Blog
Immersive Distraction Therapy: A New Way to Reduce Surgical Anxiety
Newly granted patent: U.S. Patent No. 12,370,338 B2, “Immersive Distraction Therapy.
October 9, 2025
Category: News
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.
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.
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!
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!
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.
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
September 2, 2025
Events
HSE Grand Rounds to Feature Dr. Stefanie Kennon-McGill
Stefanie Kennon-McGill, Ph.D., Senior Program Manager at BioVentures LLC, will be the featured speaker at 2 p.m. Wednesday, August 27, for the Health Sciences Entrepreneurship Grand Rounds. The topic will be “Leveraging Commercialization to Further Your Impact.” Join us at the Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute, 10th Floor, Betsy Blass Conference Room. The UAMS community and public are welcome to attend.
August 5, 2025
Blog
BioVentures Supports UAMS M1 Students in PCAR Summer Program
BioVentures supported University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) first-year medical students this summer through the Partnership in Cancer Research (PCAR) program. Over eight weeks, participants worked in multidisciplinary teams to address real-world challenges in cancer prevention, diagnosis, treatment, or survivorship. The program culminated in entrepreneurial pitch presentations to a panel of judges. Three BioVentures team members served as mentors, advising students on refining problem statements, assessing market opportunities, and developing business models. Another team member participated as a judge, providing feedback from a commercialization perspective. The collaboration aimed to foster entrepreneurial thinking, highlight the role of innovation in cancer care, and encourage future clinician-innovators at UAMS. This initiative reflects BioVentures’ ongoing commitment to advancing healthcare entrepreneurship and translating research into real-world impact.
August 5, 2025
News
A New Antibody Detects a Hidden Cancer Signal
Newly granted patent: U.S. Patent No. 12,281,171 B2, “Periostin Antibodies and Methods of Using the Same” What’s the problem? Some cancers create a unique “signal” by adding a rare sugar modification to proteins like periostin. This tumor-specific marker could help identify and target cancer, but it’s extremely difficult to detect. Traditional tools often miss it because these sugar structures are hard for the immune system to recognize. What does this technology do? This patent covers a new monoclonal antibody, C9, that targets the sugar marker not the whole protein. Using samples from ovarian cancer patients, inventors at UAMS identified an antibody that binds precisely to this cancer-specific structure. In mouse models, this C9 antibody successfully located and attached to tumors, showing strong potential for cancer imaging and targeted treatment.
August 5, 2025