Inventors (old) • Bioventures

Inventors

Bioventures' Pathway to Patents

The invention disclosure process can be overwhelming at times, which is why we have broken down the step by step process for you. Here you can read the timeline in a simple and clear way. If you are an inventor, click here to read a more detailed description of the process.

Step 1

Invention Disclosure

Submit the invention disclosure form stating the current status of your invention.

Step 2

Technology Assessment Report

Our team will complete the TAR, a structured summative document regarding your invention. This includes a snapshot of colesely related inventions, and preliminary market analysis.

Step 3

Technology Assessment Deck

The slide deck helps us focus the technology assessment report even more and allows us to send the information to individuals in the industry to help us assess the technology.

Step 4

Patent and Copyright Committee Presentation

The Bioventures team preset the technology to the Committee with the collaboration of the inventor.

Step 6

Determination

After the Patent and Copyright Committee meet, there are 3 possible determinations.

Start now!

To start the process, the first step is to fill out the Invention Disclosure Questionnaire. Log in to Wellspring Sophia and click “Login through UAMS”.

Latest News and Updates

CADET

Recognizing Fatima Abbas, member of BioVenture’s CADET program, and NanoLit for their Governor’s Cup semifinal run

On April 15, the Governor’s Cup Awards Luncheon will take place in Little Rock, closing out the Arkansas Governor’s Cup, one of the state’s most prominent collegiate entrepreneurship competitions, of which BioVentures is a proud sponsor. Each year, the Governor’s Cup brings together students from universities across the state to present their business ventures before a panel of investors, experts, and leaders from the innovation ecosystem. Through several rounds, teams develop full business plans, validate their ideas in the market, and defend their proposals through presentations and pitches. The goal is clear: to transform academic ideas into real startups with the potential to make an impact. On this occasion, we would especially like to recognize Fatima Abbas, a member of BioVentures’ CADET program, who, together with her teammates on the NanoLit team, has advanced to the semifinals of the competition. The CADET program (Cancer and Developing Entrepreneurial Technologies) is a BioVentures-led initiative that equips cancer researchers with key entrepreneurial skills. Through this program, scientists and students learn how to identify market opportunities, develop commercialization strategies, and turn their discoveries into real-world solutions, particularly in the biomedical field. The NanoLit team, made up of young researchers in nanotechnology, is working to develop innovative solutions that reduce the side effects of chemotherapy without compromising its effectiveness. Their advancement to the semifinals reflects not only the scientific strength of the project, but also its potential as a future startup with meaningful impact in healthcare. At BioVentures, we celebrate this achievement and reaffirm our commitment to initiatives that connect research, innovation, and entrepreneurship. Congratulations to Fatima and her teammates Riyad Hossain, Adeniyi Oyebade, and Md Shahedur Rahman.

April 14, 2026

Innovation

Invention Spotlight: Novel Approach to Protein Aggregation in Neurodegenerative Disease

Congratulations to UAMS inventors Dr. Robert Reis, Dr. Peter Crooks and Dr. Srinivas Ayyadevara on the issuance of a new patent for a promising approach to targeting protein aggregation in neurodegenerative disease. Neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and Huntington’s disease are often linked by one major biological challenge: the buildup of toxic protein aggregates in the brain and central nervous system. While many therapies focus on managing symptoms or addressing downstream effects, there remains a significant need for approaches that target protein aggregation more directly. This newly issued patent covers methods using combretastatin-A4 (CA4) and related analogs to prevent or reduce protein aggregation through compounds that bind glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP). The technology represents a new therapeutic direction for aggregation-associated disorders and suggests a potential disease-modifying strategy across multiple neurodegenerative indications. Preclinical studies described in the patent showed encouraging findings across several model systems, including reductions in aggregate burden, decreases in amyloid accumulation, improved disease-related phenotypes, and lifespan extension in nematode models. Together, these results support the potential of a CA4-based platform as a differentiated approach for targeting protein-aggregation pathology in the central nervous system. Inventors Peter Crooks, M.Sc., Ph.D., D.Sc. (Manc), FRSC, FRPharmS, CSci, CChem, Professor Emeritus of Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS). Robert Reis, Ph.D., Professor at the Donald W. Reynolds Institute on Aging at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS). Srinivas Ayyadevara, Ph.D., Associate Professor at the Donald W. Reynolds Institute on Aging at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS).

March 25, 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.

March 24, 2026

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