Background | Administration | Board of Directors
Background
The vision for the Arkansas Biosciences Institute (ABI) emerged during a statewide planning process for use of the state’s share of the 1998 nationwide tobacco settlement.
Health care leaders across the state spoke out in favor of dedicating a portion of the tobacco settlement funds to innovative research that could help reduce or prevent smoking-related illnesses.
The voters eventually endorsed the proposed Tobacco Settlement Proceeds Act of 2000 by 64 percent in a referendum in November 2000. The Arkansas General Assembly enacted the provisions of that proposal as Acts 1569 through 1580 of 2001. Part of that legislation established the Arkansas Biosciences Institute (ABI) as a consortium of five research institutions: Arkansas Children’s Hospital (ACH); Arkansas State University (ASU); the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture; the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville (UAF); and the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS). The legislation designated the president of the University of Arkansas System to chair a board of directors for the institute, with the board to include the senior executive of each member institution as well as two members to be appointed by the Governor.
ABI Administration
Alan Tackett, Ph.D.
Director, Arkansas Biosciences Institute
Distinguished Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Deputy Director, Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute
Executive Associate Dean for Basic Research, College of Medicine
Scharlau Family Endowed Chair in Cancer Research
Sonet Weed, M.S.
ABI Executive Administrator
Executive Director of Research Administration
College of Medicine
Jimie M Jarry
Program Project Manager, Arkansas Biosciences Institute
4301 W. Markham, Slot 821
Little Rock, AR 72205
501-526-6810 (tel.)
ABI Partnering Institution Directors
The ABI Partnering Institution Directors have been appointed by the five-member institutions to provide guidance for ABI scientific research.
Margaret Sova McCabe, J.D.
Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation
University of Arkansas, Fayetteville
J.F. Meullenet, Ph.D.
Senior Associate Vice President
University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture
Dan Voth, Ph.D.
Vice Chair for Research and Innovation
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
Travis Marsico, Ph.D.
Vice Provost for Research, Innovation and Discovery
Arkansas State University
Tamara T. Perry, M.D.
Interim President, Arkansas Children’s Research Institute
Arkansas Children’s Hospital
Board of Directors
The Arkansas Biosciences Institute Board, established in accordance with the Act, held its first meeting in January, 2002. The ABI Board, which provides for overall program coordination and direction, meets quarterly and reviews ABI-supported research projects.
Retired U.S. Air Force Lt. Gen. Jay B. Silveria, President
University of Arkansas System, Chair
Marcy Doderer, President and CEO
Arkansas Children’s Hospital
Tucker Patterson, Ph.D, Interim Director
National Center for Toxicological Research
Deacue Fields, Ph.D., Vice President for Agriculture
University of Arkansas System
Charles Robinson, Ph.D., Chancellor
University of Arkansas, Fayetteville
C. Lowry Barnes, M.D., Chancellor
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
Robin Myers, Ph.D., Interim President
Arkansas State University System
