BioVentures honored UAMS researchers, inventors, students and innovation champions during the Innovation Day 2026 Awards & Recognition Ceremony.
A look back at BioVentures Innovation Day 2026, bringing together the UAMS innovation community for a day of connection, collaboration and recognition.
The University of Arkansas at Little Rock’s AI Hackathon and HealthTech Startup Week brought together some of Arkansas’ most promising young innovators to explore how artificial intelligence can help address real-world health care challenges.
Members of the BioVentures team attended the BIO International Convention, held June 22–25 in San Diego, California, joining more than 20,000 biotechnology professionals from around the world.
Newly issued patent enables patient-specific coronary CTA imaging by predicting cardiac motion to improve image quality and accuracy.
Dr. Anthony Gunderman discussed how engineering and robotics can help address clinical needs during a recent UAMS Research & Innovation seminar.
Applications are open for the AI Hackathon & HealthTech Startup Week at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, offering hands-on training, certifications, and $20,000 in prizes.
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.
The MIEHT program offers structured training in need identification, customer discovery, problem triaging, and iterative solution development. Through seminars, hands-on exploration, and mentorship, students gain practical experience in evaluating clinical challenges and advancing innovative concepts that can improve patient care and healthcare system efficiency.
From February 8 to 11, the BioVentures team attended the 2026 AUTM Annual Meeting in Seattle to connect with peers, explore opportunities, and strengthen partnerships.
