{"id":1372,"date":"2026-02-27T16:52:55","date_gmt":"2026-02-27T16:52:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/currents.bigelow.org\/?p=1372"},"modified":"2026-02-27T19:01:07","modified_gmt":"2026-02-27T19:01:07","slug":"blue-biotech-bulletin-february-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/currents.bigelow.org\/?p=1372","title":{"rendered":"Blue Biotech Bulletin: February 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{&quot;imageId&quot;:&quot;69e490df392b9&quot;}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"69e490df392b9\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bigelow.org\/\/img\/news\/currents\/blue-biotech-bulletin-feb-2026.gif\" alt=\"\" style=\"width:1320px;height:auto\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\taria-label=\"Enlarge\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.imageButtonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.imageButtonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>As an ocean science leader, <strong>Bigelow Laboratory <\/strong>is helping Maine bring to bear its competitive advantages to position the state at the forefront of this emerging industry in New England. Follow along with our work in this transformative area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Bigelow&#8217;s Blue Biotech Bulletin: February 2026<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Building a Bioeconomy Workforce: A UNE Partnership with Bigelow Laboratory\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/aR5u5gc0VBI?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-background\" style=\"background-color:#e7f5fe;margin-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--50);margin-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40);margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--50);margin-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40)\">Senior research scientists <strong>Mike Lomas<\/strong> and <strong>Manoj Kamalanathan<\/strong> were featured in <strong>Building a Bioeconomy Workforce<\/strong>, a video produced by the <strong>University of New England<\/strong>. The piece spotlights three UNE undergraduate interns who gained hands-on research experience at <strong>Bigelow Laboratory<\/strong> working alongside scientists through the <strong>Maine Algal Research Infrastructure and Accelerator (MARIA)<\/strong>. Check out the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=aR5u5gc0VBI\">full video<\/a> (<em>also embedded above<\/em>)!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:16px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text has-media-on-the-right is-stacked-on-mobile has-background\" style=\"background-color:#e7f5fe;margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--60);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--60);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--60);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--60);grid-template-columns:auto 28%\"><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<p>From February 13-14, <strong>Bigelow Laboratory<\/strong> hosted students from <strong>Roux Institute<\/strong>\u2019s Master of Science in Biotechnology program for their semester&#8217;s first experiential lab. The&nbsp; module was led by Senior Research Scientist <strong>Jos\u00e9 Fern\u00e1ndez-Robledo<\/strong>, who also serves as a member of Roux Institute&#8217;s affiliate faculty. He trained students in engineering marine microorganisms for medical and blue biotech applications.<\/p>\n<\/div><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/currents.bigelow.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/2026-02-18-Roux-01-Compressed-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1359 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/currents.bigelow.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/2026-02-18-Roux-01-Compressed-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/currents.bigelow.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/2026-02-18-Roux-01-Compressed-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/currents.bigelow.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/2026-02-18-Roux-01-Compressed-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/currents.bigelow.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/2026-02-18-Roux-01-Compressed-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/currents.bigelow.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/2026-02-18-Roux-01-Compressed-500x375.jpg 500w, https:\/\/currents.bigelow.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/2026-02-18-Roux-01-Compressed.jpg 1750w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:16px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text has-media-on-the-right is-stacked-on-mobile has-background\" style=\"background-color:#e7f5fe;margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--60);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--60);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--60);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--60);grid-template-columns:auto 28%\"><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<p>On February 13, Vice President for Research <strong>Beth Orcutt,<\/strong> Senior Research Scientist <strong>Nichole Price<\/strong>, and <strong>Dana O\u2019Brien<\/strong> of BioHarbor Strategies visited with lawmakers on <strong>Capitol Hill <\/strong>as part of ongoing discussions about advancing Maine priorities with national impact. That includes growing Maine\u2019s innovation economy.<\/p>\n<\/div><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"889\" height=\"539\" src=\"https:\/\/currents.bigelow.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/bigelow-laboratory-capitol-hill.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1374 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/currents.bigelow.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/bigelow-laboratory-capitol-hill.jpg 889w, https:\/\/currents.bigelow.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/bigelow-laboratory-capitol-hill-300x182.jpg 300w, https:\/\/currents.bigelow.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/bigelow-laboratory-capitol-hill-768x466.jpg 768w, https:\/\/currents.bigelow.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/bigelow-laboratory-capitol-hill-500x303.jpg 500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 889px) 100vw, 889px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:0px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><em>About the Blue Biotech Bulletin:<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Maine researchers and entrepreneurs are unlocking the potential of algae, seaweed, shellfish, and marine microbes to develop novel products and materials. These blue biotechnology innovations not only strengthen the state\u2019s economy but also contribute to global efforts to increase health, sustainability, and resilience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We regularly share events, reports, convenings, and other leadership opportunities where our researchers and colleagues are advancing this important work in our state. Together, these efforts highlight how blue biotechnology can diversify Maine\u2019s economy, create high-quality jobs, and inspire the next generation of ocean innovators while building off the state\u2019s treasured maritime history.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>As an ocean science leader, Bigelow Laboratory is helping Maine bring to bear its competitive advantages to position the state at the forefront of this emerging industry in New England. Follow along with our work in this transformative area. Bigelow&#8217;s Blue Biotech Bulletin: February 2026 Senior research scientists Mike Lomas and Manoj Kamalanathan were featured [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1373,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","css_class_manager_body_classes":"","css_class_manager_use_in_post_loop":false},"categories":[13],"tags":[15,16,71,83,84,18,85,87,19,49,20],"class_list":["post-1372","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-science-oceans-potential","tag-beth-orcutt","tag-biotech","tag-blue-economy","tag-innovation","tag-jose-fernandez-robledo","tag-maine","tag-manoj-kamalanathan","tag-michael-lomas","tag-microalgae","tag-nichole-price","tag-policy"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/currents.bigelow.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1372","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/currents.bigelow.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/currents.bigelow.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/currents.bigelow.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/currents.bigelow.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1372"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/currents.bigelow.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1372\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1379,"href":"https:\/\/currents.bigelow.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1372\/revisions\/1379"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/currents.bigelow.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/1373"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/currents.bigelow.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1372"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/currents.bigelow.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1372"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/currents.bigelow.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1372"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}