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. 

• First Place: Hayley Sabol (Ph.D., College of Medicine, Graduate Program in Interdisciplinary Biomedical Sciences), $100, for her project, “Notch Inhibition as a Therapeutic Approach to Eliminate Dormant Cancer Cells in Multiple Myeloma,” mentored by Jesus Delgado-Calle, Ph.D. 

• Second Place: Baha’a Jabali (Ph.D. – College of Pharmacy, Medicinal and Pharmaceutical Chemistry) $75, for “Discovery of Non-Covalent pan EGFR Inhibitors for the Treatment of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer,” mentored by Brendan Frett, Ph.D. 

• Third Place: Joshua Spiva (M.D./MPH – College of Medicine/College of Public Health), $50, for “Using Regression Modeling to Categorize Parkinson’s Patients Based on Freezing of Gait,” mentored by Tuhin Virmani, M.D., Ph.D. 

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.