More than 250 researchers attended the LCRC’s 2025 Scientific Retreat held Tuesday at Xavier University of Louisiana. The gathering was a demonstration of the continued momentum to bring together cancer researchers from around the state.

LCRC Co-directors Lucio Miele, PhD, and Stefan Grant, MD, JD, MBA, opened the daylong event, themed "Better Together," emphasizing the importance of ongoing collaboration. Dr. Miele, also director of the LSU LCMC Health Cancer Center, said that Louisiana's scientists must remain committed to working together and to advocating for sustained research investment. "What we can do on our side is remain committed to collaboration, to advocate for sustained investment in research, and to keep on planning to grow even in challenging circumstances."

Dr. Grant,  also director of the Tulane Cancer Center, said that LCRC leadership is working on ways "to achieve more with what may well be less."   Dr. Grant urged attendees to use the retreat as an opportunity for networking with peers. "Please get to know the people around you...getting to know one another and their project is an essential element for us to become highly efficient and effective.”

The leaders of LCRC's four research programs — Transitional Oncology, Cancer Biology, Population Sciences, and Genes X Environment — explained the goals of their programs and offered advice on collaborations and helpful resources. Shared resources, including core facilities at the LCRC and partner institutions, were highlighted.  

Keynote speakers Paul Hall, Vice President of Regional Advocacy, and Alice Kline, Louisiana Government Relations Director, both of the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, briefed the group on the status of Federal research funding and the process for developing the annual appropriations bill.

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Leaders of the LCRC’s Cancer Research, Education, and Training program presented an update on their initiatives to support undergraduate, graduate, and post-doctoral trainees. The third class of the LCRC’s SUCRE summer student program arrives on June 2.

Dr. Donna Williams, LCRC Associate Director of Community Outreach & Engagement, and Dr. Earl Benjamin-Robinson, Director of the Office of Community Engagement, recapped the LCRC’s statewide initiatives and discussed ways to improve collaborations between LCRC researchers and the community.

LCRC Chief Administrative Officer Sven Davisson concluded the day by announcing three new funding opportunities that support innovative research, new investigators, and trainee travel, all of which are accessible via a new application submission portal on the LCRC website.

In addition to the speakers, the event featured a poster presentation highlighting seventy research projects selected from over 100 abstracts submitted.

The LCRC’s next Scientific Retreat will take place on May 21, 2025.

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