The total amount of cancer research dollars awarded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to Louisiana Cancer Research Center (LCRC) scientists totaled more than $23 million in 2021. Researchers from member institutions LSU Health New Orleans, Tulane University School of Medicine, Xavier University of Louisiana, and Ochsner Health received the funding, as reported in the LCRC Annual Report. 

Since the inception of the LCRC in 2002, faculty scientists have been awarded $450 million in cancer-related NIH research funding. Last year’s awards represent a five-fold increase over pre-LCRC levels.

“LCRC faculty researchers made important contributions to the global fight against cancer with the publication of 335 articles in cancer-related journals and publications in 2021,” said Sven Davisson, LCRC Chief Administrative Officer.  “Much of their research is the result of important collaborations as faculty reached out  across programs and institutions. These multi-institutional collaborations make our funding applications more competitive in the eyes of grant sources.”

LCRC institutions enrolled 2,347 patients in cancer clinical trials conducted by the four LCRC institutions, with the majority enrolling through a statewide network funded by a grant from the National Cancer Institute Community Oncology Research Program (NCORP). Trials are administered by the network comprised of LSU Health New Orleans, Ochsner Shreveport and Mary Bird Perkins.  The network provides advanced cancer clinical trials at 42 treatment sites in Shreveport, Monroe, Alexandria, Lake Charles, Baton Rouge, Covington, Houma, Metairie, New Orleans, Slidell, Hattiesburg, Gulfport, and Mississippi.

The LCRC, located in New Orleans, provides critical core infrastructure, laboratory and meeting spaces that foster collaboration and innovation.  LCRC members account for more than 80% of federal cancer research funding in Louisiana. Every $1 in NIH funding generates more than double that in local economic growth for a total economic impact of $64 million in Louisiana in 2020.

Tobacco-Free Living

Thanks in part to the efforts of the Louisiana Campaign for Tobacco-Free Living (TFL), a prevention program of the LCRC, the Shreveport Smoke-free Air Act finally went into effect for bars and gaming facilities on August 1, 2021. Shreveport became the 30th municipality in Louisiana to implement such an ordinance, bringing the percentage of Louisiana’s population protected from secondhand smoke to thirty.

About the LCRC

Based in New Orleans, The Louisiana Cancer Research Center was created in 2002 by the Louisiana State Legislature. LCRC’s mission is to promote cancer education and to research the diagnosis, detection and treatment of cancer while pursuing a National Cancer Institute (NCI)designation.