Arkansas Biosciences Institute surpasses $1 billion in external research funding

The Arkansas Biosciences Institute (ABI) has achieved a major milestone with ABI-supported researchers securing more than $1 billion in research funding from outside Arkansas since its creation in 2000.

The announcement was made at ABI’s annual meeting Sept. 23 at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS). Robert McGehee Jr., Ph.D., ABI executive director, and Jay Silveria, president of the University of Arkansas System and chair of the ABI Board of Directors, recognized the achievement before researchers from across the state.

“This is not a billion dollars that was earmarked for Arkansas,” McGehee said. “These are highly competitive research dollars won on the national stage, predominantly from the National Institutes of Health, but also from the National Science Foundation, the United States Department of Agriculture and others. ABI made those wins possible by giving our researchers the resources they needed to be competitive.”

ABI, which receives about $10 million to $12 million annually from the state’s Tobacco Settlement Proceeds Act of 2000, invests in research at five institutions: UAMS, Arkansas Children’s Research Institute, the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville, and Arkansas State University.

Its mission is to improve the health of Arkansans through innovative biomedical and agricultural research. Silveria praised the foresight of state leaders and voters who approved the initiative nearly 25 years ago.

“It’s important that we acknowledge the visionary leadership of health care, education and policy leaders who chose to dedicate a portion of the state’s tobacco settlement to create the Arkansas Biosciences Institute,” Silveria said. “This milestone speaks volumes of ABI and its long reach and the incredible commitment and diligence of the ABI membership. As the saying goes, the first billion may be the hardest. Now we look ahead to the next billion.”

Since its inception, ABI has generated a return of more than $5 in external research funding for every $1 invested by the state. In fiscal year 2024, ABI-supported projects brought in $61 million in extramural funds on an $11.5 million budget, a leverage factor of 5.3.

The institute’s investments have supported hundreds of research positions annually and helped recruit top faculty to Arkansas. ABI funding has also launched pioneering projects in cancer, infectious disease, regenerative medicine and agriculture, often through small pilot grants that later attracted major federal awards.

“ABI’s impact compares with a major new industry,” McGehee said. “If this were a business starting up, it would be an incredibly successful one. This milestone is about honoring the vision of Arkansas voters who overwhelmingly supported this initiative and proving that we’ve been exceptional stewards of that trust.”