Advanced respirometry system for expanding research and educational capacity in biomedical sciences at university of arkansas - fort smith - the university of arkansas - fort smith (uafs) is a…

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.

Advanced respirometry system for expanding research and educational capacity in biomedical sciences at university of arkansas - fort smith - the university of arkansas - fort smith (uafs) is a primarily undergraduate institution serving about 5,500 students from a diverse regional population set. Many of these students come from small to medium sized high schools with economically disadvantaged backgrounds. Wherein more than half our students are pell grant eligible and more than 50% are first-generation college attendees. Following a transition to a four-year university in 2002, uafs experienced rapid growth in academic programs. However, our research infrastructure has not kept pace with institutional evolution. Our current research capacity (equipment and space) reflects our community college heritage, hampering our ability to provide our students with research experiences. Having a state-of the-art sable systems respirometry system will enable our students, many of whom are the first to pursue biomedical careers, to have access to the same caliber of instrumentation available at more-established institutions. The sable systems respirometry system is a suite of equipment that can be used to measure metabolic rates (oxygen consumption and carbon dioxide production), methane, and water flux. These metrics can be measured in animals (from a fruit fly to a lion), humans, plants, fungal cultures, and/or water samples. The ability to measure these metrics would allow for research that investigates the impacts of stress, pollution, and/or behavior on the physiology of animals and humans. This suite of equipment would allow for a variety of physiological responses to be measured such as resting/basal metabolic rates, exercise metabolism, respiratory quotient, specific dynamic action, gastrointestinal fermentation activity, respiratory water loss, and whole-body water loss. Immediate use of the system will allow for investigations on the impact of psychological stress on metabolic rate, examining the positive effects of mind-body interventions on metabolic rate, the impacts of microplastic load on animal physiology, determining the impacts of an invasive parasite on intermediate hosts, and monitoring surface and ground water quality. Most biology, psychology, and geochemistry majors carry out undergraduate research while at uafs. The university sponsors an annual symposium showcasing research achievements each spring. Uafs students also present their work at local and regional venues. Recent examples include the arkansas inbre conferences and the meetings of the arkansas academy of science. Incorporation of this equipment will greatly increase the depth and breadth of work that can be accomplished at our resource limited institution, enabling our students to produce impactful and publishable manuscripts. The availability of this respirometry suite will also expand the ability of faculty to successfully seek external funding. The presence of a research- quality respirometry system will open new doors in multiple courses in biology, psychology, and geology. Wherein our students will have hands-on, practical experience with these high-impact research tools. Which will expand their scientific horizons and better prepare them for further study or careers in biomedical fields.