LSU establishes new research institute and trauma center for medical innovation

The LSU Board of Supervisors convened on June 27, 2025, to discuss several significant initiatives aimed at enhancing research and medical capabilities within the university system. The meeting began with a proposal from LSU A&M to establish the LSU Institute for the Health and Performance of Champions. This institute is envisioned as a premier interdisciplinary research and medical facility focused on advancing the health of operational athletes. It aims to leverage LSU's academic strengths and its partnership with Our Lady of the Lake Health, backed by an initial funding of $85 million. The institute will centralize efforts in sports medicine, exercise science, and human performance, with plans for further financial support through pending grants.

Following this, the board reviewed a request from LSU Health Sciences Center New Orleans to create the Traumatic Injury and Burn Research and Innovation Center of Research Excellence. This center is designed to unite various scientific disciplines to improve treatment and outcomes for trauma and burn injuries. It boasts strong partnerships and has secured over $63 million in active grant support, with an additional $85 million awarded in the past five years. The center aims to become a nationally recognized hub for educating medical providers and fostering innovation in trauma care.

The meeting also included a consent agenda with three items requiring continued authorization. The first item was a request from LSU A&M to extend the Center for Rotating Machinery for another five years, which focuses on interdisciplinary research in engineering. The second item involved the Neuroscience Center for Research Excellence, which has been operational since 1989 and has attracted over $55 million in donations. Lastly, the Stanley S. Scott Center of Excellence in Cancer Research was also approved for continued authorization, with plans to enhance cancer research and treatment approaches in Louisiana.

All items on the agenda were approved without objection, reflecting a strong commitment to advancing research and healthcare initiatives within the LSU system. The meeting concluded with a motion to adjourn, marking the end of a productive session focused on significant advancements in health and research.