Translational Research Institute


August 10, 2021

UAMS Research Sheds Light on Vaccine Hesitancy in Arkansas

David Wise

Vaccines are available at multiple locations across the state of Arkansas.

Researchers at UAMS have found that trust in vaccines, fear of infection, and race or ethnicity play a large role in whether or not people will get a COVID-19 vaccine, particularly when looking at socio-demographic factors.


July 20, 2021

UAMS Releases Findings from Statewide COVID-19 Antibody Study

David Robinson

A team at UAMS tested blood samples from July to December 2020 and found that by the end of the year, 7.4% of Arkansans had SARS-CoV-2 antibodies.

LITTLE ROCK — A statewide COVID-19 antibody study led by UAMS found that by the end of 2020, 7.4% of Arkansans had antibodies to the virus, but there were wide disparities among racial and ethnic groups. UAMS researchers released their findings this week to a public database, medRxiv (med archive).


July 12, 2021

Helena-West Helena Native Beverly Johnson-Wells Returns to Join UAMS Rural Research Network

David Robinson

LITTLE ROCK — Beverly Johnson-Wells, MLS, recently returned to her hometown of Helena-West Helena to serve as associate director of research for the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) Rural Research Network (RRN) and UAMS Regional Programs. Johnson-Wells will play a key part in expanding research into rural areas of Arkansas. Her role includes…


July 7, 2021

Researcher Finds Challenges in Study Involving Methamphetamine

Linda Haymes

Michael Wilson, M.D., an assistant professor of Emergency Medicine, is studying how methamphetamine affects the human body, particularly how the body responds to stress.

If the photo of the pile of crystal methamphetamine doesn’t get your attention, the question on the flyer, designed by the UAMS Translational Research Institute and complete with the UAMS logo and familiar triangles, will.

“Use meth?”


May 10, 2021

NIH Grant Supporting UAMS Study of Drugs to Improve Long-term Kidney Transplant Outcomes

David Robinson

UAMS' Nirmala Parajuli, Ph.D., is studying a novel way to improve long-term kidney transplant survival.

LITTLE ROCK — A National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant will allow UAMS researcher Nirmala Parajuli, DVM, Ph.D., to study a novel way to improve the long-term outcomes of patients who receive kidneys from deceased donors. Parajuli, an assistant professor in the College of Medicine Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, will use the five-year $2.46…


May 7, 2021

UAMS Physician’s New Skills and Lucky Timing Save Vilonia Baby from Deadly, Disabling Disease

David Robinson

Darrell and Elaine Hurst with their two sons, Oliver (left) and Paxton. Oliver was born last year with Spinal Muscular Atrophy, a disease that could have killed him if not for a newborn screening implemented by UAMS’ Kapil Arya, M.D., and a new treatment.

Oliver Hurst owes his life to a luckily timed move across the country. His father and mother, who was then three months pregnant with Oliver, arrived in Vilonia from California in March 2020. At the time, UAMS’ Kapil Arya, M.D., was developing strategies as a UAMS Translational Research Institute Implementation Science Scholar to establish statewide…


April 26, 2021

UAMS Studies Highlight Endocrine Disorders that Put Children at Higher Risk for COVID-19 Complications, Death

David Robinson

A mother helping her diabetic child monitor her blood sugar. Diabetes mellitus type 1, Juvenile diabetes.

COVID-19 infections put children at much higher risk for complications and death if they have either poorly controlled diabetes or adrenal insufficiency, according to two studies by researchers at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS). One study found that children with poorly controlled Type 1 diabetes have a much higher risk of COVID-19-related…


April 20, 2021

UAMS Cancer Researcher Receives $1.1 Million as Part of NIH Grant at University of Arkansas, Fayetteville

David Robinson

Isabelle Racine Miousse, Ph.D., is studying the role of a common nutrient in cancer in cancer treatment.

A National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant will allow UAMS researcher Isabelle Racine Miousse, Ph.D., to ramp up her study of a nutrient that may have a role in the effectiveness of immunotherapy for cancer patients. Miousse will receive $220,000 per year for up to five years as one of four project leaders at the…


March 10, 2021

UAMS Records $38.8 Million in Research Support to Combat COVID-19

David Robinson

COVID-19-related grants have supported UAMS research from the laboratory to the community. Left, Karl Boehme, Ph.D., is part of a large team of researchers conducting antibody testing statewide. Right, COVID-19 testing by the UAMS Northwest Regional Campus.

LITTLE ROCK — Since last year’s arrival of COVID-19, researchers at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) have received nearly $38.8 million, primarily from state and federal sources, to help combat the disease. The state of Arkansas has provided $16.9 million, or 43.4% of the funds, while federal dollars have totaled $19.2 million,…


March 4, 2021

UAMS Researchers to Test Conway Wastewater, Patients for COVID-19 Variants of Concern

David Robinson

UAMS' David Ussery, Ph.D., hopes a pilot study of genomic testing for SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater and COVID-19 patients will lead to more substantial testing across Arkansas.

University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) researchers are taking steps to identify genetic variants that make COVID-19 more contagious. Arkansas this week identified its first patient with the more infectious United Kingdom virus variant; it has yet to see other more contagious variants from South Africa and Brazil. “We previously had not found variants…



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