Kevin Strange

Dr. Kevin Strange is an internationally recognized biomedical scientist, scientific leader and entrepreneur. His research focuses on cellular stress biology and has been funded for more than 30 years by the National Institutes of Health, Department of Defense, and private foundations. He is the recipient of numerous awards including the John C. Parker Endowed Chair, the Pittinger Award for Excellence in Basic Research, the B.E. Smith Mentorship Award and the American Heart Association Established Investigator Award. In 2017, Dr. Strange was recognized as one of 50 Mainers “charting the state’s future” and “leading by example”. Dr. Strange holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of California at Davis. He received his doctorate from the University of British Columbia and completed postdoctoral training at the National Institutes of Health.

After a distinguished career as an NIH-funded biomedical scientist and leader at Harvard Medical School and Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Dr. Strange became the first president of the MDI Biological Laboratory in 2009. He is widely recognized for having transformed the laboratory from a small summer marine research station into a growing biomedical research institution with over 70 research faculty, scientific staff and administrative personnel. As president, Dr. Strange managed all aspects of institutional operations including a $9 million annual budget; faculty and senior staff recruitment; all research, education, fundraising, industry relations, business and administrative activities; strategic and business planning; and messaging and branding.

Dr. Strange set a new research vision and course for the institution and focused its research activities on the field of regenerative and aging biology. In 2012, he established the Kathryn W. Davis Center for Regenerative Biology and Medicine. One year later, the Davis Center was recognized by the National Institutes of Health as a center of excellence in regenerative and aging biology and medicine and has since been awarded over $30 million in NIH, Department of Defense and private funding. MSI-1436 was discovered by Davis Center scientist Dr. Voot Yin and Dr. Strange. Together they cofounded Novo Biosciences to develop MSI-1436 and other small molecules into regenerative medicine therapies.

Dr. Strange stepped down as president of the MDI Biological Laboratory in July 2018 to focus on growing Novo Biosciences and moving MSI-1436 into clinical trials. As CEO, he manages all aspects of company business including partnerships, fundraising and investor relations. Dr. Strange also manages all intellectual property matters and successfully prosecuted U.S., European and Japanese MSI-1436 patent applications.