Category: News

Blog

BioVentures unveils a smarter, faster way to manage invention disclosures at UAMS

BioVentures LLC has adopted Tradespace, an AI-driven platform built specifically for technology-transfer offices, to streamline invention disclosures and commercialization efforts across UAMS. Beginning this month, all UAMS inventors will submit new inventions through BioVentures’ new portal, powered by Tradespace, via UAMS Single Sign-On at app.tradespace.io. Tradespace replaces the old portal with a transparent, user-friendly experience that matches the pace of translational science: “Adopting this new platform reflects our mission to stay at the forefront of academic innovation,” said Eric Peterson, Ph.D., President of BioVentures. “It’s about giving researchers the tools they need to partner with BioVentures and bring their cutting edge ideas to market more effectively.” Submit your invention in minutes Most users complete the new disclosure form in under 10 minutes. Log in and get started today: app.tradespace.io. For questions or assistance, contact the BioVentures team at bioventures@uams.edu.

June 10, 2025

Blog

Innovation Week 2025 Connects Science, Industry, and Opportunity

BioVentures hosted its first annual Innovation Week from May 12–15, 2025, bringing together researchers, startups, industry partners, and investors to explore the future of biomedical innovation at UAMS. The event featured a dynamic lineup of panels, presentations, and networking opportunities across campus, designed to strengthen the bridge between academic research and real-world impact. Over 50 attendees registered across the week’s activities, which included: Speakers included representatives from BioArkansas, the Arkansas Research Alliance, Tradespace, and BioVentures. Panelists included faculty and staff from across the UAMS ecosystem, and representatives from pharmaceutical and biomedical industry partners such as Johnson and Johnson. The week underscored the critical role of translational science, commercialization of intellectual property, and industry-academia collaborations, and how institutions like UAMS can lead in transforming research discoveries into commercial and clinical solutions. We’re grateful to everyone who participated, and we’re already looking ahead to Innovation Week 2026. Did you attend Innovation Week? Leave us a comment on LinkedIn. Help us improve next year’s Innovation Week by sharing your thoughts through this short form. Meet & Greet Inventors Lunch & Award Ceremony Industry-Research Forum Stay in the Loop Subscribe now to get updates on BioVentures events. Subscribe * indicates required Email Address * First Name Last Name

June 2, 2025

Blog

Innovation Week Opens in 7 Days — Are You Registered?

In one week, BioVentures will welcome innovators from across UAMS and beyond for Innovation Week 2025. Four days of ideas, insight and industry connection on the UAMS Main Campus in Little Rock. Whether you’re advancing breakthrough research, launching a startup or simply curious about commercialization, this is the place to turn discovery into opportunity. Date Time Location Highlight Mon 12 8 – 10 a.m. Biomed I Atrium Meet & Greet: coffee, donuts and conversation with the BioVentures team Tue 13 11:30 a.m. I. Dodd Wilson 115 A/B Inventors Lunch & Award Ceremony — celebrating UAMS discoveries Wed 14 Noon Cancer Institute, Strauss‑McCaskill Learning Center “Raising Capital for Your Startup Endeavors” with Michael Geranen Thu 15 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. I. Dodd Wilson Industry‑Research Forum — keynote by Justin Rerko, expert panels, lunch & networking happy hour Full agenda details, speaker bios and session descriptions are available on the registration page. Why Attend? Seats are limited. See you next week at Innovation Week 2025 — Where Discovery Meets Opportunity.

May 5, 2025

News

Amy Hopper Swan Joins BioVentures as Strategy Consultant

Amy Hopper Swan is the founder of Swan Impact Strategies, a consulting firm that helps mission-driven organizations design and deliver high-impact programs. With nearly a decade of experience in entrepreneurship, program management and strategic planning, Amy has supported statewide and national initiatives to expand innovation, secure funding and measure outcomes. Amy will help research and communicate BioVentures’ impact while supporting strategic planning and the exploration of diverse funding models to support entrepreneurship at UAMS, ACH and CAVHS. She brings a strong background in economic development, impact storytelling and startup support, with a particular focus on translating research into real-world solutions. Meet Amy at Innovation Week.

May 5, 2025

Events

Student Innovators Recognized at Student Research Day

BioVentures is proud to honor the winners of the inaugural Student Innovator Award, selected at Student Research Day. The Student Innovator Award recognizes student research with the potential for translational and commercial success. The winners received a certificate and a cash prize. Student Research Day was held April 17 at UAMS, sponsored by UAMS Research & Innovation, the UAMS Graduate School and the Faculty Academic Senate. All students participating in Student Research Day were eligible for the award, which was selected by BioVentures leadership and staff. Honorable mentions were also awarded at the event in the form of “Innovation Spotlight” ribbons affixed to promising posters. “We were incredibly impressed by the bright ideas and translational thinking displayed by UAMS students so early in their research,” said Stefanie Kennon-McGill, Ph.D., senior program manager at BioVentures. “It’s BioVentures’ aim to recognize and support these students in their journey toward changing health care through innovative, translational discoveries.” Student Interest Group Also with an eye toward nurturing student interest, BioVentures is exploring the possibility of starting an Innovation & Entrepreneurship Student Interest Group at UAMS. Students from all colleges are welcome to participate. The group would start meeting in Fall 2025. Students are encouraged to fill out this form to indicate interest, identify focus topics, and sign up for future notifications.

April 23, 2025

Events

BioVentures Innovation Week to Celebrate Innovation & Entrepreneurship at UAMS

BioVentures invites the UAMS community to Innovation Week, May 12-15, 2025. Designed to showcase innovation, foster industry connections and highlight the pathway from research to commercialization, Innovation Week offers opportunities for everyone from seasoned inventors and those just starting out. Whether you’re an entrepreneur, inventor, researcher or industry partner, Innovation Week is your chance to engage with the thriving healthcare innovation ecosystem at UAMS and beyond. Innovation Week Highlights Join us to learn, connect and take your ideas to the next level. Learn more & register.

April 4, 2025

Events

BioVentures at the AUTM Annual Meeting

It was a privilege to join fellow innovators at the AUTM Annual Meeting March 2-5 in National Harbor, Maryland, where we celebrated 50 years of propelling technology transfer forward. BioVentures and our colleagues nationwide remain committed to advancing innovation that transforms the future. The BioVentures team learned about the latest industry trends and ideas for accelerating discoveries from the lab to the marketplace. Thank you to everyone who connected with us and contributed to these vital discussions. Keep the conversation going: connect with our team on LinkedIn: Eric Peterson, John Sherrill, Michael Geranen, Stefanie Kennon-McGill

April 3, 2025

Events

Student Innovator Award to Debut at Student Research Day

BioVentures will announce the Student Innovator Award on April 17 at Student Research Day. This new opportunity recognizes and supports innovative student research with the potential for translational and commercial success. Visit the BioVentures booth at the event to learn more about intellectual property, patenting, entrepreneurship and commercialization. All Student Research Day participants are eligible – no additional application required. Student Research Day is 3 p.m. to 6:45 p.m. Thursday, April 17, in the I. Dodd Wilson Building, UAMS Little Rock Campus. Thank you to UAMS Research & Innovation, the UAMS Graduate School and the Faculty Academic Senate for organizing this event! Click here to learn more.

April 3, 2025

Events

HSE Grand Rounds to Feature Laura James

Laura James, MD, director of the Translational Research Institute and vice chancellor for Clinical and Translational Research at UAMS, will be the featured speaker at 2 p.m. Wednesday, April 9, for the Health Sciences Entrepreneurship Grand Rounds. James, who is co-founder of the rapid acetaminophen-induced liver injury testing company Acetaminophen Toxicity Diagnostics, will speak about “Creating a New Diagnostic Test: Translational Science Principles in Action.” Join us at the Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute, 10th Floor, Betsy Blass Conference Room, Room 10014. The UAMS community and public are welcome to attend. HSE Grand Rounds are sponsored by the Translational Research Institute’s Health Sciences Innovation and Entrepreneurship Postdoctoral Training Program and BioVentures LLC.

April 3, 2025

Events

HSE Grand Rounds: Luna Acosta

The next Health Sciences Entrepreneurship (HSE) Grand Rounds will feature Luna Acosta, MBA, ECM, Director of Technology Transfer and the Catalyst Innovation Center at Arkansas State University.

March 5, 2025