LITTLE ROCK — Eric Peterson, Ph.D., has been named president of BioVentures LLC at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS), a position he has held on an interim basis since March 2024.
BioVentures, founded in 1994, is the technology licensing office and business incubator at UAMS, supporting the promotion, commercialization and development of biomedical technology and new inventions.
“Dr. Peterson has been a capable leader who applied his specific expertise in technology development to promote additional success for BioVentures,” said Stephanie Gardner, Pharm.D., Ed.D., UAMS provost, chief strategy officer and senior vice chancellor for academic affairs. “By supporting our community of researchers, he has strengthened their ability to protect intellectual property while enabling commercialization that benefits their work, our institution and the state.”
Peterson, who was previously named executive vice president of BioVentures in 2022, also serves as an associate professor in the College of Medicine Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology. He is the chair of the UAMS Patent and Copyright Committee, a position he has held since February 2021. Since joining UAMS in 2014, he has worked extensively to streamline processes for technology transfer and commercialization.
“I am excited to continue working alongside our talented BioVentures team and UAMS researchers to advance innovation and the incredible potential of UAMS research to make a tangible impact on health care and economic development,” Peterson said. “Together, we will strive to bring groundbreaking discoveries to market, benefiting our institution, the state of Arkansas and beyond. I am grateful for the trust placed in me and look forward to building on the strong foundation that has been established since BioVentures’ inception.”
Peterson’s primary research focuses on the design of antibody nanotechnology and gene therapy technologies that could reduce or block the rewarding effects of methamphetamine use disorder. He is listed as an inventor on three patents for his contributions to immunotherapies for drug use disorder treatment.
For more information about BioVentures and its role in supporting research and innovation at UAMS, visit bioventures.tech.