The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) has received a $1.5 million, multiyear grant from the National Cancer Institute (NCI) to create a new graduate-level certificate program focused on the commercialization of cancer-related technologies.
The UAMS Cancer and Developing Entrepreneurial Technologies (CADET) program will provide UAMS graduate and postdoctoral students with formal instruction, mentorship, and hands-on experience in translating laboratory discoveries into innovations that benefit cancer patients.
CADET is funded through an NCI R25 education and training grant, which specifically supports initiatives that promote entrepreneurship and technology transfer in cancer research. The program is recruiting up to 13 graduate and postdoctoral trainees to participate in a pilot of the year-long program set to kick off in the fall of 2026.
Students will complete a series of seminars on the fundamentals of entrepreneurship and technology development, focusing on real intellectual property generated by UAMS researchers. Working in teams, trainees will collaborate with industry mentors and experts from BioVentures to evaluate, refine and potentially license cancer-related inventions. Each team will apply their learning to develop business plans and participate in startup competitions, such as the Arkansas Governor’s Cup and the Heartland Challenge.
Graduates of CADET will earn an accredited certificate that complements their existing graduate or postdoctoral studies and prepares them for careers in academic, biotechnology or the startup ecosystem.