The AR Health Ventures Accelerator (ARHVA) is a program designed to accelerate the development of therapeutic projects from scientific discovery to commercialization. Focused on advancing biomedical research from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS), ARHVA provides consultancy, guidance, and funding to selected projects. The program aims to de-risk discoveries and enhance their commercial potential, supporting the creation of new drugs, diagnostics, and devices. Eligible UAMS employees can apply for funding, with awards of up to $50,000 available.
Send your application before September 30, 2026.
The AR Health Ventures Accelerator (ARHVA) is a BioVentures program dedicated to accelerating promising therapeutic and health-related innovations from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS).
ARHVA helps bridge the gap between investigator-driven research and commercialization by providing selected projects with hands-on project management, development expertise, budget management, and access to internal and external resources.
Projects are supported through focused, six-month development cycles designed to address specific development barriers, reduce technical or commercial risk, and move promising technologies toward their next stage of development or commercialization.
Applications are now open for ARHVA Cohort 3.
Application Deadline: September 30, 2026, at 5:00 PM
Selection: Early October 2026
The AR Health Ventures Accelerator is designed to:
Advance promising technologies by addressing critical translational and product-development barriers.
De-risk innovation and strengthen the commercial potential of therapeutics and health-related technologies.
Cultivate Arkansas biotechnology talent and entrepreneurs through hands-on development experience.
Strengthen Arkansas’s biotechnology ecosystem by fostering collaboration among academic, government, clinical, and industry partners.
ARHVA provides more than traditional research funding. Selected projects receive active development support from the ARHVA team throughout an initial six-month development cycle.
Hands-On Project Management
ARHVA works with investigators to establish measurable development milestones and success criteria, coordinate project execution, manage expenditures, and track progress.
Consultancy and Development Expertise
Investigators receive access to biotechnology and commercialization expertise to help determine and execute the next critical steps for their technology.
External Advisory Committee
Projects are selected through a competitive review process involving an independent advisory committee with scientific, clinical, intellectual property, and biotechnology expertise.
Access to Resources and Infrastructure
ARHVA leverages capabilities across BioVentures, UAMS, Arkansas academic institutions, biotechnology companies, and external partners to support project execution.
De-Risking Discoveries
Each project is designed to address a defined technical or commercial barrier. The goal is to generate the data and information needed to make a meaningful development decision and position the technology for external funding, licensing, industry partnership, regulatory development, or company formation.
Selected projects may receive up to $50,000 in ARHVA-managed project support for an initial six-month development cycle. ARHVA anticipates supporting approximately two projects per funding cycle, subject to available program resources.
Who can apply?
All UAMS employees are eligible to apply for ARHVA, including trainees and postdoctoral fellows.
At this time, applicants must be employed by UAMS.
Projects that have received funding from other sources may still apply, provided that the proposed ARHVA work aligns with program goals and does not duplicate previously funded activities.
What types of projects are eligible?
ARHVA uses a broad definition of therapeutics and health-related technologies. Eligible technologies may include:
Competitive applications should propose a focused and achievable six-month project that addresses an important barrier to advancing the technology.
Examples may include projects designed to:
ARHVA is primarily intended to support translational development rather than open-ended hypothesis-driven research.
ARHVA is now accepting applications for its third cohort.
Interested UAMS investigators and inventors should submit a project proposal that includes:
Application Deadline
September 30, 2026, at 5:00 PM
Applications must be submitted electronically to Allison Thompson, M.Ed., at athompson9@uams.edu.
Late applications will not be considered.
Review and Selection
Applications will be reviewed by the ARHVA External Advisory Committee based on:
The highest-scoring proposals will be recommended for support based on available program resources, with final selections made by ARHVA leadership.
Funding decisions are expected in early October 2026.
What is the AR Health Ventures Accelerator?
ARHVA is a program designed to facilitate and accelerate the development of therapeutics and health-related technologies and help bridge the gap between scientific discovery and commercialization.
How does ARHVA differ from a traditional grant or award?
ARHVA provides more than funding. The program takes an active role in managing project execution, expenditures, timelines, and milestones. This allows investigators to focus on their scientific work while ARHVA coordinates the development activities needed to advance the technology.
How much support can a project receive?
Selected projects may receive up to $50,000 in ARHVA-managed project support for an initial six-month development cycle. The exact level of support will depend on the scope of work required to achieve the project’s defined milestones.
How many projects will be selected?
ARHVA anticipates supporting approximately two projects per funding cycle, subject to available program resources.
What types of technologies are eligible?
ARHVA considers therapeutics and health-related technologies broadly, including drugs, biologics, diagnostics, medical devices, and other approaches intended to prevent, diagnose, manage, or treat health conditions.
Who is eligible to apply?
All UAMS employees may apply, including trainees and postdoctoral fellows. Applicants do not need to be faculty members.
Can I apply if my project has already received other funding?
Yes. Projects that have received funding from other sources remain eligible as long as the proposed ARHVA work aligns with the program’s goals and does not duplicate previously funded activities.
Do I need to submit an invention disclosure to BioVentures before applying?
A disclosure is not required to apply, although applicants are encouraged to consult with ARHVA or BioVentures to determine whether a disclosure may be appropriate.
How are ARHVA funds managed?
ARHVA generally manages the project budget and coordinates expenditures rather than distributing funds directly to the investigator or college. When appropriate, specific activities may be performed within the investigator’s laboratory while ARHVA retains responsibility for overall budget management.
What happens after the initial six-month cycle?
ARHVA evaluates milestone achievement, scientific and technical results, remaining risks, feasibility, and commercial potential. Projects demonstrating sufficient progress may be considered for an additional ARHVA development cycle or advancement toward external funding, licensing, industry partnership, regulatory development, or company formation.
How do I apply?
Follow the instructions in the 2026 Request for Applications and submit the required materials electronically to athompson9@uams.edu by 5:00 PM on September 30, 2026.
When will applicants be notified?
Funding decisions are expected to be announced in early October 2026.
Who can I contact with questions?
Allison Thompson, M.Ed.
athompson9@uams.edu
For questions or further information regarding this RFA, please contact: athompson9@uams.edu
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