Research & Clinical Trials

MaineHealth supports research and clinical trials throughout its health care system. The MaineHealth Institute for Research conducts cutting-edge biomedical research that provides advanced treatment options for MaineHealth patients. Advanced research and clinical trial work is also ongoing at MaineHealth community hospitals, including MaineHealth Pen Bay Hospital Research in Rockport, Maine.

MaineHealth Institute for Research

The MaineHealth Institute for Research (MHIR) is home to world-class scientists working on advanced biomedical problems. MHIR brings new treatments to MaineHealth patients, and the world, through a broad spectrum of research and clinical trials. Learn more. 

Successful medical research is a complex process requiring close collaboration of basic scientists, physicians, epidemiologists and data analysts, state-of-the-art instruments, and resources to protect clinical trial participants.

MaineHealth Office of Research Ethics and Compliance

The MaineHealth Office of Research Ethics and Compliance is responsible for providing training and support to MaineHealth clinicians, faculty and staff regarding regulatory requirements for scientific research. We seek to promote and ensure the highest standards for research compliance throughout the MaineHealth system. Learn more.

MaineHealth Institutional Review Board (IRB)

The MaineHealth Institutional Review Board (IRB) ensures that ethical and safe research practices are used when research is conducted with Human Subjects. All MaineHealth research projects involving human subjects, regardless of the source of funding, require IRB review and approval prior to implementation. Learn more.

• Resource for providers
• Provider feedback and questions

Clinical Trials

A clinical trial is a research study that helps scientists and doctors discover better ways to treat diseases. In a clinical trial, people try new treatments targeted at specific diseases and researchers learn how well the experimental treatment works. The MaineHealth clinical trials office is dedicated to providing high quality clinical trials in accordance with the MaineHealth mission to care for our community, educate tomorrow’s caregivers and research new ways to provide care.

MaineHealth is strongly committed to protecting the interests of patients who volunteer to participate in clinical trials. Before joining a clinical trial, patients should consult their doctor and gather as much information as possible about the trial. Through clinical trials, eligible patients:

• May get a new treatment for a disease before it is available to everyone.
• Play a more active role in their own health care.
• May be provided with medical care and more frequent health check-ups as part of the study treatment.
• May have the chance to help others get a better treatment for their health problems in the future.
• May have access to information about support groups and resources.