Reflecting On a Year of Impact

The LSU LCMC Health Cancer Center is making strides toward a future where every person in Louisiana has access to world-class cancer care close to home.

This year brought remarkable growth including new faculty, new research momentum, and new collaborations that strengthen our path toward becoming Louisiana’s first NCI-Designated Cancer Center.

Our teams advanced competitive research in areas such as immunotherapy, cancer care and treatment gaps, early detection, and the biology of cancers that disproportionately impact our state. We also announced our three major research programs -- Cancer Biology, Population Sciences and Cancer Control, and Translational Oncology and Clinical Cancer Research -- that will drive discovery and accelerate the delivery of better treatments to patients. Our scientists and clinicians continue to apply for and secure competitive research grants from national agencies and foundations, advancing studies in precision medicine, metabolic drivers of cancer, and detection and treatments. In 2025, we applied for nearly 60 grants, and we published more than 250 papers in peer-reviewed journals. Every application, each new award, and all national recognition reflects growing confidence in our vision and our potential to change the trajectory of cancer in Louisiana. 

Our progress is powered by strong partnerships and collaborations across LSU campuses, Pennington Biomedical Research Center, the LSU School of Veterinary Medicine, our clinical partners at LCMC Health, and local and national academic institutions. Together, we are expanding access to leading-edge care and building the scientific foundation to transform cancer outcomes in Louisiana.

As we look to 2026, our mission remains clear: advance cancer science and improve the lives of those we serve. We will continue strengthening our research programs, investing in physical and administrative infrastructure, expanding clinical and community partnerships, and supporting our growing teams. With each step, we are building a Cancer Center worthy of the people who depend on us.

Thank you to our colleagues, supporters, and community partners who make this work possible.

Wishing you rest, renewal, and time with the people who matter most this season.

Lucio Miele, MD, PhD

Director, LSU LCMC Health Cancer Center

Clinical Trials Bring Hope Closer to Home

When Jacob, a lifelong farmer from rural Louisiana, was diagnosed with stage IV gastroesophageal cancer, his world changed in an instant. With resilience, the support of his family, and groundbreaking treatment, Jacob’s story is one of hope, healing, and the strength to keep moving forward. His journey is a powerful reminder of our mission: ensure that world-class cancer care and innovative clinical trials are available to all Louisianans, right here at home.

Jacob’s experience reflects the strength of our research and clinical teams working together to advance hope through discovery. Watch a video of Jacob's journey and read his full story here.

LSU LCMC Health Cancer Center Researchers Uncover Key Immune Differences in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer

Researchers at the LSU LCMC Health Cancer Center have published groundbreaking findings in NPJ Breast Cancer that sheds new light on triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), one of the most aggressive forms of breast cancer.


The National Cancer Institute (NCI)-funded study, led by Dr. Lucio Miele, Director of the LSU LCMC Health Cancer Center, in collaboration with colleagues at LSU Health New Orleans, City of Hope Cancer Center (Duarte, CA), and the University of California, San Diego, examined tumors from more than 250 Black and White women across Louisiana. 


Unlike many earlier studies, this research balanced age, cancer stage, and other variables, allowing scientists to focus on the underlying biology of the disease rather than external factors.


Read the full study here.

The Society for Basic Urologic Research (SBUR) has presented its Distinguished Service Award to Hari K. Koul, MSc, PhD, FACN, FASN, recognizing his decades of exceptional leadership, mentorship, and scientific impact in the field of urologic research. The award was announced at the SBUR Annual Meeting in Orlando.

Dr. Koul, Associate Director of the LSU LCMC Health Cancer Center and Head of Genitourinary Oncology Research at LSU Health New Orleans, has been a driving force within SBUR for more than 30 years. His leadership roles have strengthened SBUR's scientific footprint with his tenure as SBUR President to his service on the Board of Directors and his contributions to the society’s publications and annual meetings.

Dr. Koul’s recognition by SBUR underscores his impact on urologic science and his leadership at the LSU LCMC Health Cancer Center, where he is helping drive excellence in genitourinary cancer research and our NCI-Designation efforts.

LSU Health New Orleans recently celebrated two major academic milestones that underscore our commitment to developing the next generation of scientists, clinicians, and cancer researchers.

At the 4th Annual Dr. Joseph Moerschbaecher III Graduate Research Day, more than forty abstracts, posters, oral presentations, postdoctoral talks, and 3-Minute Thesis (3MT) presentations showcased the strength and diversity of graduate and postdoctoral research across Graduate Studies, Public Health, and Nursing. Students had the opportunity to receive real-time feedback from faculty mentors, strengthen their presentation skills, and compete for travel awards that help expand their national visibility. Multiple students earned top honors across poster, oral, and 3MT competitions with each receiving meaningful support to present their work at scientific meetings around the country.



Similarly, the 22nd Annual Medical Student Research Symposium brought together more than 100 LSU medical students to present projects conducted alongside faculty at LSU Health New Orleans, LSU LCMC Health Cancer Center, Children’s Hospital New Orleans, University Medical Center, and partner clinics across Louisiana. Many of these students, including those supported by federal or regional research fellowships, will now advance to national conferences using awarded travel support.

Together, these events showcase our strong culture of mentorship, from medical students to senior graduate trainees, and our shared commitment to advancing research excellence at every level. They also underscore the essential role LSU LCMC Health Cancer Center faculty play in guiding and supporting the next generation of investigators whose discoveries will help shape the future of cancer science and care in Louisiana.

Abstracts and posters for the the 22nd Annual Medical Student Research Symposium can be viewed here. Additional information on 4th annual Dr. Joseph Moerschbaecher III Graduate Research Day can be found here.

About us - At the LSU LCMC Health Cancer Center, we’re leading the charge against cancer through an integrated model that unites cutting-edge research, compassionate clinical care, and world-class education. Innovative cancer research is at the heart of our mission. From breakthrough discoveries in our labs to collaborative, interdisciplinary studies, our researchers are driving progress against some of the most challenging cancers facing Louisiana and beyond.

In partnership with LCMC Health, our clinical teams are delivering advanced, personalized cancer care bringing the latest science directly to patients and improving outcomes across our state.

We’re also shaping the future of cancer care through the Department of Interdisciplinary Oncology at LSU Health New Orleans, where we are training the next generation of scientists and physician-researchers to carry this work forward. Together, we are building a cancer center that reflects more than medicine. One that brings innovation and hope to every corner of our community.

Learn more - lsulcmchealthcancercenter.org.