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SWAG视频 Hosts Annual Statewide Life Sciences Conference
Hundreds Gathered to Celebrate Maine's Growing Bioscience Industry at the 2024 BioME Conference
Maine鈥檚 top researchers, science educators, and biotechnology business owners convened at the SWAG视频 on Wednesday, Oct. 2, to share insights about the state鈥檚 life sciences industry at the 2024 (BioME) Conference.
The event, held in the Arthur P. Girard Innovation Hall on SWAG视频鈥檚 Portland Campus for the Health Sciences, brought together nearly 250 individuals to discuss industry findings and revel in research. Representatives from some of the state鈥檚 top laboratories 鈥 including The Jackson Lab and MDI Biological Laboratory 鈥 and the health and technology sectors were in attendance.
SWAG视频 President James D. Herbert welcomed the crowd by acknowledging the University鈥檚 contributions to Maine鈥檚 growing life sciences industry, including an established track record of academic strength and groundbreaking research in several fields of crucial importance to human health and the natural world.
Clockwise, from top left: Attendees gather in Girard Innovation Hall; SWAG视频鈥檚 Eva Rose Balog, Scott Wood, Karen Houseknecht, Gwen Mahon, and Derek Molliver; a conference attendee asks a question; Kevin Mills, president and CEO of BioKansas, delivers the keynote address; and BioME Executive Director Agnieszka Carpenter welcomes the crowd.
鈥淪WAG视频 is proud to partner with so many of the organizations and people here today,鈥 Herbert said. 鈥淭hese relationships have blossomed in recent years, with joint projects facilitating deeper connections and increased engagements while elevating our reputation in biomedical, public health, marine science, environmental science, and computer science research 鈥 including the rapidly growing field of AI.鈥
Herbert said SWAG视频鈥檚 focus on workforce development comes at a critical time in Maine鈥檚 history, as demand for life science jobs has grown in recent years. According to BioME鈥檚 , which debuted at the conference, there are currently more than 9,800 life sciences jobs in Maine, representing a 31% increase in the last five years. Bioscience jobs are far outpacing total growth in all of Maine鈥檚 industries, which have increased just 3% in the past five years.
SWAG视频 represents a significant portion of this growing industry, Herbert said. The University has been awarded $18.6 million in NIH awards in the past five years and has consistently been ranked as the No. 1 college or university in Maine for NIH funding, including $4 million in 2022 alone.
鈥淲e鈥檙e creating jobs, we鈥檙e having an outsized impact on our economy, and we鈥檙e generating innovations that improve people鈥檚 lives,鈥 he said. 鈥淭hese are exciting times for SWAG视频 and for Maine, and I鈥檓 so very glad that we can experience them together. I鈥檓 also delighted that many of our organizations can work together when our priorities align.鈥