BioVentures honored UAMS researchers, inventors, students and innovation champions during the Innovation Day 2026 Awards & Recognition Ceremony.
Turning promising discoveries into products, companies and technologies that improve lives takes more than great ideas. It takes collaboration between researchers, entrepreneurs, investors, industry partners and the organizations that help move innovation forward. Those connections will be at the heart of BioVentures Innovation Day 2026, taking place August 19 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.on the 12th floor of the Jackson T. Stephens Spine & Neurosciences Institute at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) in Little Rock. Registration is now open for the one-day event, which will bring together innovators from across Arkansas and beyond to explore how research can become real-world impact. Hosted by BioVentures, this year’s event is centered on the theme “From Discovery to Impact.” Throughout the day, attendees will hear from leaders in health care, life sciences and entrepreneurship while exploring topics including intellectual property, startup formation, funding strategies, medical device development, commercialization, regulatory pathways and industry partnerships. Innovation Day is designed for researchers, clinicians, faculty, students, entrepreneurs, investors, industry professionals and community partners who are interested in advancing health care innovation and strengthening Arkansas’ life sciences ecosystem. In addition to educational sessions, attendees will have opportunities to network, connect with innovation support organizations and discover resources available to help translate research into new products and ventures. Innovation Day is made possible through the support of organizations that share BioVentures’ commitment to advancing innovation and entrepreneurship across Arkansas, including Polsinelli, ARise, Wright, Lindsey & Jennings, Synapse Communications Consulting and Norton Rose Fulbright. Their partnership helps create opportunities for researchers, entrepreneurs and industry leaders to connect, collaborate and accelerate the commercialization of new health care technologies. Whether attendees are taking their first steps toward commercialization or looking to expand an existing venture, Innovation Day offers an opportunity to learn from experienced leaders, build new partnerships and become part of Arkansas’ growing innovation network. Registration for Innovation Day 2026 is now open.
BioVentures recently welcomed the fourth cohort of participants in the Medical Innovation and Entrepreneurship Honors Track (MIEHT), a four-year honors program that introduces medical students to health care innovation, intellectual property and technology commercialization.
Develop commercialization skills through BioVentures’ year-long CADET program. Applications close Aug. 7.
Join BioVentures Innovation Day 2026 to connect, explore healthcare innovation, and turn discoveries into real-world impact at UAMS.
There is still time to apply for the Medical Innovation and Entrepreneurship Honors Track (MIEHT), but the deadline is quickly approaching. Applications for the next MIEHT cohort will close on April 30. Hosted by BioVentures at UAMS, MIEHT is a four-year honors track designed for medical students who want to build the skills to identify unmet clinical needs, develop practical healthcare solutions, and explore the path from innovation to implementation. The program gives students hands-on exposure to clinical problem-solving, customer discovery, early-stage innovation, and healthcare entrepreneurship. Through MIEHT, participants learn how to move beyond identifying problems in medicine to actively designing solutions that improve care delivery, clinical workflows, and patient outcomes. Students in the program gain access to mentorship, innovation frameworks, commercialization guidance, and a growing community of clinician-innovators working to improve healthcare from within. MIEHT is designed for students interested in innovation, translational problem-solving, and the future of healthcare, whether their interests lie in devices, systems, workflows, or new models of care. If you are interested in becoming part of the next cohort, now is the time to apply. Applications close April 30. Click here to Apply Now
Jeff Moran, Ph.D., CEO of PinPoint Testing LLC, will be the featured speaker at 2 p.m. on Thursday, May 7, 2026, for the Health Sciences Innovation & Entrepreneurship (HSIE) Grand Rounds. His presentation, From Concept to Venture: Building Entrepreneurial Success from the Ground Up, will explore the process of translating ideas into successful ventures, drawing on his extensive experience in analytical toxicology and public health laboratory leadership. Join us at the Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, 10th Floor, Betsy Blass Boardroom. The UAMS community and the public are welcome to attend.
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.
BioVentures launched the first CADET cohort, supporting cancer researchers with training, mentorship, and tools to translate discoveries into real-world impact.
