Maine Medical Expansion

September 29, 2007

SCARBOROUGH (Sep 25): Gov. John Baldacci attended a ceremony in Scarborough Monday to celebrate the start of construction on an expansion of Maine Medical Center's research building.

"One of the hardest things Maine families face is finding oppurtunities in Maine," said Baldacci. He said the increased research space will help bring more medical science jobs to the area.

Gov. John Baldacci speaks with researcher Dr. Cliff Rosen at the ground breaking ceremony for the expansion of the Maine Medical Center Research Institute in Scarborough. (Photo by Michael Hartwell)

The existing Maine Medical Center Research Institute is 60,000 square feet, and researchers like Dr. Volkhard Lindner say they've run out of space for clinical research.

Maine Medical Center is conducting over 250 clinical research trials with more than 3,000 patients.

The 23,000-square-foot addition is expected to be completed next fall and will cost aproximately $12 million.

"This is going to be dedicated space," said Dr. Tom Nolin, a clinical pharmacologist who is excited to move into the new building. He studies the effects kidney disease have on prescription drug use and said his studies are disrupted because the research subjects get shuffled around so much at the hospital.

Gov. John Baldacci, right, shakes hands with members of the Maine Medical Center board of trustees at the ground breaking ceremony for the expansion of the Maine Medical Center Research Institute in Scarborough. (Photo by Michael Hartwell)

"We made a deliberate decision to expand the depth of our research activites and identify specific areas of study that connect with the care delivered every day at the hospital, such as cardiac and oncology care," said Vincent Conti, president and CEO of Maine Medical Center.

"The building project we're beginning today will expand our ability to translate basic science to bedside care," he said.

Author: By Michael Hartwell