This month’s TRIbune newsletter highlights former KL2 Research Career Development scholar Taren Swindle, Ph.D., and TRI’s preparations for the next cohort of KL2s. Information sessions are being held in advance of the 2022 Request for Applications, which will be released in November.  

We also announce our rural-research themed TRI pilot awardees and our Study of the Month, which highlights a TRI-supported study. This month we feature Michael Wilson, M.D., Ph.D., who is the site principal investigator for the METH-OD clinical trial.

This month’s issue also includes 11 publications that cite TRI for its support.

Read The TRIbune.

The first summer writing challenge sponsored by the Translational Research Institute (TRI) revealed that UAMS researchers enjoy a friendly competition.

TRI celebrated the end of its inaugural 91-Day Writing Challenge on Sept. 1.

“We had 173 submissions, almost two per day, which is pretty phenomenal,” said TRI Director Laura James, M.D., who led the outdoor event for the seven winning writers.

Eligible Writing Challenge participants included all researchers who have used TRI’s services or resources to aid their projects.

James, assisted by College of Medicine Dean Susan Smyth, M.D., Ph.D., announced the winning writers as the temperature was climbing toward 100 degrees for the first time in three years. Fortunately, a Loblolly Ice Cream truck was just steps away and helped the 25 UAMS Little Rock attendees survive the heat.

Don Willis, Ph.D., an assistant professor, had the highest number of manuscript submissions – 10 – with three primary authorships and seven co-authorships. He won the Astounding Apprentice Award: Most Publications for the Rank of Assistant Professor/Instructor.

Based at the UAMS Northwest Regional Campus, Willis said the competition was a good complement to a strong culture of manuscript writing at the Office of Community Health and Research at the UAMS Northwest Regional Campus.

In fact, four of the seven Writing Challenge winners are part of the Office of Community Health and Research, led by Pearl McElfish, Ph.D., MBA, the outgoing vice chancellor for UAMS Northwest, and director of the TRI Special Populations Core, and associate director of Community Outreach and Engagement at the UAMS Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute.

“I didn’t do this alone,” said Willis, who attended the ceremony remotely via Facebook with McElfish and others. “We have an incredible team that provides a lot of support for one another, which makes it possible to submit and publish at the rate we have.” 

Summer is a great time to write, he said, and this year was busier than ever with a flood of research data pouring in at the right time.  

“I enjoy writing in the summertime on my back porch and front porch,” he said.

As institutional awards, the Writing Challenge awards can be used in UAMS promotion and tenure applications, James announced at the celebration.

Other Writing Challenge winners are:

• Jennifer Vincenzo, Ph.D., PT, MPH, associate professor, UAMS Northwest Regional Campus, Office of Community Health and Research
  Wise Wordsmith Award: Most publications for the rank of associate professor for eight publications (two primary authorships and six co-authorships)

• Nahed El-Hassan, M.D., professor, College of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics
  Sage Scribe Award (tie): Most publications for the rank of professor for five publications (three primary authorships and two co-authorships)

• Holly Felix, Ph.D., MPA, professor, UAMS Northwest Regional Campus, Office of Community Health and Research
  Sage Scribe Award (tie): Most publications for the rank of professor for five publications (five co-authorships)

• Nishank Jain, M.D., assistant professor, College of Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine,
  Best Representation of Applied Data Sciences
  
• Sara Landes, Ph.D., associate professor, College of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry; Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System
  Best Representation of Implementation Science
  
• Jennifer Andersen, Ph.D., assistant professor, UAMS Northwest Regional Campus, Office of Community Health and Research
  Most Reflective of Community Engagement & Partnerships

The celebration also included prize drawings for all those who competed. Winners are:

Emily Hallgren, Ph.D., $25 gift certificate to UAMS Nutritional Services

Kristie Hadden, Ph.D., $25 gift certificate to UAMS Nutritional Services

Kate Stewart, M.D., MPH, $25 gift certificate to UAMS Nutritional Services

Pearl McElfish, Ph.D., MBA, TRI staff will facilitate submission of one manuscript of her choosing

Jennifer Vincenzo, Ph.D., Free statistical consultation for study planning purposes

Rosemary Nabaweesi, Dr.P.H., M.B.Ch.B., One manuscript submission fee to be funded by TRI

In this issue of The TRIbune, we highlight the new “Going Digital” webinar series for researchers, which begins Sept. 17. This 3-part series is designed for all researchers, especially those who have questions about how to incorporate some of the latest technologies into their studies.

You’ll also read about TRI’s two new data scholars, Melanie MacNicol, Ph.D., and Michail Mavros, M.D. Our Study of the Month highlights a digital health research project led by Tuhin Virmani, M.D., Ph.D., and supported by the UAMS Rural Research Network. We also have the latest UAMS researchers’ journal publications citing TRI for its resources and support.  Read The TRIbune.

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 differences across populations. UAMS researchers released their findings this week to a public database, medRxiv (med archive).

The study included analysis of more than 7,500 blood samples from children and adults across the state. It was conducted in three waves from July to December 2020. The work was supported by $3.3 million in federal coronavirus aid that was then allocated by the Arkansas Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act Steering Committee created by Gov. Asa Hutchinson.

Unlike diagnostic tests, COVID-19 antibody testing looks back into the immune system’s history. A positive antibody test means the person was exposed to the virus and developed antibodies against SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes the disease known as COVID-19.

“An important finding of the study is the significant differences in COVID-19 antibody rates detected within specific groups,” said Laura James, M.D., the study’s principal investigator and director of the UAMS Translational Research Institute.

Hispanic populations were almost 19 times more likely to have SARS-CoV-2 antibodies than whites, and Blacks were five times more likely to have antibodies as whites during the course of the study.

The findings highlight the need to understand factors that impact SARS-CoV-2 infection, she added.

The UAMS team collected blood samples from children and adults. The first wave (July/August 2020), revealed low rates for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies, averaging 2.6% in adults. However, by November/December, 7.4% of adult samples were positive.

Blood samples were collected from individuals seen at medical clinics for non-COVID reasons and who were not known to have had COVID-19 infection. The antibody positivity rates reflected cases of COVID-19 in the general population.

While the overall positivity rate in late December was relatively low, the findings are important because they indicate previously unrecognized COVID-19 infections, said UAMS’ Josh Kennedy, M.D., a pediatric allergist and immunologist who helped lead the study.

“Our findings underscore the need for everyone to get vaccinated as soon as they can,” Kennedy said. “Very few people in the state have immunity from a natural infection, so vaccination is key for getting Arkansas out the pandemic.”

The team found little difference in antibody rates between rural and urban residents, which surprised researchers who thought rural residents might be less exposed.

The antibody test was developed by UAMS’ Karl Boehme, Ph.D., Craig Forrest, Ph.D., and Kennedy. Boehme and Forrest are associate professors in the College of Medicine Department of Microbiology and Immunology.

The UAMS Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health helped identify study participants through their contact tracing call center. In addition, samples were obtained from UAMS Regional Program sites across Arkansas, the Arkansas Federation for Medical Care and the Arkansas Department of Health.

Faculty within the College of Public Health and College of Medicine participated in the epidemiologic and statistical evaluation of the data and included College of Public Health Dean Mark Williams, Ph.D., Benjamin Amick, Ph.D., and Wendy Nembhard, Ph.D., as well as Ruofei Du, Ph.D. and Jing Jin, MPH.

The study represents a major collaboration for UAMS, including the Translational Research Institute, Regional Programs, the Rural Research Network, the College of Public Health, the Department of Biostatistics in the College of Medicine, UAMS Northwest Regional Campus, Arkansas Children’s, the Arkansas Department of Health and Arkansas Foundation for Medical Care.

The Translational Research Institute is supported by grant TL1 TR003109 through the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences of the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

The UAMS Translational Research Institute (TRI) is excited to release its 2021 Annual Report, a celebration of translational research achievements at UAMS and our partner institutions.

As you read this report, we hope the message is clear: Translational research is thriving here!

The arrival of COVID-19 put research in the spotlight, and UAMS research faculty and staff responded valiantly. Thanks to our Clinical and Translational Science Award and institutional support, TRI has played both leading and supporting roles.

This report also covers the many ways TRI is working to help UAMS-affiliated researchers, and it includes some great success stories!  View it here.

The UAMS Translational Research Institute (TRI ) recently announced its 2021 Team Science Voucher Program recipients for 2021. The voucher program aims to increase the quantity, quality and effectiveness of cross-disciplinary research at UAMS. Awards of up to $20,000 went to five UAMS teams.

The vouchers will help the teams generate key data and increase their projects’ translational potential. TRI will also provide resources and mentoring as needed to facilitate the teams’ implementation of team science.

The principal investigators, team members and project titles are:

Akilah Jefferson, M.D., Assistant Professor, College of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics; “Association of Quality Metrics and Adverse Outcomes for Children with Asthma”

Team members: Clare Brown, Ph.D., MPH, Arina Eyimina, M.A., Anthony Goudie, Ph.D., Tamara Perry, M.D., Mandana Rezaeiahari, Ph.D., and Mick Tilford, Ph.D.

Erika Petersen, M.D., Professor, College of Medicine, Department of Neurosurgery; “Gamified Quantification of Normal and Pathological Movement Using 2D and Virtual Reality Interfaces and Haptic Sensing for Therapeutic Efficacy and Disease Progression in Movement Disorders”

Team members: Tuhin Virmani, M.D., Ph.D., Joseph Sanford, M.D.

Analiz Rodriguez, M.D., Ph.D., Assistant Professor, College of Medicine, Department of Neurosurgery; “Immunotherapy for Melanoma Brain Metastases”

Team member: Alan Tackett, Ph.D. 

Rachel Slotcavage, M.D., Assistant Professor, College of Medicine, Department of Surgery; “Evaluation of Neurocognitive Dysfunction in Primary Hyperparathyroidism”

Team member: Neil M. Masangkay, M.D.

Christopher Walter, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, College of Health Professions; “Physical Therapy Team Science to Address Movement Deficits in the Marshallese Community” Team members: Don Willis, Ph.D., and Holly Felix, Ph.D.

The UAMS Translational Research Institute (TRI) recently announced three recipients of pilot research grants that will support projects benefiting rural populations. 

The awardees, who will receive up to $50,000 each for their one-year projects, are:

David Church, Ph.D., Instructor, College of Medicine, Department of Geriatrics; “A Novel Method of Identifying Anabolic Resistance: Oral Amino Acid Tolerance Test (OATT)”

Rohit Dhall, M.D., Professor, College of Medicine, Department of Neurology; “Developing a Digital Resource Library for Arkansans with Parkinson Disease”

Manisha Singh, M.D., Associate Professor, College of Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine; “Pragmatic Approach to Chronic Kidney Disease Education in the Delta”

The UAMS Translational Research Institute (TRI) recently named two UAMS faculty as Data Scholars for 2021. The TRI Data Scholars Program supports UAMS faculty in learning and applying the principles and methods of data analytics and data sciences to inform clinical practice and policy. Scholars will pursue formal course work in addition to receiving mentoring during their science-focused research project.

The scholars and their project titles are:

Melanie MacNicol, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, College of Medicine, Department of Neurobiology and Developmental Sciences; “A Multidisciplinary Approach to Identify the Role and Regulation of Pituitary Function in Mediating Appropriate Responses to Metabolic Signals”

Michail Mavros, M.D., Assistant Professor, College of Medicine, Department of Surgical Oncology; “Extended Venous Thromboembolism Prophylaxis in Cancer Patients Undergoing Abdominal Surgery: Clinical Outcomes and Barriers to Implementation”

TRI data scholars receive 20% salary support, reimbursement for tuition and fees up to $5,000 per year, and mentoring support.

In this issue of The TRIbune, we look back at the significant collaborative effort to conduct a statewide antibody test for SARS-CoV-2. The study began with a phone call to Josh Kennedy, M.D., from the Arkansas Department of Health and quickly evolved into a major project.

Results of the seroprevalence study were published this week in the public database medRxiv (med archive).

We also name our newest Health Sciences Innovation and Entrepreneurship (HSIE) Postdoctoral Training Program scholars as well as the 2021 TRI Career Development Scholars Program recipients. 

Our TRI Study of the Month features Johnathan Goree, M.D.

Read The TRIbune.

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 making community connections and developing procedures to help researchers conduct their studies in rural communities. She will also help implement new studies and monitor ongoing research at the eight Regional Campuses overseen by UAMS Regional Programs.

Johnson-Wells joined UAMS from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, where she held research administration and management positions in clinical research and community outreach.

Johnson-Wells received her Bachelor of Business Administration in management at Northwood University in Cedar Hill, Texas, and a Master of Liberal Studies degree in environmental sustainability and global studies at Southern Methodist University in Dallas. She is now in the final year of a doctoral program in organizational leadership at the Chicago School of Professional Psychology. 

The RRN is supported by a partnership that includes the UAMS Translational Research Institute, Regional Programs, UAMS Office of Community Health and Research and UAMS Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute.

The Translational Research Institute is supported by a Clinical and Translational Science Award from the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences at the National Institutes of Health.