The Louisiana Board of Regents has supported full five-year approval for the Louisiana Addiction Research Center (LARC) and Center for Emerging Viral Threats (CEVT), with the CEVT continuing to be a designated Center of Research Excellence. The Board of Regents approval follows unanimous approval of both centers by the LSU Board of Supervisors earlier this year. Both centers were previously granted provisional approval and applied for full center approval earlier this year.
The mission of Louisiana Addiction Research Center is to provide addiction research and education in an integrated environment pursuing the latest in innovative approaches and learning. Nicholas Goeders, PhD, serves as the Executive Director of LARC.
The mission of the Center for Emerging Viral Threats is to engage in multidisciplinary, basic, and translational research on infectious agents, provide surveillance and detection for current and future viral threats, provide cutting edge diagnostics and access to national clinical trials, and educate physicians, scientists and the community about prevention, treatment and the science of viral diseases. Andrew Yurochko, PhD, serves as the Executive Director of the CEVT.
“We are humbled by this vote of confidence by the Louisiana Board of Regents and the LSU Board of Supervisors in the work being done the Louisiana Addiction Research Center and the Center for Emerging Viral Threats. I commend Dr. Goeders and Dr. Yurochko and the faculty and staff of both centers who have worked incredibly hard to achieve these designations,” said Chris Kevil, PhD, Vice Chancellor for Research at LSU Health Shreveport. “Both the LARC and CEVT are dedicated to fulfilling their missions and working to improve health outcomes for Louisiana citizens. This recognition also strengthens our position to compete for grant funding and further advance research in our region and state.”
“This is a great honor for our institution for the Louisiana Addiction Research Center to be recognized as a fully authorized center and for the Center for Emerging Viral Threats to continue to be recognized as a designated Center of Research Excellence. I am thankful for the support and recognition by the Louisiana Board of Regents and LSU Board of Supervisors of the meaningful work performed by these centers. Their efforts deliver multidisciplinary, basic, and translational research, as well as community outreach and engagement. Their role in in the response to the COVID-19 and addiction pandemics have been stellar,” shared David Lewis, MD, MBA, Interim Chancellor of LSU Health Shreveport. “The faculty and staff of the LARC and CEVT are and will continue to be invaluable resources for our community, state and beyond.”
A select number of academic programs earn the designation as a Center of Excellence by the Louisiana Board of Regents and must demonstrate statewide leadership in their area of focus and a commitment to building on their respective strengths by advancing knowledge and skills to create better opportunities for improving the quality of life of Louisiana residents. The designation as a Center of Excellence is rigorous process and requires proof of the center’s qualifications for the distinction. Qualifications include being a statewide leader in the area of designation, provision of a range of academic, training of research opportunities, a focus on current issues and the ability to advance the strategic goals of the institution and the State of Louisiana.
LSU Health Shreveport is home to four designated Centers of Research Excellence: Feist-Weiller Cancer Center, the Center for Cardiovascular Diseases and Sciences, the Center of Excellence for Arthritis and Rheumatology, and the Center of Excellence for Emerging Viral Threats.
