UAFS Receives First National Institutes of Health Grant

The University of Arkansas at Fort Smith will use the new funding to acquire advanced laboratory research equipment.

Updated on Oct. 26, 2026 in Financial Aid

Isometric editorial illustration of a stainless steel laboratory research instrument on a clean bench, representing new academic research funding. — The University of Arkansas at Fort Smith received a $132,000 grant from the National Institutes of Health to purchase advanced respirometry research equipment. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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The University of Arkansas at Fort Smith has secured its first grant from the National Institutes of Health, totaling $132,000. These funds will allow the university to purchase a Sable Systems Respirometry System for student and faculty research.

Why it matters

This award marks a significant milestone for the institution in expanding undergraduate research capabilities. Faculty plan to use the new instrumentation to investigate biological topics such as microplastics and invasive parasites.

The university received $132,000 in funding and has committed an additional $4,500 over three years to cover equipment maintenance. The Sable Systems Respirometry System will measure oxygen, carbon dioxide, methane, and water loss in living organisms.

The players

University of Arkansas at Fort Smith

This is a public university located in Fort Smith that serves as a regional center for higher education and academic research.

Jason Ortega

He is the faculty member serving as the principal investigator for this specific National Institutes of Health grant project.

National Institutes of Health

This is the primary federal agency responsible for medical and public health research in the United States.

The details

The grant enables the acquisition of instruments capable of measuring diverse aspects of metabolic activity. This equipment will support laboratory instruction and undergraduate research projects within the biology, psychology, and geosciences departments.

The university announced the receipt of the grant on October 26, 2026.

Culture Shift

The university's successful bid represents its first inclusion in the National Institutes of Health research grant program, marking a new chapter for its laboratory funding strategy. This shift signals a broader move toward increased institutional participation in competitive national research funding cycles.

Students in biology, psychology, and geosciences will gain direct access to professional-grade metabolic measuring tools for their coursework. This integration into the campus research database ensures that both laboratory instruction and personal projects benefit from updated technology.

The takeaway

This grant is expected to boost the success rate of future research applications submitted by the university. Providing students with high-level equipment helps prepare them for advanced scientific careers and graduate-level work.