Project Grant S10GM164750

The National Institute of General Medical Sciences awarded the University of Arkansas–Fort Smith $132,867 on September 4, 2026, under the Biomedical Research and Research Training program (CFDA 93.859) to procure a Sable Systems respirometry system for expanding research and educational capacity in biomedical sciences.

The respirometry system measures metabolic rates—oxygen consumption, carbon dioxide production, methane, and water flux—across organisms ranging from fruit flies to humans, plants, fungal cultures, and water samples. The instrumentation enables investigations into the physiological impacts of psychological stress, pollution, and behavior, including measurements of resting and basal metabolic rates, exercise metabolism, respiratory quotient, specific dynamic action, gastrointestinal fermentation activity, respiratory water loss, and whole-body water loss.

UAFS, a primarily undergraduate institution with approximately 5,500 students, serves a diverse regional population with more than 50 percent Pell Grant eligibility and more than 50 percent first-generation college attendees. The university experienced rapid growth in academic programs following its 2002 transition to a four-year university but has not proportionally expanded research infrastructure and equipment capacity, hampering student access to research experiences. The state-of-the-art instrumentation will provide students, many pursuing their first biomedical careers, access to equipment comparable to that available at established research institutions.

Performance of work occurs in Fort Smith, Arkansas. The period of performance runs through August 31, 2027.