UAMS Research & Innovation

The official @uamshealth page for the Division of Research & Innovation.

[UAMS Research & Innovation @uamsresearch]

It’s happening now at Hibernia, Little Rock! The conversation is getting engaging, and we’re here until 8 p.m. There’s still time to join us for Sip & Science with UAMS Psychiatry researchers. No science background needed. Bring a friend or neighbor and join us! #UAMSResearch

[UAMS Research & Innovation @uamsresearch]

Sip & Science

The stage is set! After work, stop by Hibernia Irish Tavern in Little Rock for Sip & Science, 6–8 p.m. No science background needed! Meet UAMS Psychiatry researchers Melissa Zielinski, PhD; Ashley Acheson, PhD; and Michael Cucciare, PhD.

Bring a friend!

[UAMS Research & Innovation @uamsresearch]

Congratulations to Ryan Allen, PhD, of the UAMS Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, on receiving an approximately $2.1 million, five-year NIH R01 grant to study the canonical and alternative functions of LDL in multiple myeloma!

#UAMSResearch #NIH #MultipleMyeloma

[UAMS Research & Innovation @uamsresearch]

UAMS Researchers in the News!
$3.1 million has been awarded to UAMS researchers Fen Xia, MD, PhD, and Brian Koss, PhD, to study how DNA repair mechanisms can strengthen the immune system’s fight against head and neck cancer. Read more: https://t.co/FcNFJ5tP0a

[UAMS Research & Innovation @uamsresearch]

Congratulations to Dr. Alicia Byrd on receiving a NIH R01 award to study DNA helicases—key enzymes in DNA replication and repair. Grant period: 9/1/2026–8/31/203

@uamshealth @NIH

[UAMS Research & Innovation @uamsresearch]

Congrats to Joonas Jämsén, PhD, on an approx. $2.1M, 5‑year NIH award to study DNA polymerase strategies in double‑strand break repair — research with major implications for cancer and genome stability.

@uamshealth

[UAMS Research & Innovation @uamsresearch]

A ~$2.96M NIH award to Dr. Brian Koss to study how blocking the E3 ligase RNF166 could prevent T‑cell exhaustion in solid tumors.

[UAMS Research & Innovation @uamsresearch]

UAMS research making headlines — new study on medical cannabis use during pregnancy now covered by @kuaf and 5NEWS.
Read on 5NEWS: https://t.co/9qUdQMaLOK
@uamshealth

[UAMS Research & Innovation @uamsresearch]

$3.2M NIH award to Dr. William Fantegrossi to study abuse-related & neurocognitive effects of emerging dissociative drugs — the PCP/ketamine class. Congrats, Dr. Fantegrossi!
#UAMS #NIH #Research @uamshealth

[UAMS Research & Innovation @uamsresearch]

Mark your calendar!
Join UAMS Research & Innovation’s Research Orientation on Thu, Aug. 27, 3–4 p.m. at Jackson T. Stephens Spine & Neurosciences Institute, 12th Floor.
No RSVP needed.
Then stick around for the TRI Research Expo (4–6 p.m.) – meet 50+ research services & network!

[UAMS Research & Innovation @uamsresearch]

Congrats to Angela Odle, PhD, on a new NIH award (~$2.6M, 2026–2031) to study paracrine and endocrine influences on gonadotrope development and function.
@uamshealth

[UAMS Research & Innovation @uamsresearch]

30 undergraduates. One day. A crash course on one of medicine's most urgent challenges. UAMS INBRE's Bench-to-Bedside workshop tackled opioid use disorder — from brain imaging to clinical trials — launching a 10-week summer research program with faculty. https://t.co/wQ3ZZmh0HT

[UAMS Research & Innovation @uamsresearch]

Nearly 20 high schoolers spent a week in UAMS labs — extracting DNA, identifying ticks, and analyzing water samples. The inaugural Summer Under the Microscope camp gave central Arkansas students a real research experience. https://t.co/bOQ1hazyE7

[UAMS Research & Innovation @uamsresearch]

Congrats to Dr. Yong-Chen Lu on a $559,998 @DeptofDefense award to develop immunotherapy targeting ROPN1B in acral lentiginous melanoma — a rare skin cancer with few treatment options.
#UAMSResearch #Immunotherapy @uamshealth

[UAMS Research & Innovation @uamsresearch]

Proud to celebrate Samantha Kendrick, PhD, on a $794,599 NIH renewal award for the PCAR program! This 10-week summer initiative embeds medical students directly into vital cancer research, clinical care, and innovation.
#uamshealth#NIH

[UAMS Research & Innovation @uamsresearch]

Huge congrats to Melda Onal, PhD, from the @UAMS Department of Physiology & Cell Biology on a new ~$2.4M grant from the @NIH!

Her 5-year project will investigate how a decline in autophagy triggers skeletal diseases like osteoporosis.
#UAMSResearch #BoneHealth

[UAMS Research & Innovation @uamsresearch]

~$2.5M NIH renewal for researcher Fenghuang Zhan, MD, PhD — tackling drug resistance in multiple myeloma with the goal of better outcomes for patients.

#MultipleMyeloma #CancerResearch #UAMS

[UAMS Research & Innovation @uamsresearch]

~$2.8M in NIH funding is powering the UAMS CREST Program — building Arkansas's pipeline of clinician-scientists trained to advance research and patient care. Meet the team: Steinbach, Shalin & Smeltzer.
#UAMSResearch #BiomedicalResearch #Arkansas

[UAMS Research & Innovation @uamsresearch]

$19.6M renewed. 5 more years. 16 partner campuses. 1 mission: build Arkansas's next generation of biomedical researchers.
Arkansas INBRE has connected @UAMS with undergraduate institutions since 2001 — growing students into scientists.
#ArkansasINBRE #NIHFunded #UAMSResearch

[UAMS Research & Innovation @uamsresearch]

5
These achievements stand as a tribute to years of collaborative effort, dedicated mentorship, and an unyielding commitment to pushing the boundaries of biomedical science.
Congrats to all our faculty!

#UAMSResearch #BiomedicalResearch #Arkansas

[UAMS Research & Innovation @uamsresearch]

BIG news for Arkansas research. UAMS faculty have secured more than $28M in NIH and DoD awards.

A thread on what was funded and why it matters.

[UAMS Research & Innovation @uamsresearch]

4—Two more awards:
$794K NIH renewal — PCAR Program (Dr. Kendrick)
$560K DoD award — Immunotherapy for acral lentiginous melanoma (Dr. Lu)