Sherry F. Pruitt

Sun Staff Writer

JONESBORO -- When words such as phenomenal and enthusiasm are used to describe the Arkansas Biosciences Institute on the ARKANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY campus and the faculty and their work inside, there's no doubt the facility will one day be one of the state's leading research institutes.

The ABI is well on its way, and visitors were on campus Monday to take notice. A meeting of the Arkansas Biosciences Institute board of directors was held on the ARKANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY campus Monday.

Monday was the first time many members of the statewide, 7-person board and the ABI director have been to A-State's ABI, said the executive director of the facility, Dr. Carole Cramer.

"It was the first time the majority toured the ABI building, and [the visit] was extremely important to us," she said.

In addition to the directors, additional visitors included Coordinating Committee members for a total of some two dozen visitors. And according to Cramer, the ABI visitors liked what they saw on the Jonesboro campus.

"They were extremely impressed," Cramer said. "There was lots of enthusiasm. Many had no idea how far ABI at ASU has come."

On the 45- to 60-minute tour, ABI researchers were on hand to display their capabilities, facilities and projects.

The tour was designed to "highlight exciting research at the interface of agriculture, medicine and the environment, as well as education outreach programs and plans for enhancing the economic development impacts of ABI," according to information provided by university officials.

The board and committee members also were informed about the impact on undergraduates and graduate students and the institute's involvement in outreach programs, Cramer said.

The focus of the meeting was on entrepreneurism.

"This meeting will highlight ASU-ABI's emerging efforts in entrepreneurism," according to Cramer in information provided by ASU. "One of the mandates of the statewide ABI legislation is to enhance economic development and ensure that ABI research translates to application that enhance the health and well being of Arkansans."

Cramer's presentation showcased new high-tech companies and technologies developed by ABI researchers and introduced plans to develop an ABI business incubator.

"We want to make sure the discoveries become products and services that can make a difference ...," she explained. "ASU is using an entrepreneural approach" to include "a technology-based small business incubator."

Another agenda item for the board at the Monday meeting was to name a new ABI director. Dr. Bobby McGehee replaced Dr. Larry Cornett.

McGehee is the dean of the University of Arkansas Medical Sciences Graduate School and will be the third director of the 6-year-old, statewide ABI program.

The board is required to meet quarterly, McGehee said by phone Tuesday. And Monday was the first time for some of the board members to visit the Northeast Arkansas ABI facility.

"Across the board, everyone was blown away. It's phenomenal what they're doing," he said.

The "state-of-the-art, incredibly designed multi-research" facility is faring well under the direction of Dr. Cramer and ASU System President Dr. Les Wyatt, McGehee said.

Although McGehee said he has been aware of some of the collaborations between ASU ABI faculty and researchers from the other ABI institutions, he did not realize the "degree and the scope" at ASU until he saw it firsthand.

In addition to Cramer's presentation, four companies make presentation, he said.

A couple of the companies "were exceptional" and had "short-order" projects in line, which is often difficult because finding a niche and market and moving forward is time consuming.

While McGehee keeps up with the activities on the Arkansas State campus with regular reports from Cramer, it is difficult to understand and appreciate until "you see it, touch it and feel it," he stated. "We got a great hands-on yesterday."

The ABI system sponsors an annual research symposium, he said, and although it's too late for this fall, a symposium will be held at ASU-Jonesboro at some point, the new director said.

Such an event includes faculty and researchers from all five institutions who are sponsored by ABI funding. The event also features an "outstanding keynote speaker."

"All five [institutes] do different things, but there are strong, common threads throughout the programs," McGehee said.

As the director, he said he knows what takes place at the other ABIs, but expects to visit A-State's ABI regularly.

sherry@jonesborosun.com