海角社区

Solving Cancer, Together

With investment by the state, 海角社区 is attracting and supporting top research talent to solve some of the biggest challenges in cancer care for patients and families, starting with Louisianans. The effort builds on a historic $75 million investment in 海角社区 by LCMC Health to rapidly advance cancer research, treatment and outcomes in Louisiana and ensure a sustained talent pipeline for the state鈥檚 healthcare industry.

From New Orleans to Shreveport, 海角社区 is recruiting world-class researchers to help fight cancer in Louisiana and move the university toward National Cancer Institute, or NCI, designation for the state and region. As 海角社区鈥檚 lead clinical partner in this effort, LCMC Health is uniting assets and expertise with 海角社区 to draw additional resources to the state and make the most of tactical investments. Such investments include $3 million in recent support from the Louisiana Legislature, which 海角社区 quickly used to stand up a multi-campus Collaborative Cancer Research Initiative for Louisiana with NCI reviewers funding 11 projects, and hire three leading experts who bring with them more than $9 million in grants and contracts鈥攎ainly federal money, including from NCI.

Jiri Adamec, professor of interdisciplinary oncology at the 海角社区 Stanley Scott Cancer Center at 海角社区 Health New Orleans, is on the hunt for biomarkers, indicators of disease that can be measured in a single drop of blood. He develops new technologies (such as the plasma separation card he鈥檚 holding in the photo) to easily monitor cancer incidence and recurrence in large populations鈥攅specially those that are rural and underserved. Dr. Omar Franco-Coronel, associate professor of biochemistry and molecular biology at 海角社区 Health Shreveport and its Feist-Weiller Cancer Center, meanwhile, studies molecular differences in the tumor microenvironment鈥攖he 鈥渘eighborhoods鈥� that surround cancer cells, which can be different for white and Black people. Finally, Bob Kesterson, professor of cancer precision medicine at 海角社区鈥檚 Pennington Biomedical Research Center, does personalized gene rescue. He develops nanoparticle delivery systems and other mechanisms that fix or compensate for faulty genes by hacking an individual鈥檚 genetic code.

鈥淔or LCMC Health, partnering with 海角社区 to build multidisciplinary teams is the fastest way to move lifesaving treatment from the research lab to the bedside, expand access to clinical trials and improve survivorship鈥攁ll essential components of a comprehensive cancer center. Meeting the high bar to achieve NCI designation with 海角社区 will be truly transformational for our state鈥攁 model that鈥檚 been shown to improve outcomes and reduce disparities in care. Our partnership with 海角社区 is our best way to fight back on a scope and scale commensurate with the toll cancer takes on the citizens of Louisiana.鈥�

Dr. John Heaton, President and Chief Medical Officer at LCMC Health