Arkansas Research Alliance announces Scholars, Fellows

The Arkansas Research Alliance announced two new ARA Scholars and two new ARA Fellows at the Capitol Thursday (Sept. 8).

The scholarships went to staff members at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS), while the fellowships for the first time went to researchers from the U.S. Food & Drug Administration’s National Center for Toxicological Research (NCTR) in Jefferson.

The ARA Scholars program recruits talent to the state’s research universities while the ARA Fellows program recognizes researchers already working at one of those universities: Arkansas State University, University of Arkansas, University of Arkansas at Little Rock, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, and University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. The ARA was founded in 2008 to invest in research that stimulates innovation, collaboration and economic opportunity where Arkansas possesses core competencies.

The 2016 ARA Scholars are Dr. David Ussery, director of the Arkansas Center for Genomic and Ecological Medicine at UAMS, who has been working with bioinformatic analysis of bacterial genomes since 1995; and Dr. Hong-YuLi, a professor at the UAMS College of Pharmacy’s Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and an internationally recognized scientist engaged in cancer treatment research.

The 2016 ARA Fellows are Dr. Weida Tong, director of the NCTR’s Division of Bioinformatics and Biostatistics, whose work focuses on developing bioinformatic methodologies and standards to support FDA research; and Dr. Paul Howard, director of the NCTR’s Office of Scientific Coordination and a senior biomedical research scientist.

The recognition of the NCTR researchers recognizes the role it plays working the universities, according to a press release from the ARA. The ARA began partnering with NCTR in 2011.

Last week, Gov. Asa Hutchinson announced a memorandum of understanding between the state and the NCTR that allows it to operate the Arkansas Center for Excellence in Regulatory Service for an additional five years. One of the goals of the agreement is increased collaboration with the center.