The Louisiana Cancer Research Center has selected its first cohort of college students to participate in its new 8-week summer research program.  The nine students demonstrated a serious interest in pursuing a career in cancer research and were selected from dozens of applicants from institutions all over the country – LSU and Tulane, of course, but also Brigham Young, Howard, and Muhlenberg University.

The students will design and implement a tailor-made cancer research project and conduct exciting and challenging experiments to test hypotheses under the guidance and mentoring of LCRC faculty researchers from member institutions Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center - New Orleans, Tulane School of Medicine and Xavier University of Louisiana.

“We look forward to welcoming our first class of undergraduate researchers to the Louisiana Cancer Research Center.  Our new summer research program is designed to cultivate the cancer researchers of tomorrow.  It will be very exciting to see the research projects that each student will undertake in the labs at LSU Health New Orleans and Tulane School of Medicine,”  said Joe W. Ramos, PhD, CEO and director of the LCRC. 

“The fact that there was national interest in the LCRC’s first-ever summer research program bodes well for the future,” said Charles Wood, PhD, a member of the LCRC faculty and Cancer Crusader Professor, Department of Interdisciplinary Oncology and Associate Director of Basic Science of Stanley S Scott Cancer Center, at LSU Health New Orleans.  “All of the student researchers are highly motivated and many already have experience in the lab.  Our hope is that the LCRC summer program will cultivate students’ interest in pursuing cancer research in Louisiana.”

“Bringing undergraduate students to our laboratories will expose them to research on cancer genetics, genomics, epigenetics, and signaling in various experimental models. Training is a part of our mission to ensure longevity and prosperity of cancer research at Tulane and worldwide,” said  Victoria P. Belancio, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Structural and Cellular Biology, Tulane School of Medicine.

Preference was given to juniors and seniors with at least one semester of remaining undergraduate coursework,  who have completed advanced coursework relating to cancer or biomedical research, and those with a demonstrated interest in pursuing an advanced graduate degree. Those selected will receive a stipend and additional benefits.  The program was funded by the Louisiana Board of Regents and the LCRC.

About the LCRC

Each year, more than 28,000 Louisianans receive a cancer diagnosis. The Louisiana Cancer Research Center (LCRC) serves as a collaborative research hub to reduce the impact of cancer across Louisiana and the Gulf regionthrough locally focused high impact cancer research, patient care, education and community outreach and engagement done in alignment withour unique cultural, ethnic, and environmental characteristics. https://www.louisianacancercenter.org/