The Arkansas Research Alliance Core Facilities Exchange (CFE) is an online platform that shows research instrumentation and accompanying services available at laboratories across the state. The CFE intends to create awareness of and facilitate access to the presence, capabilities, and availability of high-value equipment in the state among the Arkansas research community.

The CFE's benefits are envisioned to:

  • Stimulate and improve research
  • Enhance grant competitiveness
  • Foster collaboration
  • Reduce redundancy in capital expenditures
  • Increase utilization

ARA is leading a statewide partnership between the Arkansas Children's Research Institute (ACRI), Arkansas State University (A-State), the National Center for Toxicological Research (NCTR)*, the University of Arkansas (UA), the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture (UA Division of Ag), the University of Arkansas at Little Rock (UA Little Rock), the University of Arkansas for Medical Science (UAMS), and the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (UA Pine Bluff) to establish and manage the CFE. For more information, suggestions, and inquiries into voucher programs for equipment use contact Amy Hopper at [email protected]. ARA asks that private companies do not use the CFE for solicitation purposes.

Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)

On December 9th, 2021, the five chancellors of ARA’s member universities signed a five-year memorandum of understanding (MOU) intended to encourage a more robust culture of research collaboration, through use of the CFE, on their respective campuses. In March of 2022, Amendment 1 to the MOU was signed to add ACRI as a party to the agreement. Amendment 2 to the MOU was signed to add UA Division of Ag to the agreement. To view the MOU, click here.

*All potential use of NCTR equipment must be aligned with the mission of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.