Category: Events
Events

HSIE Grand Rounds to Feature Jeff Moran

Jeff Moran, Ph.D., CEO of PinPoint Testing LLC, will be the featured speaker at 2 p.m. on Thursday, May 7, 2026, for the Health Sciences Innovation & Entrepreneurship (HSIE) Grand Rounds. His presentation, From Concept to Venture: Building Entrepreneurial Success from the Ground Up, will explore the process of translating ideas into successful ventures, drawing on his extensive experience in analytical toxicology and public health laboratory leadership.  Join us at the Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, 10th Floor, Betsy Blass Boardroom.  The UAMS community and the public are welcome to attend. 

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April 23, 2026
Events

BioVentures and ARise Host Founder’s Forum to Equip UAMS Innovators with Fundraising Strategies  

BioVentures, in partnership with ARise, brought together emerging innovators and entrepreneurs for the first Founder’s Forum, a program designed to support UAMS-affiliated startup founders and teams working to translate research into real-world impact.  ARise, a program supporting Arkansas innovators, startups, and entrepreneurs and backed by the Arkansas Economic Development Commission (AEDC), assists tech and tech-enabled companies in reaching new levels of success.  The session featured Melissa Kempkes, Executive Director of Ark Angel Alliance and ARise subject-matter expert, who led an engaging discussion on fundraising strategies for bio startups. Drawing on her experience working with early-stage companies and investors, Kempkes provided practical guidance to help founders navigate the complexities of securing capital—from initial exploration to active company building.  The Founder’s Forum serves as a dynamic platform for UAMS biotech startup founders at all stages, from those exploring commercialization pathways to those actively building and scaling ventures.  Through this ongoing series, BioVentures and ARise are strengthening the UAMS innovation ecosystem by connecting founders with expert insights, resources, and a growing network of support.  “Programs like Founder’s Forum are critical to helping innovators move beyond the lab and into the marketplace,” said Eric Peterson, President of BioVentures. “By bringing together experienced leaders and emerging founders, we’re accelerating the path from discovery to impact.”  BioVentures and ARise remain committed to empowering UAMS entrepreneurs and advancing innovations that improve health and drive economic growth across Arkansas and beyond. 

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March 24, 2026
Events

BioVentures Recognizes Student Innovators at UAMS Student Research Day 2026 

BioVentures presented its Innovation Awards during the 2026 UAMS Student Research Day, recognizing students whose research reflects creativity, scientific excellence, and an interest in translational science.  Student Research Day is an annual event that highlights the breadth of research being conducted across UAMS. The event brings together graduate and professional students, postdoctoral fellows, and medical house staff/fellows to share their work through poster presentations and to engage with faculty, researchers, and peers across the institution.  The BioVentures Innovation Awards recognize projects that demonstrate innovative thinking and research with the potential to contribute to future translational applications in medicine and health.  This year’s award recipients were:  BioVentures congratulates these students for their outstanding work and innovative approach to research. Their projects reflect the importance of early-stage scientific discovery and the role it can play in shaping future advances in medicine, diagnostics, and healthcare technologies.  Through initiatives like the BioVentures Innovation Awards, the office aims to encourage a spirit of innovation and highlight the potential of student-led research to contribute to the broader biomedical innovation ecosystem. 

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March 11, 2026
Events

BioVentures participates in AUTM University Conference 2025 in New Orleans  

BioVentures participated in the AUTM University Conference 2025, held from October 26–29 in New Orleans. The event brought together professionals from technology transfer offices across the country to exchange knowledge, explore emerging trends, and strengthen collaboration within the tech transfer community.  The conference offered a valuable opportunity to learn from experts, exchange best practices, and strengthen collaboration across the national tech transfer network.  “From insightful sessions to meaningful networking moments, this experience was truly inspiring,” said Britney Bobo, Project Coordinator at BioVentures. “I had the chance to learn from industry experts, share ideas with peers, and dive deeper into the evolving world of tech transfer and innovation.”  By taking part in AUTM University, BioVentures reinforces its commitment to advancing technology commercialization and promoting innovation through collaboration and professional development. 

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November 12, 2025
Events

BioVentures participates in Bio on the Bayou 2025 in New Orleans 

BioVentures attended Bio on the Bayou 2025 in New Orleans, a leading regional event that brought together innovators, researchers, and investors to showcase the latest advances in biotechnology, medtech, and health sciences.   The conference gathered academic and industry leaders to highlight cutting-edge research and explore new opportunities for collaboration and commercialization. For BioVentures, it was an opportunity to connect with peers across the region and demonstrate the growing strength of Arkansas’s biotech ecosystem.  As Eric Peterson, President of BioVentures, noted, Bio on the Bayou served as a platform to reinforce the organization’s active role in expanding technology commercialization and innovation networks throughout the South.  

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November 12, 2025