAKING THROUGH FALL 2020 › 17
PICTURED: Laurel Parker, M.D. with her husband Brian Juengst and their children.
“MDI Biological Laboratory has enriched our lives — our daughter’s medical career started here doing kidney research as a high school student, then as a college student. We want to be part of the discoveries that will improve people’s lives for generations to come.” – DON & HEATHER PARKER
Laurel spent five consecutive summers at the MDI Biological Laboratory working alongside her mentor, Dr. Susan Fellner. During that time, Don and Heather say they saw Laurel’s childhood wish for a career in medicine truly become an attainable goal. “She always wanted to be a doctor,” said Heather. “Her time at MDIBL cemented her desire as she really saw science come alive.” The couple credits Laurel’s research experience and Dr. Fellner’s careful mentoring with Laurel’s acceptance into Tufts University School of Medicine. 18 ‹ BREAKING THROUGH FALL 2020
Today Laurel serves as the Medical Director of the Emergency Department at Maine General in Augusta, Maine. She continues to stay in touch with Dr. Fellner. With a surgeon, several medical researchers and nurses, and now an emergency room physician in their extended family, the Parkers are well acquainted with medical careers. “It’s a family legacy,” said Don. “Now that legacy is intertwined with MDIBL’s legacy as well. The Lab’s outreach programs, and educational opportunities
have enriched life for all of us. The discoveries made by MDIBL scientists will improve people’s lives immeasurably, and we are glad to be a part of it.”
LEARN MORE Gift planning offers a variety of ways for you to support the ongoing legacy of MDI Biological Laboratory. For more information about how you can make a planned gift, please visit mdibl.org/planned-giving
ABOUT US
We aim to improve human health by discovering novel mechanisms of tissue repair, aging and regeneration, translating our discoveries for the benefit of medicine and society and developing the next generation of scientific leaders. BOARD OF TRUSTEES Alan W. Kornberg, Esq., Chairman Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP
Edward J. Benz Jr., M.D., Vice Chairman Dana Farber Cancer Institute
Thomas A. Boyd, Ph.D., Treasurer Anthology BioDevelopment LLC
Janis Coates, Ph.D., Acting Secretary Island Readers and Writers
Hermann Haller, M.D., ex officio MDI Biological Laboratory, President
Peter J. Allen, M.D. Duke University School of Medicine
Phoebe C. Boyer The Children’s Aid Society
Terence C. Boylan The River Press
Ruth Cserr John A. Hays Christie’s
Frank L. Hohmann III Anne H. Lehmann Alan B. Miller, Esq. I. Wistar Morris III Penn Trust
Dennis L. Shubert, M.D., Ph.D. Christopher P. Sighinolfi Jefferies
Bruce A. Stanton, Ph.D. Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth
Clare Stone
DID YOU KNOW?
CARES Act Includes New Charitable Giving Rules for 2020 While everyone’s financial and tax circumstances vary, here are a few updates that may be important for you to consider this year:
McDermott Will & Emery LLP
• You may deduct gifts of cash to most non-profits to offset as much as 100% of your income.
Published by the Office of Development and Public Affairs
• Unused cash contribution deductions (over 100% of your income) may be carried forward for up to 5 years.
Daphne W. Trotter, Esq.
Editors + Writers Jeri Bowers, Pippa Hansen and Stefanie Matteson Design Cushman Creative
• If you don’t itemize, you may reduce your taxable income by $300 for your charitable contributions in 2020.
Photography Kevin Bennett, Emily Macintosh Photography, MDI Biological Laboratory, Prayag Murawala, Linda O’Kresik, Rogier van Bakel
• Required minimum distributions from retirement plans are waived for 2020, but qualified charitable distributions from retirement funds are still a great way to make contributions if you are 70½ or older.
MDI Biological Laboratory PO Box 35, Salisbury Cove, ME 04672 Website: mdibl.org Email: breakingthrough@mdibl.org
To learn more about how to leave your legacy at MDIBL, please contact Jeri Bowers, Director of Development, at jeri@mdibl.org or 207-288-3147.
MDI Biological Laboratory PO Box 35 Salisbury Cove, ME 04672 mdibl.org
Give Now: Double the Impact of Your Gift Your Support of Science Has Never Been More Important 2020 has amplified the importance of science unlike any time in recent memory. Scientific research is at the center of nearly every conversation, highlighting its importance in everything from economic stability to our healthcare infrastructure to disaster preparedness. This year, thanks to an anonymous $1 million challenge gift, your gift will play an even greater role in supporting cutting-edge scientific research. All new or increased gifts made or pledged by December 31, 2020 will be matched dollar for dollar.
Give today at mdibl.org/donate-now and help our scientists ensure a healthier future for you and those you love. Connect with us
Subscribe to our e-newsletter or update your preferences at mdibl.org/subscribe
