OVERALL PROJECT SUMMARY The Maine IDeA Network of Biomedical Research Excellence (ME-INBRE) is a statewide biomedical research network of public and private institutions led by the MDI Biological Laboratory (MDIBL). ME-INBRE currently consists of two private research institutes (MDIBL and The Jackson Laboratory), one public Ph.D.-degree granting R1 university (The University of Maine), ten primarily undergraduate institutions (PUIs: Bates, Bowdoin, and Colby Colleges, College of the Atlantic, UMaine Honors College, UMaine Farmington, UMaine Machias, UMaine Presque Isle, UMaine Fort Kent, and University of New England), and one community college (Southern Maine Community College). In the proposed renewal, we will add three more network institutions: two PUIs (UMaine Augusta and University of Southern Maine) and one private research institution (Maine Health Institute for Research). All these institutions have potential to contribute to developing Maine’s capacity for biomedical research that engages undergraduate students and have confirmed their commitment through letters and Memoranda of Understanding. A Steering Committee comprising institutional leadership will ensure adherence to ME-INBRE's mission, an Executive committee comprising the faculty leads at each network institution will oversee implementation of ME-INBRE programs at their respective institutions, and an External Advisory Committee of esteemed scientists will provide advice and assess progress. An overarching goal of the ME- INBRE is to increase collaboration between scientists and students from diverse disciplines, perspectives, and institutions, using data science as a collaborative platform. To that end, the Data Science Core will develop a statewide Community of Practice in data science, involving a working group of scientists from each network institution, and will offer data science training through workshops, courses, and mentored research experiences. A new Collaborative Research Resources Core will provide crucial core technologies as well as resources for collaboration and connecting researchers with IDeA-funded core facilities, including core facility access awards. The Developmental Research Project Program will support the research and career development of exceptional, diverse faculty. Competitively selected Research Project Leaders will devote 50% of their effort to a Research Project, and Pilot Project Leaders from PUIs will devote 25% effort to projects that provide research experiences for undergraduate students. Collaborations with Maine COBREs, CTR, and regional IDeA programs will leverage core resources, increase diversity, and engage students and faculty in basic, translational, and clinical research opportunities that will complement and extend ME-INBRE's programs. The Administrative Core will manage and coordinate all activities, including the ME-INBRE Student Research Program and a new Community Outreach initiative, in accordance with a Plan for Enhancing Diverse Perspectives, and will implement internal formative evaluation of all ME-INBRE programs and activities to maximize their effectiveness.

PROJECT NARRATIVE The Maine IDeA Network of Biomedical Research Excellence will increase biomedical research capacity and competitiveness in Maine through innovative programs involving researchers at all career stages, from undergraduate to faculty level, which work synergistically to foster research excellence, promote career and institutional development, and enhance the diversity of perspectives in biomedical science. Our Network of private and public institutions works collaboratively to bring rigorous data science approaches to bear on significant biomedical problems, and to build out the biomedical science career pipeline in Maine.