By Sherry F. Pruitt

JONESBORO -- Some of the work being done in the Arkansas State University Biosciences Institute is anticipated to ripple into the community, to the business sector in particular.

Dr. David N. Radin, director of program development and innovation in the Office of Research and Technology Transfer, pointed out that ABI-related activities and business opportunities will overlap into the community. But more than that, opportunities are expected to stretch across a number of fields and into a variety of business and entrepreneurial ventures.

Long-term visions of the ASU-Jonesboro facility are to "ratchet up activity of the university in community and state economic development," Radin said. "What it means is new businesses and new economic development opportunities related to the new businesses, new jobs -- knowledge-based and technology-based."

Radin emphasized that businesses can be created in the fields of education, child care, fine arts, heritage studies and graphic arts, in addition to biotechnology areas.

"Business is being developed across the board," Radin said. "Research encourages more research. ... There are a lot of activities that could be enhanced if you develop a business piece to that angle. They develop services or products that can be sold or offered."

For example, Radin is a partner in a business with his wife, Dr. Carole Cramer, executive director of the ABI in Jonesboro. The company, Biodefense Technologies, is a business that was established in another state, but is in the process of being registered in Arkansas.

"We want to reactivate that company here ... and look for Small Business Innovative Research grants," Cramer said.

Biodefense Technologies' focus is developing vaccines and other preventive responses to defense threats, such as plagues and anthrax, the scientist said.

One of the first actions that Radin and his partner took on was to write a Small Business Innovative Research grant designed to support a spin off company, licensing, patenting and commercializing the product, he said.

Feasibility studies and intellectual properties also are included, Cramer added.

Although work at the university does not belong to the faculty scientists, there is normally a system in which scientists are rewarded for their work, Radin explained. When faculty members are successful, success tends to mushroom over to the community.

Cramer said that activities at institutions similar to ABI are generally long-term developments. However, before any of those outreaches can occur, an infrastructure -- including researching, identifying various parts and commercializing a product -- must be completely developed to support such activities, she said.

Taking advantage of that potential is the mission of the office of Research and Technology Transfer.

"We can't do it in the confines of the university," he said. "It has to be a community effort."

Radin pointed out that the services of lawyers, business leaders, specialists and financial supporters all are parts of the equation if new businesses are to spin off from ABI initiatives.

Universities and the business sector work together for the good of the community, he said.

Eventually when a business grows, potential companies will be able to hire employees -- ASU-educated residents -- for high technology jobs for the next generation. And available jobs could dissuade Northeast Arkansas residents from relocating to other states to find the jobs for which they are trained, Radin said.

Beginning with biotechnology, Arkansas Biosciences wants to duplicate the business spin-off process over the entire ASU campus, he said.

"If Jonesboro doesn't do this, it will be out of that game completely," Radin said.

In addition to business leaders willing to support a company or to partner with a scientist, faculty members will continue to look for grants or gifts to further their research and activities.

Radin added that the biotechnology sector at ASU-Jonesboro would like to develop a center in the community, such as a research park or a business incubator dedicated to advancing such activities.

sherry@jonesborosun.com