Marine Biological Laboratory Returns to Full Independence and Enters Its Next Chapter

After 12 years of affiliation with the University of Chicago, the Marine Biological Laboratory (MBL) will once again be a fully independent organization effective June 30, 2026, marking a return to its historic identity as an independent research and educational institution. While governance will change, MBL will continue to collaborate closely with the University of Chicago across education, research, and graduate training, with the University remaining one of several valued academic partners.

Founded in 1888, MBL has long served as a global hub for discovery in fundamental biology, drawing scientists and students from around the world to Woods Hole, Massachusetts. This next chapter builds on that legacy while positioning the institution for continued growth and impact.

“We are grateful to the University for its support of MBL’s unique mission in basic biology,” said Bill Huyett, Chair of the MBL Board of Trustees. “Their programmatic contributions, leadership depth, and financial support have been incredibly valuable, allowing MBL to remain at the leading edge of biological research and advanced education. Having committed to financial self-sufficiency two years ago, MBL enters its next chapter with a stronger financial position, a much-expanded Board, and growing philanthropic support. We will continue to set high aspirations for our contributions to science.”

MBL moves into this new phase with significant momentum. In August 2025, the institution received an unrestricted gift of $25 million from MBL alumnus Mark Terasaki, the largest private contribution in its 137-year history. Additional substantial funding has supported graduate training, named positions, facilities, courses, faculty hires, scholarships, and lectureships. Together, these investments reflect donors’ confidence in MBL’s mission and future, strengthening its financial foundation and advancing its commitment to long-term sustainability first articulated in 2023. Continued philanthropy will remain central to MBL’s success.

Importantly, MBL’s academic programs and collaborations with the University of Chicago will continue uninterrupted. This partnership fueled significant research collaborations and publications, as well as joint programs established around common research themes. Examples of these include the MBL/UChicago Graduate Research Fellowship Program and scientific collaborations that resulted in the development of innovative instruments, enabling high-resolution, three-dimensional visualization of cells and tissues.

MBL Director Nipam H. Patel emphasized that the transition will not change the institution’s core work. “I am deeply grateful to work alongside MBL’s faculty and staff and to be part of a remarkable global community of scientists, students, and collaborators who make our work possible,” Patel said. “As we move forward as an independent institution, our programs, partnerships, and commitment to the highest caliber of research and education remain unchanged.”

MBL’s courses, workshops, and research programs will continue as before, with students participating through affiliated institutions. The organization’s mission of advancing fundamental biology, deepening understanding of biodiversity and the environment, and fostering collaborative discovery, will carry forward without interruption.

As MBL enters this next chapter, it is grounded in a rich history and energized by a global community committed to scientific discovery and education.