This proposal will continue to pursue the primary goals of the Arkansas IDeA Network for Biomedical Research Excellence (INBRE) to expand biomedical research capacity in Arkansas. Building upon infrastructure developed during the earlier BRIN/INBRE phases, three research-intensive, lead institutions in the state-the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS), the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville (UAF), and the University of Arkansas at Little Rock (UALR)-will provide scientific leadership. The focus of the Developmental Research Project Program will be to expand the number of faculty at primarily undergraduate institutions (PUI) engaged in biomedical research. This will be accomplished by assisting PUIs with faculty recruitment, providing research funding and supporting career development of PUI faculty. Arkansas INBRE-supported research led by PUI faculty will be carried out in collaboration with their mentors at the lead institutions under the overall theme of Cellular Signaling, Growth, and Differentiation. The Administrative Core will provide operational support, coordinate all Arkansas INBRE activities and broaden opportunities for undergraduate student participation in research. The accomplishments of undergraduate researchers across the state will be showcased at an annual conference attended by all INBRE faculty and students. The Arkansas INBRE will continue its commitment to expand opportunities for underrepresented groups. The INBRE will partner with the UAMS Center for Diversity Affairs, the UAF George Washington Carver Research Program, and NIH-funded Initiative for Maximizing Student Diversity (IMSD) Program to increase the numbers of minority students completing for graduate degrees in the biomedical sciences. Communication among INBRE participants will be facilitated by a teleconferencing network and a Social Media Hub. The Bioinformatics Core will be a statewide research and educational resource to give undergraduate faculty and students access to the computational tools needed for multidisciplinary biomedical research, and will continue to play a central role in training the nex generation of bioinformaticians. The Arkansas INBRE will support a Research Technology Core that will provide PUI investigators access to sophisticated instrumentation and technical expertise difficult to establish at small institutions. Through further enhancement of research infrastructure, particularly at undergraduate institutions, the Arkansas INBRE will continue to improve the ability of academic researchers to compete for federal funding, increase the number of undergraduate students who choose careers in biomedical research, and stimulate the growth of biotechnical industries in Arkansas.
The Arkansas IDeA Network for Biomedical Research Excellence (INBRE) program allows Arkansas investigators to be more competitive for federal funding of research that leads to better medical diagnosis and development of therapies for human diseases. The Arkansas INBRE support of undergraduate student training in biomedical research contributes to the development of the next generation of U.S. biomedical scientists.
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