SHREVEPORT, La. — LSU Health Shreveport and Louisiana Tech University have signed a memorandum of understanding establishing a formal partnership to expand collaborative research, student training and shared access to research facilities across North Louisiana.
The agreement was signed at the Louisiana Tech Research Institute in Bossier City and creates a framework for faculty, students and researchers from both institutions to collaborate on projects addressing biomedical, scientific and technological challenges.
Under the partnership, researchers and students will have access to specialized laboratories and equipment at both universities while participating in joint research projects and receiving training and mentorship from faculty across the two institutions. The agreement also supports joint grant development, technology transfer, workforce development and scientific innovation.
“This agreement connects the complementary expertise, technologies and research infrastructure of two major institutions,” said Oren Rom, assistant vice chancellor for research at LSU Health Shreveport. “By making it easier for investigators to share facilities, exchange knowledge and develop joint projects, we can address complex biomedical challenges that no single discipline or institution could solve as effectively alone.”
The collaboration combines LSU Health Shreveport’s expertise in biomedical, clinical and translational research with Louisiana Tech’s strengths in engineering, biomedical engineering, micromanufacturing, advanced manufacturing and technology development.
“This agreement is a big win for researcher teams at both institutions,” said Bala Ramu Ramachandran, Louisiana Tech’s interim vice president for research. “It establishes protocols and procedures for faculty and graduate students from one institution to benefit from the intellectual capital, technical expertise and research infrastructure available at the other.”
Ramachandran said the partnership is expected to create additional collaboration opportunities while strengthening the universities’ competitiveness for research funding and commercialization efforts.
University officials said the agreement is also intended to improve both institutions’ ability to compete for federal and private research grants by supporting multidisciplinary research teams, shared infrastructure and workforce development initiatives.
The institutions said the partnership reflects a shared commitment to advancing scientific discovery, innovation and economic growth throughout North Louisiana.