Research Centers

Expanding Research Opportunities

The ²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵ has established several centers in support of research and scholarship. These university-wide centers are designed to promote interdisciplinary research and provide opportunities for collaborative research and scholarship programs that are competitive for interdisciplinary, multi-investigator, and multi-institutional awards. The centers also expand student research opportunities, bringing together students, faculty, and partner institutions in pursuit of cooperative goals.

Center for Cell Signaling Research (COBRE)

The Center for Cell Signaling Research (CCSR) is funded by a five-year, $10.8 million Institutional Development Award (IDeA) from the National Institutes of Health's Center of Biomedical Research Excellence (COBRE) program. The COBRE program supports the development of innovative biomedical research centers through awards for three sequential five-year phases.

Two research assistants review a monitor with Dr. Harry Filippakis
Kathleen Becker and a research assistant hold up a beaker of pink liquid in their lab

Center for Excellence in the Neurosciences

The mission of the Center for Excellence in the Neurosciences is to foster creativity and collaboration among people who have a passion for understanding the complexities of the nervous system and applying this knowledge to improve human health, productivity, and quality of life.

A student in a white lab coat prepares a row of microscope slides
A student pipes a liquid into a container in a research lab

Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship

The Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship at ²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵ champions innovation across the university, helping students, faculty, and staff turn ideas into creative solutions. It connects the ²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵ community with mentors, resources, and hands-on opportunities to address real-world challenges and build practical skills. Through collaborative projects, programs, and maker spaces, the center empowers students from all disciplines to develop confidence, creativity, and an entrepreneurial mindset.
A student wearing safety goggles solders a circuit component on a blue cutting mat in the U N E Makerspace. Tools, spools of solder, and electronic components are arranged on the workbench around her.
A student presents environmental data to an audience in front of a large display screen showing a weather station dashboard with soil moisture and temperature readings from a site in Biddeford.

The Center for Pain Research (COBRE)

The Center for Pain Research (COBRE) mission is to significantly contribute to the scientific understanding of the neurobiology of chronic pain, facilitating the discovery and development of novel therapies.

Two students looking at a microscope slide
A professor works with a student to set up a microscope

Marine Science Research Programs

The ²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵ School of Marine and Environmental Programs serves as an incubator for forward-looking marine science research. The school provides faculty, students, and partner researchers with the information and resources they need to contribute to global conversations regarding marine science, policy, and management.

Aquaculture research equipment at ²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵ