- University News Archive - ��Vlog��ý Little Rock

NuShores Biosciences receives $1.7 million grant to study bone regeneration technology

Ajani Oyindamola — Thu, 20 Sep 2018 13:10:30 +0000

A University of Arkansas at Little Rock spin-off company, has received a $1.7 million grant to study how NuShores’ bone regeneration technology can be applied in craniofacial tissues. The National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, a component of the National Institutes of Health, has awarded the company a 2.5-year Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Fast Track grant to study the NuCress bone filler scaffold’s ability to facilitate dental implants in the jaw. “This NIH award is a direct result of the profound study results in long bone delivered by our research collaborators at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock and the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine. The reviewers were able to clearly see the potential in dental applications for this technology. I’m excited to work with world-class clinicians to study the NuCress scaffold for the future benefit of their patients,” states Sharon Ballard, NuShores’ CEO. The NuCress scaffold is a nanomaterial-based bone regeneration device developed for large segmental defects. This development is led by Dr. Alex Biris, the director and chief scientist of the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Center for Integrative Nanotechnology Sciences and a professor of systems engineering in the Donaghey College of Engineering and Information Technology. “This is a significant win to expand NuShores’ technology, made possible through our university relationships, Arkansas’ small business development infrastructure, and tireless work by a dedicated team. We are grateful,” said Biris.

NuShores Biosciences, LLC

NuShores has partnered with Stony Brook University School of Dental Medicine on this grant. If successful, the scaffold will be a transformational tool for surgeons involved in bone regeneration in a variety of fields. Founded in 2014, NuShores has the exclusive, global license from ��Vlog��ý Little Rock to commercialize university-owned patented and patent-pending technologies related to the NuCress scaffold. The company has received assistance from the Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center. The NuCress scaffold has already given a number of animals a new lease on life. For example, just last year, it was used at the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine to heal Hercules, an alpaca who broke his leg on his ranch in Lebanon, Tennessee, at only 24 hours old. The open wound and exposed bone led to a serious infection, which prevented the bone from healing properly. Against the odds, the scaffold eliminated the infection and completely regenerated the missing bone. Thanks to the NuCress scaffold, Hercules is now a thriving member of his herd. About the SBIR Program The SBIR program involves 11 federal agencies investing more than $3 billion a year in high risk/high payoff research and development conducted by the nation’s leading science-technology innovators. NuShores’ award is known as a Fast Track Grant, where funding occurs when SBIR Phase I and Phase II proposals are peer reviewed at the same time and granted in a single award. This approach expedites funding and research for the companies. Research described in this press release is supported by the National Center for Dental and Craniofacial Research of the National Institutes of Health under award number 1R44DE028213-01.

U.S. Small Business Administration grant extends center’s services for high-tech entrepreneurs

Ajani Oyindamola — Tue, 18 Sep 2018 13:07:16 +0000

The (ASBTDC) at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock has received a $125,000 grant to assist innovative, technology-driven small businesses. The U.S. Small Business Administration awarded the competitive funding as part of the. ASBTDC is one of, which include state and local economic development entities, Small Business and Technology Development Centers, Women’s Business Centers, incubators, accelerators, colleges, and universities that provide support to small businesses developing and commercializing high-risk technologies. FAST is designed to stimulate economic development with outreach, training, mentoring, financial support, and business/technical assistance to small businesses focused on research and development. Fostering participation of women-owned, rural-based, and socially and economically disadvantaged firms to help them compete in the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs is a key aim. “SBA is thrilled to work with these organizations to increase the understanding of the SBIR/STTR programs,” said Administrator Linda McMahon. “FAST partners are an important part of the innovation entrepreneur ecosystem. They provide training, financial and technical assistance for small, next-generation technology businesses, and help them navigate federally funded innovation and R&D programs.” The grant will allow the center to provide consulting services to more entrepreneurs seeking funding through SBIR and STTR, said Laura Fine, state director of the Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center. Those services include market research and proposal writing assistance. “We look forward to helping more small firms in Arkansas commercialize their innovations,” Fine said. “We will continue to focus on assisting with SBIR and STTR proposal writing to increase the number of awards to Arkansas companies. Rebecca Todd, our innovation consultant, has a solid reputation with clients and federal program managers for helping Arkansas companies submit winning proposals.” To encourage participation in SBIR/STTR by companies owned by women, ASBTDC will build on the success of its 2018 “accelHERate” programs with additional outreach and events geared toward women entrepreneurs. Also, the center is a partner with the 2018 Arkansas Life Science Summit that will be held Oct. 25 in Conway. ASBTDC will also offer additional educational opportunities for innovative Arkansas entrepreneurs and technology-based companies, specifically in the area of intellectual property. SBA coordinates the SBIR/STTR programs, also known as America’s Seed Fund, which each year provides more than $2.5 billion in early-stage seed capital totaling nearly 5,000 awards to small businesses. Eleven participating federal government agencies announce funding opportunities as either grants or contracts to address their research and development needs. Companies supported by the SBIR/STTR programs often generate some of the most important breakthroughs each year in the U.S. The Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center is funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the Small Business Administration through a partnership with the and other institutions of higher education. The center assists startups, existing businesses, expanding businesses, and innovation-based businesses statewide.

��Vlog��ý Little Rock students win big in 2018 Arkansas Governor’s Cup

Jenny Lambert — Thu, 19 Apr 2018 15:20:39 +0000

Last year, a group of students from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock merged their talents and developed a business venture that has now received a substantial amount of recognition both in and outside of Arkansas. On Wednesday, April 18, the students were awarded top honors – and $25,000 – in the undergraduate division of the Arkansas Governor’s Cup, a statewide business plan competition for college and graduate students sponsored by Arkansas Capital Corporation. Team members include Nick Lester, Noah Asher, Kiauna Rome, and Ingrid Helgestad. Their device, Spiritum Solutions, is a mouth guard designed so that patients undergoing surgery or bronchoscope procedures do not damage their mouths by biting down on the tubes. “It wasn’t just an undergraduate exercise for them. They are going to move forward with the business,” said Stuart McLendon, an adjunct professor and team sponsor for the College of Business team. “As a ��Vlog��ý Little Rock alumnus, former judge for the competition, and now team sponsor, I can say that this is by far the best and most useful experience that any college student can obtain during the course of their education. It provides extremely valuable real-world expertise building a team, building a product, selling yourself and your ideas, and doing it in a collaborative way.” In addition to the team’s win, McLendon received $2,000 as team sponsor, and Noah Asher received a $2,000 cash prize for winning the undergraduate elevator pitch competition. The elevator pitch is a highlight activity of the awards luncheon during which one representative from each of the finalist teams has 90 seconds to pitch his or her team’s business plan to the audience members, who vote via text to determine the winner. “He knocked it out of the park,” McLendon said of Asher’s pitch. Recently, this group of students have been no strangers to winning. After pitching Spiritum Solutions during Texas Christian University’s Values and Ventures competition, the students received honorable mention and were awarded $2,500. They were selected as one of six finalists among 55 competing teams. “This team was truly stellar,” said Elaine Cole, public relations manager at Texas Christian University. “I enjoyed meeting them and watching their presentation.” Last fall, the students also participated in the Arkansas Regional Innovation Hub’s Delta I-Fund program, an early stage proof-of-concept fund created to capitalize and train up-and-coming entrepreneurs. The 12-week program provided mentorship to the young business minds and helped them to develop and validate their ideas. After going through three stages of pitching for investment funding, the students raised $50,000 from the I-Fund program. They also received a $25,000 Small Business Innovation Research grant from the National Science Foundation. Thanks to the numerous financial awards, the students can now move forward with prototype and design iterations, FDA consulting, paying legal and patenting fees, and continuing research. The team will continue this momentum, competing May 7 in Memphis in an accelerator competition focused on healthcare technology. For more information, contact McLendon at SMcLendon@cfonet.biz.

National Small Business Innovation Road Tour Coming to Little Rock to Promote $2.5B in Early-Stage Funding

��Vlog��ý Little Rock — Thu, 22 Mar 2018 13:42:34 +0000

The 2018 national SBIR Road Tour will stop in Little Rock April 18. Organized by the U.S. Small Business Administration, the 18-state tour is an opportunity for Arkansas entrepreneurs with next-generation ideas to connect with the largest source of early-stage funding, the Small Business Innovation Research program. Through SBIR and its sister program, Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR), federal agencies award $2.5 billion annually to small companies developing groundbreaking technologies. The Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center will host the Road Tour stop at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. “We are dedicated to supporting America’s entrepreneurs wherever they are. American innovation is not restricted by geographic or cultural boundaries,” said SBA Administrator Linda McMahon. “This tour reflects our commitment to ensuring that these innovators are aware of the resources that can help them turn a big idea into another great American innovation story.” Program managers from nine federal agencies, including the Department of Agriculture and the National Science Foundation, will meet one-on-one with attendees and share insights into how their agencies make funding decisions. The SBIR/STTR programs award more than 4,000 new grants and contracts per year. The funding has helped U.S. innovators advance new technologies and create thousands of jobs, according to SBA. The agencies fund a wide variety of innovations in health, cybersecurity, advanced materials, unmanned systems and more. The Road Tour looks to increase SBIR and STTR participation by women, small companies in underrepresented states like Arkansas and individuals who are socially and economically disadvantaged. Small technology firms, entrepreneurs, scientists and researchers are encouraged to attend. Participants can also learn about state-specific resources for innovation-based ventures during the afternoon session. Lunch will be provided. There is no charge to attend, but pre-registration is required and available online. To learn more, visit or contact the Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center at 501-683-7700.

��Vlog��ý Little Rock instructor leads project to develop STEM education tool

Ajani Oyindamola — Thu, 15 Feb 2018 23:22:48 +0000

Ben Rainwater, instructor of systems engineering with the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, will lead a project at Brown Engineers to create a water engineering computer simulation for students in grades six through 12. , an electrical engineering consulting firm in Little Rock, was awarded a $225,000 Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant from the National Science Foundation. The simulation will be used to promote Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) education across the state. “We envision students would go through a guided simulation and then a game where the students are asked to solve a problem or respond to a crisis,” Rainwater said. “For example, the students could be asked to bring a central water line to a town. They would use math, science, and engineering principles to build a functioning water plant. It would be a rich environment to teach the students.” Rainwater, electrical design engineer at Brown Engineers, will serve as the project’s principal investigator, while his co-worker, Sam Vandiver, lead technologist, will be the lead technical advisor. “The project is intended to teach students about water engineering and career education,” Rainwater said. “We want to translate engineering practice to engineering education to teach students how to apply the concepts they are learning in the classroom.” The simulation will educate students about the water purification process, engineering skills needed to create infrastructure, water conservation, and careers in the water treatment industry. “We think that it is valuable to train students on pathways to water-related jobs and to tackle challenges related to our shared and most valuable resource,” he said. The encourages small businesses to engage in research and development that has the potential for commercialization. The one-year Phase 1 grant will cover market research costs like conducting interviews with educators and curriculum developers to understand the STEM education market. Brown Engineers will apply for a Phase II grant, which supports the development of the product, by the end of the year, Rainwater said. Rainwater completed his Master of Science degree and Ph.D. in the School of Materials Science and Engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology. His Ph.D. research includes new materials development for emerging energy technologies with support from the National Science Foundation and the U.S. Department of Energy. Rainwater has worked at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock since 2016 and teaches Introduction to Mechanical Engineering and Engineering Materials classes. “It’s a great opportunity to teach engineering materials to students,” he said. “Dr. Andrew Wright, Dr. Ibrahim Nisanci, and Dr. Alex Biris have been great mentors in the Systems Engineering department, and I’m lucky to get to teach my favorite subject.”

ASBTDC to host webcast to help innovative small businesses apply for U.S. Navy grants

Ajani Oyindamola — Fri, 17 Nov 2017 14:34:22 +0000

The Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center, based at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, will host a free webcast to help entrepreneurs learn about Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) funding available through the U.S. Navy and the Department of Defense. The will be shown from 7:30 to 11 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 5, in the Reynolds Business Center Room 251 on the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock campus. The webcast will review Navy Sea System Commands’ SBIR and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) program topics, for which local science and technology-driven small businesses are invited to apply. In addition, participants can sign up to have a private meeting with a Navy representative in the afternoon. The event is free and open to the public, but space is limited and pre-registration is required. to register for the event. For more information, contact Shannon Roberts at 501-683-7700 or sxroberts@ualr.edu. The Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center is funded in part through a cooperative agreement with SBA through a partnership with the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock College of Business and other institutions of higher education. The center assists companies at every stage of business development and growth. To learn more, visit asbtdc.org. All programs are extended to the public on a non-discriminatory basis. Reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities and individuals with limited English proficiency (LEP) will be made if requested at least two weeks in advance. Contact Pamela Reed at (501) 683-7700.

ASBTDC receives $200k to help Arkansas small businesses

Ajani Oyindamola — Thu, 31 Aug 2017 13:08:53 +0000

A University of Arkansas at Little Rock-based center recently received $200,000 to support innovative small businesses. The (ASBTDC), based at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, is one of only five small business technology development centers in the country to receive the grant from the U.S. Small Business Administration. “Arkansas has many gifted, creative entrepreneurs and university researchers,” ASBTDC State Director Laura Fine said. “We look forward to helping these Arkansas innovators explore and develop the commercial potential of their research and ideas.” The funding from the Small Business Administration’s Federal and State Technology (FAST) Partnership Program is designed to stimulate economic development with outreach and technical assistance to science- and technology-driven small businesses. The program emphasizes fostering participation from women-owned and socially and economically disadvantaged firms, helping them to compete in the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs. “FAST partners fill an important role on the state level, providing training, financial and technical assistance for small, advanced technology businesses, by helping them navigate federally-funded innovation and R&D programs,” said Linda McMahon, administrator of the Small Business Administration. With the grant, the Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center will continue providing one-on-one mentoring to university researchers and small tech companies looking to apply for SBIR/STTR grants and contracts. The center also plans to hold 16 educational events designed to increase the number of SBIR/STTR applicants from Arkansas. Participants will learn about commercial strategy development, market research, and grant proposal writing.

State small business center holds webinars for life-science researchers and entrepreneurs

Ajani Oyindamola — Wed, 01 Feb 2017 14:15:27 +0000

The Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock will host a series of designed to help life-sciences researchers and entrepreneurs interested in technology commercialization. ASBTDC has invited four guest experts to lead the webinars beginning Tuesday, Feb. 7. The first webinars focus on the National Institutes of Health Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs. NIH’s Rob Vinson will introduce the federal funding programs on Feb. 7. On Thursday, Feb. 9, Dr. Nancy Gray, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences BioVentures director, will share best practices for university researchers looking to start their own spin-off companies. In a two-part series on Tuesday, Feb. 14, and Thursday, Feb. 16, Dr., former SBIR/STTR program manager at the agency and now CEO of bioPrime, will go deeper into the National Institutes of Health SBIR/STTR application process. Finally, Jeff Skiba, a professional medical device and business consultant, will lead a four-part series starting Tuesday, Feb. 21, on navigating the FDA approval process. Skiba will identify the strategic steps to consider during new research and development to ensure a company’s processes effectively align with FDA’s approved standards. The three additional webinars will take place on Feb. 28, March 7, and March 14. The events are funded by a $200,000 grant ASBTDC received last year from the Federal and State Technology (FAST) Partnership Program from the U.S. Small Business Administration to support programs for innovative, technology-driven small businesses. For more information, contact Rebecca Norman at 501.683.7700 or visit the to register for a classroom or webinar training event: (). About the Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center: The Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center is funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the Small Business Administration through a partnership with the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock College of Business and other institutions of higher education. The center assists startups, existing businesses, expanding businesses, and innovation-based businesses statewide. All opinions, conclusions, and/or recommendations expressed herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the SBA.

- University News Archive - ����Vlog��ý Little Rock