What MDI Biological Laboratory does

MDI Biological Laboratory is an independent, nonprofit biomedical research institution founded in 1898 and headquartered in Bar Harbor, Maine. It conducts comparative biology research focused on tissue regeneration, aging, and environmental health using a portfolio of vertebrate and invertebrate model organisms, notably axolotl salamanders, zebrafish, African turquoise killifish, and C. elegans. Core research capabilities are organized around the Kathryn W. Davis Center for Regenerative Biology and Aging, the federally funded Center for Biomedical Research Excellence (COBRE, now in its third five-year phase), and shared core facilities including the Light Microscopy Facility, Comparative Animal Model Core, and Comparative Genomics and Data Science Core. The lab maintains an active publication output (23 peer-reviewed papers in 2025) and a robust training pipeline hosting 21 graduate students and bringing 602 scientists and trainees to campus through courses and conferences.

MDIBL operates a Visiting Scientist Program, leads the 17-institution Maine IDeA Network of Biomedical Research Excellence (INBRE), and runs the SEPA-funded Science Education Partnership Award. The MDI Bioscience subsidiary extends the research base into fee-for-service drug discovery using transgenic zebrafish disease models, organoids, and computational systems, with active partnerships such as the Bigelow Laboratory algae-derived therapeutics program (funded by NSF) and the Roux Institute at Northeastern University for computational analysis. Revenue is derived from federal research grants (NIH, NSF), state R&D bond funding administered by the Maine Technology Institute, philanthropy ($10.5M raised in 2025), course and conference fees, and corporate event sponsorships ($1,000-$10,000 tiers).

Name

MDI Biological Laboratory

Legal name

MDI Biological Laboratory

Website

https://mdibl.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1898

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

MDI Biological Laboratory is an independent, nonprofit biomedical research institution in Bar Harbor, Maine, founded in 1898. It studies tissue regeneration, aging, and environmental health using comparative animal models (axolotl, zebrafish, killifish) and operates research, training, and translational drug discovery programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Biomedical Research Services

NAICS

Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714), Scientific Research and Development Services (5417)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Biomedical Sciences & Medical Research Institutes (University-Based) (EDAHAGAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

In Vitro Model Systems & Organoid Platforms (iPSC/organoids, microphysiological systems) (HLAAAIAJ), Organoids & Organ-on-Chip (regenerative models) (HLAAAGAD), Scientific Data Management & Data Platforms (SDMS/Data Lakehouse for R&D) (HLAGAJAC)

Keywords

• Biomedical research
• Regenerative biology
• Aging research
• Animal model research
• Scientific education

Headquarters

HQ city

Bar Harbor

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Federal Research Grants: Primary revenue from NIH and NSF grants supporting research programs including COBRE, INBRE, and individual investigator awards
2. State Funding: Voter-approved research and development bonds administered by Maine Technology Institute
3. Philanthropy and Donations: Record $10.5 million raised through philanthropy in 2025, including corporate sponsorships and individual donations
4. Course and Conference Fees: Registration fees for educational courses, training programs, and scientific conferences
5. Corporate Sponsorships: Sponsorship packages for events ranging from $1,000 Bronze to $10,000 Platinum levels

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels15 records

Core offering

MDI Biological Laboratory conducts independent comparative biology research using unique vertebrate and invertebrate animal models (African turquoise killifish, axolotl, zebrafish, C. elegans) to study tissue regeneration, aging, kidney disease, and environmental health. The institution operates shared scientific core facilities (light microscopy, comparative genomics, aquatic animal husbandry), hosts courses and scientific conferences, and runs the MDI Bioscience subsidiary that delivers early-stage drug discovery services and disease model development for biotech and pharmaceutical clients.

Product overview

MDI Biological Laboratory is a nonprofit research institution offering research, education, and training in regenerative biology and aging science. The organization operates through its subsidiary MDI Bioscience (developing disease models and conducting early-stage drug discovery), grant-funded research programs including COBRE and Maine INBRE (a statewide network of 17 Maine institutions), and core scientific facilities for microscopy, genomics, and animal models. Educational offerings include courses, conferences, fellowships, and training programs. The Maine Center for Biomedical Innovation provides biotech training infrastructure. The organization does not offer a commercial product in the traditional sense but rather provides research services, access to scientific infrastructure, and educational programs to the biomedical research community.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• MDI Bioscience: Drug discovery and development subsidiary using zebrafish models, organoids, and computational systems for early-stage pharmaceutical research

Products and services

• MDI Bioscience

Quantifiable outcome

• 23 peer-reviewed scientific papers published in 2025
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean SciencescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInterdisciplinary collaboration to discover and develop therapeutic compounds from Bigelow's library of 3,000 ocean algae strains. Bigelow provides algae extracts, MDI Bioscience engineers transgenic zebrafish disease models for testing. Funded by donors and NSF award.
• The Roux Institute at Northeastern UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for computational analysis of promising molecules and biotech workforce development. Roux Institute contributes computational expertise to identify promising compounds from algae screening and supports biotech talent pipeline.
• Maine IDeA Network of Biomedical Research Excellence (INBRE)coreOthersCollaborative network of 17 Maine educational and research institutions led by MDI Biological Laboratory. Provides research support, core facilities, and training opportunities to junior faculty and students across Maine.
• The Jackson LaboratorycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBoth located in Bar Harbor, Maine. Jackson Laboratory received $2M in state funding for Humanized Mouse Model Production Facility. INBRE network partners collaborating on biomedical research.
• Hannover Medical School (Germany)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGraduate program partnership for doctoral research training. President Hermann Haller holds professorship at both institutions, facilitating international collaboration.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Allen Institute: Large private research organization operating across multiple bioscience programs (brain, cell, immunology). Operates at substantially greater scale than MDIBL but represents a comparable model of independent, mission-driven nonprofit bioscience research.
• HHMI Janelia Research Campus: Howard Hughes Medical Institute's dedicated basic research campus focused on tool development, imaging, and neuroscience. Comparable only at the broad institutional category level, but represents the larger-scale, grant-and-endowment funded nonprofit research model MDIBL aspires to.

Direct peers

• Marine Biological Laboratory: Coastal nonprofit research and education institution with a comparable century-plus history of comparative biological and biomedical research using aquatic model organisms. Closely matches MDIBL's structure, mission, and visiting-scientist program.
• Buck Institute for Research on Aging: Independent nonprofit research institution whose primary mission is the biology of aging and age-related disease. Highly comparable research focus to MDIBL's regeneration and aging programs using comparative model systems.
• Gladstone Institutes: Independent nonprofit research organization affiliated with UCSF focusing on cardiovascular, neurological, and stem cell biology. Comparable independent research institute model with strong translational and faculty-driven research programs.
• Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory: Independent nonprofit research institution focused on cancer biology, neuroscience, and quantitative biology with a strong graduate education program. Operates at a larger scale but shares MDIBL's independent research institute model and federal-grant dependence.
• Stowers Institute for Medical Research: Private, nonprofit basic research institution funded by endowment and grants, with a similar scale and mission of fundamental biomedical discovery in regeneration, development, and disease. Closely matches MDIBL's funding mix and structure.
• Sanford Burnham Prebys: Independent nonprofit biomedical research institute focused on disease mechanisms and translational drug discovery. Comparable in size, structure, and its pursuit of industry partnerships for early-stage therapeutic development.
• The Jackson Laboratory: Independent, nonprofit biomedical research institution headquartered in Bar Harbor, Maine, with a parallel focus on genetics, disease modeling, and human-mouse translational research. Most geographically and operationally comparable peer to MDIBL.

Regional players

• Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences: Independent ocean research institute in East Boothbay, Maine, focused on marine microbiology. Already an active MDIBL partner through algae compound screening and NSF-funded collaboration; comparable regional research institution structure.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/mdibl
• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/MDIBiologicalLaboratoryBarHarbor
• Facebookfacebook.com/MDIBL
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/mount-desert-island-biological-laboratory
• Instagraminstagram.com/mdibiolab

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds3 records

Investors2 records

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about MDI Biological Laboratory