HJAR Sep/Oct 2019

HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF ARKANSAS I  SEP / OCT 2019 27 For weekly eNews updates and to read the journal online, visit HealthcareJournalAR.com as associate provost for our Northwest Regional Campus,” said Stephanie Gardner, PharmD, EdD, UAMS provost and chief strategy officer. Gandy completed undergraduate training in entomology at the University of Arkansas at Fay- etteville in 1976. In 1982, he received a master’s degree studying neurotoxicology from the Uni- versity of California, Davis, and in 1985 he earned a doctoral degree in toxicology from the Univer- sity of California, Riverside. His research inter- ests include pesticide toxicology and reproduc- tive toxicology. He has served on numerous EPA expert panels and review panels, and is a past science advisory board member to the FDA’s National Center for Toxicological Research. “I am a native Arkansan and have spent 34 years with UAMS and care deeply for UAMS and for the state of Arkansas,” Gandy said. “I am honored to be selected as associate provost at the UAMS Northwest Regional Campus. This is the fastest- growing region in the state, and I am energized by the opportunities that UAMS has to grow right along with the population.” NIHAwards Five-Year, $24.2 Million Grant to UAMS Translational Research Institute The University of Arkansas for Medical Sci- ences (UAMS) Translational Research Insti- tute announced it will receive five years of fed- eral funding totaling $24.2 million to accelerate research that addresses Arkansas’ biggest health challenges. The Translational Research Institute helps researchers turn their ideas and findings into new medical treatments and other health interven- tions. Its focus is on rural Arkansas populations, where health and health care disparities persist. A major emphasis of the award is research partner- ships with Arkansas communities to ensure that research supported by the institute aligns with the priorities and needs of Arkansans. “This funding recognizes the outstanding research occurring right here in Arkansas,” said U.S. Senator John Boozman. “It will help UAMS researchers build on their successes and develop new therapies and medical procedures that will improve lives in Arkansas and beyond. I was pleased to support the efforts of UAMS to secure this funding, but this award truly is a testament to the body of work produced by UAMS. Arkansans can be proud of all UAMS has accomplished and its bright future that lies ahead.” The new funding, called a Clinical and Trans- lational Science Award (CTSA), comes from the National Center for Advancing Translational Sci- ences (NCATS), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). UAMS is one of more than 50 CTSA Program sites in the United States. The institute first received CTSA funding in 2009. “Competition for these awards is fierce, so having a CTSA means we’ve shown UAMS to be among the country’s leading research inno- vators,” said UAMS Chancellor Cam Patterson, M.D., MBA. “For Arkansans, this award is signifi- cant because it will translate to improved health and healthcare. The university also thanks Sen. Boozman for his important help in achieving this result.” The CTSA award includes a main grant and two training grants. Laura James, MD, is the principal investigator on the primary Translational Research Institute grant, which totals $20.6 million, and pro- vides research infrastructure and oversite for the entire CTSA program. “A CTSA is among the most significant NIH awards an institution can receive,” said James, also institute director and UAMS associate vice chancellor for clinical and translational research. “We are thrilled over this award because it rep- resents the collective effort of numerous faculty members working across diverse research pro- grams. This award demonstrates the synergy and strengths of research talents at UAMS. In addi- tion, the CTSA will harmonize our efforts as health care providers and researchers to improve the health outcomes of Arkansans through research innovations.” “We are also very proud that this opportunity allows us to work closer with our partner insti- tutions, Arkansas Children’s Hospital (ACH), Arkansas Children’s Research Institute (ACRI) and Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare Sys- tem (CAVHS), as well as the UAMS Northwest Regional Campus, to expand the impact of research throughout the state,” James said. The institute is supporting novel research that addresses significant health issues in Arkansas, such as opioids and pain management, diabetes and obesity, mental health, and rare diseases. It is also expanding opportunities for UAMS research- ers to participate in multisite clinical trials, includ- ing cross-CTSA research opportunities. “The Translational Research Institute has cre- ated a collaborative cross-campus and cross- CTSA environment that enables our researchers to thrive,” said Shuk-Mei Ho, PhD, UAMS vice chancellor for research. “The funding is impor- tant, and the prestige of being part of the CTSA Program helps us recruit the best researchers nationally.” The two other grants that are part of the award include the Institutional Career Development Core grant totaling $2.3 million, led by Mary Aitken, MD, and Brooks Gentry, MD; and the National Research Service Award Training Core, $1.3 million, led by Nancy Rusch, PhD. MarkWilliams, PhD, Named Dean of the UAMS FayW. Boozman College of Public Health Mark Williams, PhD, has been named dean of the Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS). He succeeds founding Dean Jim Raczynski, PhD, who stepped down Dec. 31. Jay Gandy, PhD, professor and chair of the Environmen- tal and Occupational Health Department, had served as interim dean. “On the anniversary of the College of Public Health’s July 1, 2001 establishment, it is fitting to welcome Dr. Williams to lead the college that in not quite 20 years has created such momentum around public health approaches to address our state’s health needs,” said Stephanie Gardner, PharmD, EdD, provost and chief strategy officer. Jay Gandy, PhD