Arkansas Business: Arkansas Research Alliance Launches ARA Fellows Program
In case you missed it, the Arkansas Research Alliance announced its inaugural class of ARA Fellows Wednesday at the state Capitol in Little Rock with Gov. Mike Beebe presiding.
Here's coverage from Arkansas Business.
The ARA Fellows program will recognize existing research talent in the state and complement the ARA Scholars program, which recruits new talent to the state.
Each of the state's five research universities nominated one Fellow. Here they are:
- Alexandru Biris, Ph.D., UALR, director and chief scientist, Center for Integrative Nanotechnology Sciences (CINS): Explores the science of nanostructures that can be used to alter properties of substances at the atomic level.
- Laura James, M.D., UAMS, director, Translational Research Institute; professor, Department of Pediatrics; section chief, Clinical Pharmacology & Toxicology, Arkansas Children’s Hospital: Researches the performance of drug dosing in children in order to gather critically needed information to guide the dosing of a number of pediatric therapeutics.
- Argelia Lorence, Ph.D., ASU, Co-lead Plant Imaging Consortium (PIC): Leads research for the potential development of crop plants with enhanced nutritional content, better growth, and improved tolerance to multiple environmental stresses.
- Alan Mantooth, Ph.D., P.E., FIEEE, UA; executive director, National Center for Reliable Electric Power Transmission; executive director, NSF Center for Grid-connected Advanced Power Electronic Systems; 21st Century Endowed Chair, Mixed-signal IC Design and CAD: Continues to build upon his internationally recognized electronics research program. The team’s designs have flown on the International Space Station. Latest achievements include developing an electronic charger for Toyota’s new plug-in electric vehicles. (Mantooth also is a former Razorback football player under Lou Holtz.)
- Trace Peterson, Ph.D., D.V.M., UAPB; assistant professor, Regulatory Science Center of Excellence: Examines transgenic humanized zebrafish used to study human cancers and kidney diseases. Also researching drug delivery systems and patentable vaccine technology for previously non-preventable food fish diseases, which will enhance worldwide food security.
Again, here's coverage of Wednesday's announcement from Arkansas Business.
Beebe, by the way, was presented a plaque containing a letter of appreciation from FDA director Margaret Hamburg recognizing his commitment to NCTR in Jefferson. (He's shown with it above.)
NCTR is the FDA's primary research facility, employing around 500 highly paid scientists including about 150 Ph D's, according to director Willaim Slikker.
Last year, the ARA partnered with the FDA to help commercialize the technology produced at NCTR, and back in 2011, Beebe signed an agreement with Hamburg to establish research collaboration between NCTR and the state's five research universities.
Wednesday's announcement of the ARA fellows program was another component to Arkansas' emergence as a place where research and technology can flourish.
Stay tuned. Lots more to come...