Spotlight on Our Achievements: Pearl McElfish, Ph.D., MBA, MS, PMP
Pearl McElfish, Ph.D., MBA, MS, PMP, Director of the Institute, has been awarded a nearly $12 million grant through the National Institutes of Health’s Centers of Biomedical Research Excellence (COBRE). This prestigious grant will establish a cutting-edge research center focused on maternal and reproductive health innovations in Arkansas.
As part of this initiative, the Institute will host a national conference next spring, bringing together leading researchers and thought leaders to advance maternal and reproductive health.
UAMS COBRE Award Featured in Statewide Media:
Recent Awards
Congratulations to our investigators on their competitive awards!
Pear McElfish, Ph.D.
Dr. McElfish received awards from NIH ($1,529,996, Yr 1; 09/01/2025–08/31/2027) and HRSA ($400,000, Yr 1; 09/01/2025–08/31/2028)
Nirvana Manning, M.D.
Dr. Manning received an award from the Health Resources and Services Administration totaling $999,951 (Year 1), covering the period 09/30/2025 – 09/29/2029.
Stephen Foster, M.D.
Dr. Foster received an award from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention totaling $544,420, covering the period 08/30/2025 – 08/29/2030.
Susan Emmett, M.D.
Dr. Emmett received an award from the National Institutes of Health totaling $211,774 (Year 1), covering the period 08/15/2025 – 07/31/2030.
Güneş Koru, Ph.D., FAMIA
Dr. Koru received an award from the National Institutes of Health totaling $49,964 (Year 1), covering the period 09/15/2025 – 06/30/2027.
Biomed Building I Renovation Update
2/2/2026: This week will continue more of the same. We are still working on hanging ceiling grid in the BSL-3 area and the surrounding corridors. There will be some drilling in those areas as the cabling is secured to the ceilings. We are also still working on painting and priming areas and installing tile in the bathrooms. We are starting on PH 6 of the epoxy flooring. This will be the area along the east wall with the labs. For reference, the rooms on the 2nd floor that are above this area are labs 214, 216, 218, 220, and 222. Each of these labs has a mechanical closet in the back of the room, but the rooms are sealed from the outside. We continue to have two wind tunnels set up and running under negative pressure. We don’t anticipate any issues this week, but if they do occur, these would be the areas that might possibly be impacted.
1/26/2026: This week, we will continue to have some drilling as hangers are installed to hang the ceiling grid that we had not completed from the seismic material installation. There will also be some bracing for the exhaust equipment that will be installed requiring additional drilling. We continue to prime and paint walls and epoxy the floors. We have completed phase 5 and we find we had an office or two that had some stronger smells than we have had in the other phases. We will continue to try and mitigate all odors to the best of our ability.
*(The Construction Team)*
If you experience any issues, please contact Paul Browning, Building Manager, at RBrowning2@uams.edu or 501.686.8899
Research News
UAMS Research Shows Online Program Significantly Reduces Benzodiazepine Use in Adults
LITTLE ROCK — A new study involving University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) research scientists offers hope for patients who are seeking to reduce their dependence on benzodiazepines, powerful drugs prescribed to relieve anxiety and insomnia and reduce seizures.
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Digital Health Diabetes Education Improves Health of Rural Communities Across Arkansas
LITTLE ROCK — Delivering family-centered diabetes self-management education and support (DSMES) programs through digital health can significantly improve health outcomes for people with Type 2 diabetes, particularly those living in rural and underserved communities, according to researchers from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) Institute for Community Health Innovation.
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UAMS Receives $3.5 Million from CDC to Improve Colorectal Cancer Screening
LITTLE ROCK — The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently awarded more than $3.5 million to the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) to lead a five-year statewide effort to improve the rate of colorectal cancer screening in the state.
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UAMS Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute Expands OnCore to Strengthen Clinical Trials
The UAMS Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute has fully implemented the Advarra OnCore Clinical Trials Management System, strengthening oversight, efficiency and growth of cancer clinical trials.
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Impact of new federal funding decisions on UAMS research activity
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