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The ����ֱ�� is part of a multi-institution project to expand New England’s capacity for advanced molecular measurement, through award of a new grant from the National Science Foundation’s Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) program.

Eva Rose Balog, Ph.D., is co–principal investigator on a project led assistant professor of , that will accelerate research in protein design, materials science, biosensing, and biological signaling, with implications for advancing human health and driving new scientific discovery.

The project will fund the purchase of an automated isothermal titration calorimeter, a highly precise scientific instrument that assesses how strongly molecules bind to one another by measuring minute changes in heat when molecules meet. The technique, isothermal titration calorimetry, can deepen understanding of how proteins interact, how drugs bind, and how materials self-assemble — in essence, allowing researchers to quantify the fundamental forces that govern physical and biological processes.

“This technique is used for both validation and discovery and can expose hidden phenomena that are invisible to other methods,” said Balog, an associate professor of chemistry. “This is the information we need to engineer better interactions between molecules.”

There is currently only one other publicly accessible automated calorimeter of this kind in New England. The new instrument will be located at UNH and shared among collaborating institutions, expanding access to state-of-the-art molecular measurement tools for faculty and students across the region. 

����ֱ�� researchers will use the calorimeter to advance work in protein engineering and biosensor development, including studies that inform the design of new diagnostics and biomanufacturing technologies. The system’s automation allows researchers to conduct high-throughput experiments and analyze large data sets — capabilities that enhance both the speed and scope of discovery.

Students will additionally have access to the sophisticated technology, informing their futures as next-generation biotechnologists who will continue furthering Maine’s momentum in biomedical and life sciences advancements and industry establishment.

“Students will have access to technology used every day in research and industrial laboratories, while learning fundamental biophysical concepts and data analysis,” Balog said. 

Karen Houseknecht, Ph.D., vice president of Research and Innovation and professor of Pharmacology, said ����ֱ��’s participation in the project exemplifies the University’s growing leadership in biomedical and biotechnology research across northern New England. 

“This award is a powerful example of how regional collaboration opens doors for both discovery and education,” Houseknecht said. “By connecting institutions through shared infrastructure, we’re enabling faculty to pursue transformative research while ensuring our students gain hands-on experience with the tools that define today’s biotechnology workforce. That’s the kind of investment that benefits science, the state, and the next generation of innovators.”

����ֱ��’s participation in the project reflects its expanding role as a hub for biomedical and biotechnology research in Maine. In fiscal year 2024 alone, ����ֱ�� secured $18.6 million in external research funding across 35 projects, ranking first among Maine colleges and universities for National Institutes of Health funding.

Housed on ����ֱ��’s Portland Campus for the Health Sciences, the Portland Laboratory for Biotechnology and Health Sciences (PLBHS) fosters collaboration among researchers in therapeutic discovery, biosensor development, and biomarker research, while creating hands-on learning opportunities for students pursuing high-demand biotechnology careers.

According to the , the state’s life sciences sector now supports nearly 10,000 jobs across 600 businesses, a 31% increase since 2018, and contributes $2.3 billion to the state’s economy.

Balog said this latest grant is just one part of a broader transformation underway at ����ֱ�� that is driving real change and growth among both Maine’s scientific workforce and research landscape.

“This small, dedicated community is helping redefine life science in Maine and training the people who will sustain it,” she said. “We’re building a rigorous biotechnology culture.”  

Balog is additionally one of four founding investigators in ����ֱ��’s Center for Cell Signaling Research (CCSR). Established in 2024, the CCSR is the second National Institutes of Health-funded Center of Biomedical Research Excellence (COBRE) granted to ����ֱ�� — further cementing ����ֱ��’s status a leader in Maine’s biomedical research sphere. 

With the addition of the CCSR, ����ֱ�� has become the only institution of higher learning in Maine to boast two of the NIH-funded research centers, along with the Center for Pain Research founded in 2012 — further cultivating a University environment where impactful scientific discovery and application go hand in hand.

“This grant was made possible through collaboration,” Balog said. “Chemists, biologists, and materials scientists pooled their strengths and united behind a shared purpose to secure a shared tool for the region.”