First-Ever LSU Systemwide Research Retreat Launches Bold Collaboration in Biomedical Innovation

By Rachel Holland

August 12, 2025

As LSU aims to become a leading research institution and join the Association of American Universities, 140 researchers from all six of LSU’s research campuses gathered for a first-ever two-day collaborative retreat on the Baton Rouge campus. 

“This is more than a meeting—it's a milestone,” said Interim LSU President Matt Lee. “Federal research funding is tightening. But LSU is not retreating—we are responding with resilience, creativity, and a long-term vision. This retreat is a testament to our determination to lead, not follow. Our goal is simple but powerful: to spark new partnerships across campuses that lead to bold, fundable research proposals. We’re here to break silos, share ideas, and build something great together.” 

Scene from the LSU systemwide biomedical research retreat on the Baton Rouge campus.
Scene from the LSU systemwide biomedical research retreat on the Baton Rouge campus.
Scene from the LSU systemwide biomedical research retreat on the Baton Rouge campus.
Scene from the LSU systemwide biomedical research retreat on the Baton Rouge campus.
Scene from the LSU systemwide biomedical research retreat on the Baton Rouge campus.
Scene from the LSU systemwide biomedical research retreat on the Baton Rouge campus.
Scene from the LSU systemwide biomedical research retreat on the Baton Rouge campus.
Scene from the LSU systemwide biomedical research retreat on the Baton Rouge campus.
Scene from the LSU systemwide biomedical research retreat on the Baton Rouge campus.
Scene from the LSU systemwide biomedical research retreat on the Baton Rouge campus.
Scene from the LSU systemwide biomedical research retreat on the Baton Rouge campus.
Scene from the LSU systemwide biomedical research retreat on the Baton Rouge campus.
Scene from the LSU systemwide biomedical research retreat on the Baton Rouge campus.
Scene from the LSU systemwide biomedical research retreat on the Baton Rouge campus.
Scene from the LSU systemwide biomedical research retreat on the Baton Rouge campus.
Scene from the LSU systemwide biomedical research retreat on the Baton Rouge campus.
— Photos by Katherine Seghers and Eddy Perez

“This is a catalytic moment where the LSU enterprise comes together to act, align, and lead,” said Nicolas Bazan, MD, PhD, LSU Boyd Professor, director of the Neuroscience Center of Excellence at the LSU Health New Orleans' School of Medicine, and a fixture of the LSU system for more than 40 years. 

The inaugural retreat, conceived by LSU Chief Research Officer David Guzick, MD, PhD, focused on biomedical research, with faculty presenting work on eight subject matter areas: cancer, cardiovascular health, neuroscience, metabolic disorders, addiction sciences, immunology, clinical research, and non-animal models. The aim was to highlight the breadth and depth of LSU’s biomedical research and to develop cross-campus, collaborative grant proposals. 

Dr. David Guzick, chief research officer for the LSU system, said this collaborative research will “elevate the size, scope, and stature of LSU’s research enterprise” and result in the submission of large research grants to federal funders like the National Institutes of Health and the National Science Foundation. He added that the research retreats will be held annually.   

“Discovery knows no geographic boundaries. Mary Lasker said, ‘If you think research is expensive, try disease;’ if cures for disease are found by Louisiana scientists, residents of the state are benefitted, but so is the world’s population,” Dr. Guzick said.  

 “LSU has the talent, the drive, and now the structure to lead in biomedical innovation. Let’s make the most of this moment and shape the future of health and science in Louisiana and beyond,” said President Lee.  

LSU has seen a steady rise in research activity. The research campuses in Baton Rouge, New Orleans, and Shreveport achieved a record-breaking $543 million in combined research activity. Not only did this lead to life-changing discoveries and support thousands of jobs, but the direct economic impact of LSU research on Louisiana is higher than ever, estimated at $1.5 billion. LSU’s historic growth depends primarily on federal funding for large research teams, like those who engaged in this biomedical retreat. Each campus chose a lead speaker for each of the eight subject matter areas to represent the scientists on that campus who work in these areas. These lead presenters were: 

CANCER 

  • HSC–NO Lucio Miele, M.D., PhD 
  • HSC–SHV Omar Franco Coronel, M.D., PhD 
  • Pennington Robert Kesterson, PhD 
  • Veterinary Medicine Weishan Huang, PhD 
  • A&M Manas Ranjan Gartia, PhD 
  • AgCenter Zhijun Liu, PhD 

CARDIOVASCULAR 

  • HSC-NO Eric Lazartigues, PhD 
  • HSC-SHV Wayne Orr, PhD 
  • Veterinary Medicine Joseph Francis, PhD 

NEUROSCIENCE 

  • HSC-NO Nicolas Bazan, M.D., PhD 
  • HSC-SHV Quanguang Zhang, PhD 
  • Pennington Heike Muenzberg-Gruening, PhD 
  • Veterinary Medicine Alexander Murashov, PhD 
  • A&M Alyssa Johnson, PhD  

METABOLIC DISORDERS 

  • HSC-NO Rinku Majumder, PhD 
  • HSC-SHV Oren Rom, PhD, RD 
  • Pennington Jason Collier, PhD 
  • AgCenter Xing Fu, PhD 
  • A&M Fan Zhang, PhD 
  • Veterinary Medicine Britta Leise, PhD 

ADDICTION SCIENCE 

  • A&M Julia D. Buckner, PhD 
  • HSC-NO Nicholas Gilpin, PhD 
  • HSC-SHV Kevin Murnane, PhD 
  • Veterinary Medicine Ethan Anderson, PhD 

IMMUNOLOGY/ID 

  • HSC-NO Augusto Ochoa, MD 
  • HSC-SHV Matthew Woolard, PhD 
  • Veterinary Medicine Samithamby Jeyaseelan, DVM, PhD 
  • A&M Stephania Cormier, PhD 

CLINICAL RESEARCH 

  • HSC-NO Jeffrey Carter, MD 
  • HSC-SHV John Vanchiere, MD, PhD 
  • Pennington Owen Carmichael, PhD 
  • Veterinary Medicine Mark Mitchell, DVM, PhD 
  • A&M Janna Oetting, PhD 

NON-ANIMAL MODELS 

  • HSC-NO Carmen Canavier, PhD 
  • HSC-SHV Tarek Mohamed, PharmB, PhD 
  • HSC-SHV Nobel Bhuiyan, PhD, MD 
  • Pennington Ronald Horswell, PhD 
  • Veterinary Medicine Seetharama Jois, PhD 
  • AgCenter Jack Koch, PhD 

Next Step

LSU's Scholarship First Agenda is helping achieve health, prosperity, and security for Louisiana and the world.