The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (UAPB) recently hosted a significant gathering of faculty members from UAPB, the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS), and Arkansas Children’s Research Institute (ACRI). This meeting centered on the CARS (Connect Arkansas Research Scholars) Program, a strategic research partnership designed to boost biomedical research across the state. Funded by the Arkansas Health Department (ADH) as part of the Arkansas Tobacco Prevention and Cessation Program, CARS is dedicated to tackling minority health and tobacco-related health issues, including critical conditions like cancer and cardiovascular disease. This Arkansas Program Cars initiative is setting the stage for groundbreaking advancements in health research and collaboration within the state.
Spearheading this vital program are two distinguished figures: Dr. Mansour Mortazavi, UAPB’s Vice Chancellor for Research and a Professor of Quantum Optics, and Dr. Nancy Rusch, UAMS Distinguished Professor and Chair of the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology in the College of Medicine. Their leadership is instrumental in guiding the CARS program towards its ambitious goals.
Dr. Mortazavi emphasized the long-term vision behind this collaboration, stating, “The concept of collaboration between Arkansas Institutions has been in development for many years. With the CARS program, we are now realizing this vision, bringing together teams of scientists from across Arkansas to advance research and education for the greater good. We envision this program as a model for future collaborations, potentially expanding to include other universities.” Launched in the summer of 2022, CARS already unites over 20 research scholars from various Arkansas institutions, demonstrating its rapid growth and impact.
The CARS program is a collaborative effort involving key departments and offices from participating institutions. From UAPB, the Office of Research, Innovation, and Economic Development is actively involved. UAMS’s contributions come from the Translational Research Institute, INBRE Program, the Division of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, the Vice Chancellor’s Office for Research and Innovation, Arkansas Children’s Research Institute, and the Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute. The core mission of CARS is to foster an environment of shared expertise, talent, and resources. This synergistic approach aims to significantly enhance biomedical research capabilities throughout Arkansas, ultimately leading to improved health outcomes and substantial economic growth for the region.
A primary objective of the Arkansas program cars initiative is to cultivate diverse and interdisciplinary research teams comprising faculty and trainees from different campuses. CARS is strategically designed to strengthen the biomedical research infrastructure at both UAPB and UAMS. A key outcome of the June meeting was the facilitation of in-person interactions among partners. Through roundtable team introductions, expertly guided by Dr. Mortazavi, participants were able to share their unique skills and resources, fostering a deeper understanding and laying the groundwork for future collaborations.
Dr. Rush highlighted the unique opportunities presented by the CARS Program: “The CARS Program provides an exciting platform to establish strong research collaborations between UAPB, UAMS, and ACRI. By harnessing the distinct strengths of faculty from each institution, we are witnessing the emergence of collaborative research projects that address complex health challenges that would be insurmountable for a single institution to tackle alone.”
Partner introductions during the meeting revealed the diverse strengths each institution brings to the collaboration. UAPB showcased its unique capabilities in nanotechnology and physics, its specialized zebrafish colony, its access to undergraduate and diverse student populations, and its success in securing funding from USDA and NSF. UAMS and ACRI counterparts highlighted their expertise in preclinical testing, access to valuable resources such as biobanks and clinical trials, significant NIH health-related funding, subsidized research core facilities, and a well-established infrastructure to support grant writing and submission processes.
The collaborative spirit of the meeting extended to practical project planning. Participants jointly developed and presented a CARS Program Partner Project chart, outlining seven ongoing projects that are currently in progress. The partnership session concluded with a dynamic group discussion, moderated by Dr. Rusch, focusing on the essential steps needed to propel these partnership projects forward and define clear metrics for success. Following the productive discussions, faculty members from UAMS and ACRI had the opportunity to tour the laboratories of their UAPB research counterparts, further solidifying relationships and exploring potential avenues for collaboration.
This Arkansas program cars initiative, through the CARS Program, marks a significant step forward in fostering biomedical research collaboration within the state. By bringing together the strengths of UAPB, UAMS, and ACRI, the program is poised to make substantial contributions to minority health, tobacco-related disease research, and the overall health and economic well-being of Arkansas.
