Arkansas News Bureau

LITTLE ROCK — The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences announced Tuesday it has been awarded a $20 million grant to help speed the translation of scientific discoveries into treatments and cures for patients.

The grant from the National Institutes of Health, the largest research grant in UAMS’ history, will allow UAMS to join a consortium of institutions working to put the fruits of research to practical use.

The consortium was founded in 2006. When it is fully grown in 2012, it will link about 60 institutions with a combined budget of $500 million.

“This is the most significant research grant UAMS has ever received and not only solidifies the standing of UAMS among the country’s elite academic health centers, but also ensures that the important work being done here quickly moves to the bedside to have a tangible impact on Arkansas patients,” UAMS Chancellor I. Dodd Wilson said in a statement.