The Arkansas Integrative Metabolic Research Center (AIMRC) was established in April 2021 with Phase I COBRE funding from NIGMS (P20GM139768). The AIMRC is a research center located at the University of Arkansas focused on understanding the role of cell and tissue metabolism in disease, development, and repair through research involving advanced imaging, bioenergetics, and data science.
Our mission is to promote and expand cross-disciplinary biomedical research in metabolism. Our thematic, interdisciplinary Center brings together faculty from 8 departments across 5 colleges and 2 institutions to study a range of biomedical applications involving metabolism. We have an administrative core, and three research cores: the Bioenergetics Core, the Imaging and Spectroscopy Core, and the Data Science Core – each with its own Core Director(s) and technical staff. The AIMRC currently directly supports four research projects, provides annual funding for innovative Pilot Projects, and supports recruitment of faculty with promising careers in metabolic research.
Administrative Core Leadership
Dr. Kyle P. Quinn, AIMRC Director
Dr. Kyle Quinn serves as the Director of the AIMRC at the University of Arkansas and PI of the Phase I COBRE grant. He is a tenured Associate Professor of Biomedical Engineering. Dr. Quinn’s overall research interests are in developing and utilizing non-invasive quantitative optical methods to characterize the spatiotemporal patterns of disease progression and tissue repair processes. His NIH and NSF funded research program is focused on identifying and validating optical biomarkers for use in characterizing skin wound healing and cellular aging through the combined use of label-free metabolic imaging and artificial intelligence enabled image analysis. Dr. Quinn serves on NSF and NIH grant review panels and has been active in a number of professional societies, particularly with Optica, the Wound Healing Society, and the Biomedical Engineering Society.
Kimberley Fuller, BSc., MBA, Managing Director
Ms. Fuller serves as the Managing Director of the AIMRC, working side-by-side with Dr. Quinn to provide administrative oversight of the center. She assists with fiscal management including subaward management, supports center members with proposal development, oversees center marketing, organizes center events such as Advisory Meetings, Seminar Series and Journal Clubs, and assists with reporting and center assessment.
Ms. Fuller’s background encompasses research and proposal development in various roles at the University of Arkansas. She also has over 20 years of experience in conducting both quantitative and qualitative market research, completing in-depth competitive landscape analyses, identifying high-value market niches for new products, and developing actionable commercialization strategies. Ms. Fuller’s industry expertise spans biomedical/biotechnology, medical devices, pharmaceuticals, and financial services.