Beyond the Lab: 4 Big Takeaways from the 2026 BioME Annual Conference
Maine’s life sciences industry is moving fast. Over the past decade, the sector has grown 26%, far outpacing statewide job growth and now supporting 8,345 jobs.
SMRT Architects & Engineers (SMRT) was proud to act as a Silver Sponsor for the 2026 Bioscience Association of Maine (BioME) Annual Conference in South Portland, Maine. Connecting with leaders across the state’s life sciences ecosystem, SMRT’s Andrew Tyner and Kerry Dineen heard firsthand how the industry is pushing the boundaries of human, animal, and environmental health.
Here is what stood out to our team at the conference:
The One Health Perspective Is Gaining Ground
A major theme of the day was the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental wellness. David Shoemaker, PhD, highlighted this during his keynote, “Rabbits, anthrax, and COVID, oh my!”, tracing the links between ticks, viruses, and various animal models of disease. We also saw this modeled during the ‘One Health’ panel by IDEXX’s Kim Alexander, reinforcing the clear parallels between the health of pets and the well-being of their owners. This points to an approach that considers all three factors rather than focusing only on treating infected patients.
Diagnostics Are Going Portable
The push for universal, miniaturized testing platforms is accelerating. A standout example from the Startup Showcase was BoundlessDx, a company developing an intelligent, handheld device called the BDX EDGE. The device uses just a few drops of blood to instantly identify whether a patient has an infection or inflammation, and whether it is bacterial or viral. This trend has gained momentum for years. It brings highly sensitive testing to the patient, reducing demand on specialized and central labs. Many of these developments aim to make diagnostic tools smaller and diagnosis continuous.
Bridging the Gap Between Academia and Market
Maine is putting serious energy into transitioning university discoveries into commercial products. We heard multiple presentations on how universities drive the initial scientific breakthroughs, while the private sector steps in to handle manufacturing, scaling, and regulatory compliance. This is a critical component to furthering Maine’s success in the life sciences field.
Wearable Tech is Getting Highly Specific
Wearable technology continues to evolve far beyond step tracking. We loved seeing EliVive showcase a noninvasive wearable band specifically designed to track hormone trends through sweat for women entering menopause. It’s a great example of technology stepping up to address historically underserved areas of healthcare.
The energy at BioME 2026 made one thing clear: Maine is cementing itself as a serious hub for life sciences. As architects and engineers, we are excited to continue designing the advanced manufacturing spaces, wet labs, and research facilities that bring these innovations to life.
Andrew Tyner, AIA, NCARB, LEED AP, is a Senior Principal and Director of SMRT’s Life Sciences & Nutrition Practice. With more than 20 years of experience designing radiopharmaceutical, laboratory, and cleanroom environments, he specializes in translating complex regulatory and operational requirements into built solutions that support safety, compliance, and long-term performance.
Kerry Dineen, PE, is an Associate Principal and Mechanical Engineering Discipline Leader at SMRT, where he has led mechanical design across education, healthcare, and advanced manufacturing projects since 2011. He specializes in solving complex mechanical challenges early in the design process, from HVAC to fire protection systems.