Opportunity Overview
The Arkansas INBRE Developmental Research Project Program (DRPP), FY2027 Faculty Mentored Research Program: Research Project and Pilot Project Awards supports biomedical research led by eligible faculty at Arkansas Primarily Undergraduate Institutions (PUIs), with required undergraduate student participation.
Funding and Deadline
Research Projects anticipate eight awards and may request up to $125,000 in direct costs per year for up to two years, with institutional F&A added at the negotiated rate. Pilot Projects anticipate six awards and may request up to $50,000 in direct costs for up to 12 months, with F&A additional. Applications are due October 5, 2026 at 5:00 PM CT. Research Project funding is scheduled for May 1, 2027 through April 30, 2029; Pilot Project funding is scheduled for May 1, 2027 through April 30, 2028.
Eligible Applicants
Eligible applicants are full-time permanent faculty with an unmodified title at the rank of Assistant Professor or higher at eligible Arkansas PUIs. Investigators at UAMS and the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville are not eligible to apply. Faculty may apply for either a Research Project or a Pilot Project, but not both at the same time. Research Projects require at least two undergraduate students and 50% annual effort (six person-months); Pilot Projects require at least one undergraduate student and 25% annual effort (three person-months).
Mandatory Conditions and Submission
Arkansas INBRE requires applicants to have attended its grant-writing workshop before submission and requires a mentor from UAMS or the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville. Human-subject or animal work requires applicable IRB/IACUC documentation. The institutional signing official must submit the complete application as a single PDF by email to INBREApplication@uams.edu. Required materials include NIH-style face and budget pages, biosketches, resources and major equipment, research plan, institutional support letter, mentor support letter, other support, and applicable human-subject, animal, resource-sharing, authentication, and compliance materials.
Allowable Costs
Allowable direct costs include personnel, equipment, supplies, travel, and other justified project costs. Equipment therefore can be budgeted when it is necessary and well justified for the proposed biomedical research.
Atlas Fit Analysis
Atlas Opportunity Score: 82/100. This is a strong Arkansas-specific biomedical research opportunity with meaningful direct-cost support and equipment allowability, but applicant eligibility, substantial faculty effort, undergraduate participation, mentor requirements, and prior workshop attendance narrow the actionable pool. N9+ Fit Score: 25/100, conditional. The Nonagon N9+ should not be inserted generically. It could be legitimate as research equipment or a study platform only when an eligible investigator’s biomedical aims specifically require guided physical examination, vitals, telehealth-enabled encounters, or validation of digital-health workflows.
Potential Arkansas Applicants
Arkansas INBRE lists participating PUIs including Arkansas State University, Arkansas Tech University, Central Baptist College, Harding University, Hendrix College, John Brown University, Lyon College, Ouachita Baptist University, Philander Smith University, Southern Arkansas University, the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith, UA Little Rock, UA Monticello, UA Pine Bluff, the University of Central Arkansas, and the University of the Ozarks. Actual applicant eligibility must be confirmed at the individual faculty level.
Direct Dr. Miltie Review
Dr. Miltie, LLC is not an eligible direct applicant because the award is restricted to eligible Arkansas PUI faculty. A limited vendor or research-collaboration role could be considered only where the investigator’s research plan legitimately requires the N9+ or another Dr. Miltie capability and the institution’s procurement and grant rules permit it.
Contacts
Program and mentor assistance: Dr. Jerry Ware, 501-526-6096, JWare@uams.edu. PUI faculty liaison: Dr. Samantha Kendrick, 501-686-5823, skendrick@uams.edu. Forms and budget assistance: Caroline Miller Robinson, 501-526-6503, millerrobinsoncarolinee@uams.edu.
Official Source
Arkansas INBRE Developmental Research Project Program FY2027 FOAs