The University of Arkansas at Fort Smith and the Arkansas Colleges of Health Education, also in Fort Smith, have signed a memorandum of understanding to collaboratively pursue research efforts.
The agreement will take effect July 1, according to a news release.
UAFS says the two will collaborate on projects housed in its College of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics and on projects being planned for the Arkansas College of Osteopathic Medicine at ACHE.
The projects include combining nanomaterials with biological molecules for medical purposes and studying the potential of different chemotherapeutic drugs, UAFS said.
UAFS faculty members who will be involved include Brandy Ree, assistant professor of biological science; Jen Jamison, assistant professor of chemistry; and David McClellan, professor and department head of biological sciences.
ACHE faculty are Lance Bridges, chair of biochemistry, cellular and molecular biology; and Ross Longley, associate dean of biological sciences and research.
Paul B. Beran, UAFS chancellor, said, “The other part of the memorandum that is signifcant is developing the relationship between our two sets of faculty…so that we have a working relationship and are able to maximize that working relationship to the benefit of students because we’ve had a fairly good track record over the last three or four years of having students accepted into a variety of professional schools, the medical school being one of them.”
He also said the collaboration would result in high-end, high-tech research and make projects both sets of faculty are working on together more attractive to grant providers, particularily the federal government.
Ron Darbeau, dean of the College of STEM, said in a news release that this marks the beginning of further collaboration that could include students touring the ACHE campus, using its facilities and being mentored for postgraduate education. Beran hinted at the same benefits, adding that the two schools being in the same city afforded a great opporunity for students.
Darbeau also said in the release that the partnership would help both campuses prepare students for medical school, help ACHE recruit students and enhance the educational experience of students.
Beran said in the news release, “It’s important for UAFS and ACHE to partner to improve the health and well-being of our residents, whether it be through research or exploring ways to further prepare our students for post-graduate success.”
Kenneth Heiles, vice president and chief academic officer of ACHE, said in the news release that the two and ACHE’s College of Osteopathic Medicine are “in a unique position to collaborate and promote each other’s missions through appropriate cooperation and the shared values of service to Arkansas through growing higher education and increasing opportunity for health care.”
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