Washington D.C. - U.S. Senators Olympia J. Snowe (R-ME) and Susan Collins (R-ME) today announced that the Jackson Laboratory of Bar Harbor, Penobscot Valley Hospital, and the Maine State Department of Public Safety have been awarded a grants totaling $411,516 from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). "The Jackson Laboratory is one of the world''s largest non-profit genetic research facilities," said Senators Snowe and Collins in a joint statement. "It is imperative that this institution receives federal funding to not only supply cutting edge research to Maine health services, but also to universities, medical schools and research laboratories all over the world. It is also critical that we adequately fund health-related medical services throughout the State of Maine to ensure the continued health and well-being of our citizens. The recent grants to Penobscot Valley Hospital and the Maine Department of Public Safety will aid us in accomplishing that goal." Penobscot Valley Hospital in Lincoln has received $245,516 for a rural health outreach special initiative. The Maine State Department of Public Safety, Maine board of Emergency Medical Services has received a grant of $40,000 for trauma emergency medical services. Jackson Laboratory has received $126,000 in funding for a research project exploring the genetics of age-related cataracts. The Jackson Laboratory aims to improve the quality of human life through discoveries arising from their own genetic research and by enabling the research and education of others. The laboratory serves the global scientific community as the key provider of critical genetic resources and is a center for training present and future scientists. ###