Research Projects       Mentoring Advisory Committee       Mentoring Core Goals

Research Focus Groups are to bring together investigators with common research themes and interests, to promote informal, “friendly” critique of ongoing research activities in the PLs’ laboratories and the sharing of research techniques and instrumentation.  Another purpose of the Focus Groups is to foster collaborations beyond the specific mentor/mentee relationships.  The Focus Groups  provide a basis for professional networking within the state of Arkansas.

 Research Focus Leaders

Dr. Robert E. McGehee is the leader of the Cancer and Signaling Mechanisms Focus Group, is an expert in molecular signaling mechanisms, currently studying two gene families (homeobox transcription factors and retinoblastoma tumor suppressor gene products) potentially involved in fat-cell differentiation. 

Drs. Robert D. Skinner and Paul D. Drew share leadership of the Neuroscience Focus Group, as their own research activities reflect two major strengths in neuroscience research at UAMS: translational neuroscience and cellular and molecular neuroscience.  .

The Leader will organize three Focus Group meetings each year (minimum) at different UGIs around the state. 

Each Research Focus Group has a Seminar Series, through which experts in the research fields of specific PLs will be invited to give a seminar and visit the Research Focus Group as a whole, interacting as much as possible with all members of the group.