Background

The vision for the Arkansas Biosciences Institute (ABI) emerged during a statewide planning process for use of the state's share of the 1998 nationwide tobacco settlement.

Health care leaders across the state spoke out in favor of dedicating a portion of the tobacco settlement funds to innovative research that could help reduce or prevent smoking-related illnesses.

The voters eventually endorsed the proposed Tobacco Settlement Proceeds Act of 2000 by 64 percent in a referendum in November 2000. The Arkansas General Assembly enacted the provisions of that proposal as Acts 1569 through 1580 of 2001. Part of that legislation established the Arkansas Biosciences Institute (ABI) as a consortium of five research institutions: Arkansas Children's Hospital (ACH); Arkansas State University (ASU); the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture; the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville (UAF); and the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS). The legislation designated the president of the University of Arkansas System to chair a board of directors for the institute, with the board to include the senior executive of each member institution as well as two members to be appointed by the Governor.