(a) It is the intent of this chapter to hereby establish the Arkansas Biosciences Institute for the educational and research purposes set forth hereinafter to encourage and foster the conduct of research through the University of Arkansas, Division of Agriculture of the University of Arkansas, the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, University of Arkansas at Fayetteville, Arkansas Children's Hospital and Arkansas State University. The Arkansas Biosciences Institute is part of a broad program to address health issues with specific emphasis on smoking and the use of tobacco products. The Arkansas Biosciences Institute is intended to develop more fully the interdisciplinary opportunities for research primarily in the areas set forth hereinafter.
(b) Purposes. The Arkansas Biosciences Institute is established for the following purposes:
(1) to conduct agricultural research with medical implications;
(2) to conduct bioengineering research focused on the expansion of genetic knowledge and new potential applications in the agricultural-medical fields;
(3) to conduct tobacco-related research that focuses on the identification and applications of behavioral, diagnostic and therapeutic research addressing the high level of tobacco-related illnesses in the State of Arkansas;
(4) to conduct nutritional and other research focusing on prevention or treatment of cancer, congenital or hereditary conditions or other related conditions; and
(5) to conduct other research identified by the primary educational and research institutions involved in the Arkansas Biosciences Institute or as otherwise identified by the Arkansas Biosciences Institute Board of the Arkansas Biosciences Institute and which is reasonably related, or complementary to, research identified in subdivisions (b)(1)-(4) of this section.
(c)
(1) Arkansas Biosciences Institute Board. There is hereby established the Arkansas Biosciences Institute Board which shall consist of the following: the President of the University of Arkansas; the President of Arkansas State University; the Chancellor of the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences; the Chancellor of the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville; the Vice President for Agriculture of the University of Arkansas; the Director of the Arkansas Economic Development Commission; the Director of the National Center for Toxicological Research; the President of Arkansas Children's Hospital; and two (2) individuals possessing recognized scientific, academic or business qualifications appointed by the Governor. The two (2) members of the Arkansas Biosciences Institute Board who are appointed by the Governor will serve four-year terms and are limited to serving two (2) consecutive four-year terms. The terms shall commence on October 1 of each year. These members appointed by the Governor are not entitled to compensation for their services, but may receive expense reimbursement in accordance with § 25-16-902, to be paid from funds appropriated for this program. The Arkansas Biosciences Institute Board shall establish and appoint the members of an Industry Advisory Committee and a Science Advisory Committee composed of knowledgeable persons in the fields of industry and science. These Committees shall serve as resources for the Arkansas Biosciences Institute Board in their respective areas and will provide an avenue of communication to the Arkansas Biosciences Institute Board on areas of potential research.
(2) The Arkansas Biosciences Institute Board shall establish rules for governance for Board affairs and shall:
(A) provide overall coordination of the program;
(B) develop procedures for recruitment and supervision of member institution research review panels, the membership of which shall vary depending on the subject matter of proposals and review requirements, and may, in order to avoid conflicts of interest and to ensure access to qualified reviews, recommend reviewers not only from Arkansas but also from outside the state;
(C) provide for systematic dissemination of research results to the public and the healthcare community, including work to produce public service advertising on screening and research results, and provide for mechanisms to disseminate the most current research findings in the areas of cause and prevention, cure diagnosis and treatment of tobacco related illnesses, in order that these findings may be applied to the planning, implementation and evaluation of any other research programs of this state;
(D) develop policies and procedures to facilitate the translation of research results into commercial, alternate technological, and other applications wherever appropriate and consistent with state and federal law; and
(E) transmit on or before the end of each calendar year on an annual basis, a report to the General Assembly and the Governor on grants made, grants in progress, program accomplishments, and future program directions. Each report shall include, but not be limited to, all of the following information:
(i) the number and dollar amounts of internal and external research grants, including the amount allocated to negotiated indirect costs;
(ii) the subject of research grants;
(iii) the relationship between federal and state funding for research;
(iv) the relationship between each project and the overall strategy of the research program;
(v) a summary of research findings, including discussion of promising new areas; and
(vi) the corporations, institutions, and campuses receiving grant awards.
(d) Director. The director of the Arkansas Biosciences Institute shall be appointed by the President of the University of Arkansas, in consultation with the President of Arkansas State University, and the President of Arkansas Children's Hospital, and based upon the advice and recommendation of the Arkansas Biosciences Institute Board. The Director shall be an employee of the University of Arkansas and shall serve at the pleasure of the President of the University of Arkansas. The Director shall be responsible for recommending policies and procedures to the Arkansas Biosciences Institute Board for its internal operation and shall establish and ensure methods of communication among the units and divisions of the University of Arkansas, Arkansas Children's Hospital and Arkansas State University and their faculty and employees engaged in research under the auspices of the Arkansas Biosciences Institute. The Director shall undertake such administrative duties as may be necessary to facilitate conduct of research under the auspices of the Arkansas Biosciences Institute. The Director shall perform such other duties as are established by the President of the University of Arkansas in consultation with the President of Arkansas State University, the President of Arkansas Children's Hospital and with the input of the Arkansas Biosciences Institute Board.
(e) Conduct of Research. Research performed under the auspices of the Arkansas Biosciences Institute shall be conducted in accordance with the policies of the University of Arkansas, Arkansas Children's Hospital, and Arkansas State University, as applicable. The Arkansas Biosciences Institute Board and the Director shall facilitate the establishment of centers to focus on research in agri-medicine, environmental biotechnology, medical genetics, bio-engineering and industry development. Such centers shall be established in accordance with procedures adopted by the Arkansas Biosciences Institute Board, and shall provide for interdisciplinary collaborative efforts with a specific research and educational objectives.
(f) In determining research projects and areas to be supported from such appropriated funds, each of the respective institutions shall assure that adequate opportunities are given to faculty and other researchers to submit proposals for projects to be supported in whole or in part from such funds. At least annually the Arkansas Biosciences Institute Board shall review research being conducted under the auspices of the Arkansas Biosciences Institute and may make recommendations to the President of the University of Arkansas and the President of Arkansas State University and President of Arkansas Children's Hospital of ways in which such research funds may be more efficiently employed or of collaborative efforts which would maximize the utilization of available funds.
(g) The programs described in this section shall be administered pursuant to a strategic plan encompassing the elements of a mission statement, defined program(s), and program goals with measurable objectives and strategies to be implemented over a specific timeframe. Evaluation of each program shall include performance based measures for accountability which will measure specific health related results.
(h) Each of the programs adopted pursuant to this Section shall be subject to the monitoring and evaluation procedures described in § 19-12-118.