LITTLE ROCK — The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) has received a $1.5 million, multiyear grant from the National Cancer Institute (NCI) to create a new graduate-level certificate program focused on the commercialization of cancer-related technologies.

The UAMS Cancer and Developing Entrepreneurial Technologies (CADET) program will provide UAMS graduate and postdoctoral students with formal instruction, mentorship and hands-on experience in translating laboratory discoveries into innovations that benefit cancer patients.

“CADET bridges the critical gap between breakthrough research and real-world solutions,” said Eric C. Peterson, Ph.D., president of BioVentures, UAMS’s technology commercialization arm, which oversees the program. “By equipping students with entrepreneurial skills and an understanding of regulatory pathways, we’re accelerating the path from lab to patient and positioning Arkansas as a leader in biomedical innovation.” 

CADET is funded through an NCI R25 education and training grant, which specifically supports initiatives that promote entrepreneurship and technology transfer in cancer research. The program is recruiting up to 13 graduate and postdoctoral trainees to participate in a pilot of the year-long program set to kick off in the fall of 2026.

Students will complete a series of seminars on the fundamentals of entrepreneurship and technology development, focusing on real intellectual property generated by UAMS researchers. Working in teams, trainees will collaborate with industry mentors and experts from BioVentures to evaluate, refine and potentially license cancer-related inventions. Each team will apply their learning to develop business plans and participate in startup competitions, such as the Arkansas Governor’s Cup and the Heartland Challenge.

“The CADET program reflects UAMS’ commitment to preparing our researchers as scientists and innovators,” said Robert J. Griffin, Ph.D., vice president of small business for BioVentures and professor of radiation oncology in the UAMS College of Medicine. “This program helps ensure that the discoveries being made in cancer research and treatment advances at UAMS have a clear pathway to be developed by industry and actually reach patients and improve health outcomes.”

UAMS’ growing expertise in cancer research and technology transfer made it an ideal home for CADET.

“The Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute is deeply committed to translating research into real-world benefits for cancer patients,” said Michael Birrer, M.D., Ph.D., director of the UAMS Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute and vice chancellor of UAMS. “CADET will play a vital role in that mission by giving our scientists the tools they need to transform promising discoveries into technologies that impact patients.”

CADET students will explore a range of UAMS-developed technologies including new drug delivery systems, therapeutic antibodies, imaging tools, artificial intelligence applications and digital health platforms. The program will also encourage collaboration with other Arkansas universities.

Graduates of CADET will earn an accredited certificate that complements their existing graduate or postdoctoral studies and prepares them for careers in academic, biotechnology or the startup ecosystem.