Author: Bioventures Team
Blog

BioVentures Receives Chancellor’s Circle Grant to Expand Student Innovation Training

BioVentures LLC has been awarded a $15,000 Chancellor’s Circle Grant to support the initiative “Empowering Student Innovation: Building an Innovation and Entrepreneurship Ecosystem at UAMS.” The program provides UAMS medical and STEM students with hands-on training in intellectual property, startup development, translational research, and commercialization. By integrating scientific research, technology transfer, and entrepreneurial education, it creates structured, experiential pathways for students and trainees to transform scientific ideas into innovations that improve the health and well-being of Arkansans. Megan Reed, Ph.D., MBA, senior licensing associate with BioVentures, accepted the grant on behalf of the organization. This initiative reflects BioVentures’ ongoing mission to bridge research and commercialization at UAMS and to empower the next generation of innovators working to translate discoveries into real-world health solutions.

Read More »
November 12, 2025
Events

UAMS Showcase of Medical Discoveries Highlights BioVentures-Supported Innovation 

The latest UAMS Showcase of Medical Discoveries, held on October 22 at the Jackson T. Stephens Spine & Neurosciences Institute, celebrated the spirit of innovation and entrepreneurship driving research at UAMS. The event featured projects supported by BioVentures LLC, UAMS’ technology transfer office and business incubator, underscoring how discoveries in the lab are evolving into real-world health solutions and startups across Arkansas.  Eric Peterson, Ph.D., President of BioVentures, opened the event by highlighting the courage it takes for researchers to move their discoveries toward commercialization, noting that “commercialization is a pathway to getting biomedical inventions to the bedside.”  Attendees explored a diverse range of innovations, from new cancer immunotherapies and diagnostic assays to medical devices, AI-driven imaging tools, and novel drug candidates. Projects included the Smart Tracheal Collar, a reusable monitoring device for pediatric patients with tracheostomies, and StaphGuard Biofilm, a first-in-class small molecule developed by VanGuard Biofilm LLC to prevent implant infections.  Daniel Voth, Ph.D., UAMS Vice Chancellor for Research & Innovation, emphasized the critical role of BioVentures in helping UAMS investigators protect intellectual property, form startups, and connect with industry partners and investors.  The event drew a strong crowd of faculty, researchers, and entrepreneurs, reflecting the growing momentum of commercialization efforts across the UAMS campus. Each project showcased the power of collaboration between science and business to advance healthcare and strengthen Arkansas’s biomedical economy.  A full gallery of photos from the event is available below. 

Read More »
November 5, 2025
Events

BioVentures to Join the UAMS Showcase of Medical Discoveries 

Join us on October 22, from 4–6 PM at the Jack Stephens Spine Institute (12th Floor) for the next UAMS Showcase of Medical Discoveries, focused on UAMS intellectual property and innovations.  The event will feature technologies developed by UAMS researchers and supported through BioVentures, offering a look at discoveries with the potential to improve health outcomes and drive commercialization.  Visit the official event page for more details.  

Read More »
October 9, 2025
Blog

OncoRock Therapeutics Launches at BioVentures 

We were excited to host the kickoff meeting for one of our newest startups, OncoRock Therapeutics, right here at BioVentures!   OncoRock is a biotechnology startup dedicated to transforming academic discoveries into impactful cancer treatments. Their capital-efficient model focuses on acquiring promising university assets, de-risking them through preclinical studies and early-phase clinical trials, and then partnering or licensing to pharma for late-stage development.  The company is advancing two first-in-class programs:  The founding team of OncoRock brings together deep expertise across oncology, immunology, and commercialization. Led by Alan Tackett, PhD (CEO), Brian Koss, PhD (COO), Nancy Rusch, PhD (CSO), Laura Hutchins, MD (CMO), and Sonet Weed, MS (CFO), the group has collectively secured over $100M in research funding and combines decades of experience in cancer research, clinical trials, drug development, and biotech entrepreneurship.   We’re thrilled to see their journey begin in our space and look forward to supporting their mission of bringing breakthrough therapies to patients with limited treatment options. 

Read More »
October 7, 2025
News

We’re Hiring: Research Program Manager  

Do you have a passion for advancing scientific innovation through program leadership? BioVentures is looking for a Research Program Manager to help us build the future of biomedical entrepreneurship and translational research in Arkansas.  This role is perfect for someone who thrives at the intersection of science, strategy, and operations.  What you’ll do:  • Lead and manage multi-year grants that support innovation, entrepreneurship, and commercialization  • Coordinate educational programs that help researchers turn discoveries into real-world solutions  • Collaborate with faculty, industry partners, funders, and leadership to move complex projects forward  • Oversee budgets, reporting, compliance, and timelines across multiple initiatives  Why join us?  • Be part of a mission-driven team supporting health innovation at UAMS and beyond  • Help grow Arkansas’s biomedical innovation ecosystem  • Gain exposure to federal funding agencies, and state and national commercialization networks  • Work in a collaborative environment that values initiative, creativity, and impact  About you:  • You have experience in biomedical research, grant management, or academic programs  • You’re highly organized, proactive, and an excellent communicator  • You bring a strong understanding of higher ed or biomedical research environments  • Familiarity with entrepreneurship, tech transfer, or commercialization is a plus, but curiosity and willingness to learn are just as important  Apply now: Research Program Manager – UAMS / BioVentures  Know someone who’d be great in this role? Please share! 

Read More »
October 1, 2025
News

Dr. Megan Reed Awarded the Susan Riley Keyes Memorial Fellowship 

We’re proud to share that our Senior Licensing Associate, Megan Reed PhD, MBA has been selected as a 2025 recipient of the Susan Riley Keyes Memorial Fellowship from the AUTM Foundation. This highly competitive fellowship supports early-career technology transfer professionals through:  • Mentorship from seasoned leaders in the field  • Specialized training in invention evaluation, patenting, licensing, and commercialization  • Full access to AUTM educational resources, including the Technology Transfer Practice Manual and webinar library  • Registration, travel, and lodging for the AUTM Essentials Course, AUTM Annual Meeting, and regional meetings  • Networking opportunities with a national cohort of fellows and industry experts  Only three fellows were selected from a pool of  50 applicants, and Megan is one of them. This fellowship will deepen her expertise and broaden her professional network, further strengthening BioVentures’ ability to support UAMS innovators and drive the commercialization of life-changing biomedical technologies.  Join us in congratulating Megan on LinkedIn!

Read More »
September 2, 2025
News

A New Approach to Overcome Immunotherapy Resistance 

Newly granted patent: U.S. Patent No. 12,268,674 B2, “Mi-2β Inhibitor as an Immunotherapy Agent”  What’s the problem?  Immune checkpoint therapies, such as anti-PD-1 antibodies (e.g. Keytruda, Opdivo), have transformed cancer treatment. Yet many patients either don’t respond at all or eventually develop resistance. This limits their long-term effectiveness, leaving a major gap in oncology care.  What does this technology do?  This patent covers novel small-molecule inhibitors that block the ATPase pocket of Mi-2β (CHD4), a chromatin remodeling protein identified as a key driver of PD-1 resistance.  One lead compound, Z36-MP5, restores responsiveness to PD-1 therapy by:  By directly targeting tumor-intrinsic resistance mechanisms, Mi-2β inhibitors open the door to a first-in-class therapeutic strategy to make immunotherapy work for more patients. 

Read More »
September 2, 2025
Events

BioVentures to Participate in the TRI Research Expo 2025 

BioVentures will be present at the Translational Research Institute (TRI) Research Expo 2025, taking place Wednesday, September 10, from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. CDT at the Reynolds Institute on Aging, First Floor.  The Expo brings together more than 50 research services across UAMS, providing investigators with the opportunity to explore resources, build connections, and learn about available support for advancing their work. Visitors can stop by the BioVentures table to discuss invention disclosures, licensing, commercialization pathways, and opportunities to bring biomedical innovations to market.  Don’t miss the chance to connect with colleagues, enjoy refreshments, and learn how BioVentures can support your research journey.  👉 Register here

Read More »
September 2, 2025