News Releases

New study shows probiotics help fish grow up faster and healthier

BALTIMORE, MD (December 3, 2012)— Probiotics like those found in yogurt are not only good for people--they are also good for fish. A new study by scientists at the Institute of Marine and Environmental Technology found that feeding probiotics to baby zebrafish accelerated their development and increased their chances of survival into adulthood.

New study finds that bacteria on marine sponges can develop capacity to move and inhibit biofilm formation

BALTIMORE, MD (September 6, 2012)—A new study shows that when enough bacteria get together in one place, they can make a collective decision to grow an appendage and swim away. This type of behavior has been seen for the first time in marine sponges, and could lead to an understanding of how to break up harmful bacterial biofilms, such as plaque on teeth or those found on internal medical devices like artificial heart valves.

Russell Hill appointed director of USM's Institute of Marine and Environmental Technology

BALTIMORE, MD (August 13, 2012)--Russell Hill has been appointed director of the Institute of Marine and Environmental Technology (IMET). Located in the Columbus Center on Baltimore’s Inner Harbor, IMET is a joint research institute of three University System of Maryland (USM) institutions —University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science (UMCES); University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC); and University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB). Effective September 1, 2012, Hill’s appointment follows a six-month search.