Project Summary: Overall The Louisiana Clinical and Translational Science (LA CaTS) Center is a consortium of the major academic and biomedical research centers in the State of Louisiana. Pennington Biomedical Research Center is the lead institution and will continue to partner with Louisiana State University Health (LSUH)-New Orleans and Tulane University Health Sciences Center in this initiative. LSUH-Shreveport, LSU-A&M (Baton Rouge), Xavier University and Children's Hospital New Orleans, were early Research Partners in cycle 1. Southeast Louisiana Veterans Healthcare System, a newly opened University Medical Center in New Orleans ($1 billion State investment), Ochsner Health and the LSUH-NO School of Dentistry joined during cycle 2. The LA CaTS Center is growing a unified clinical translational science program for Louisiana based on the creation of synergistic programs and unparalleled collaboration from all the major academic and biomedical research institutions in the state. Since inception 9 years ago, the LA CaTS Center has: 1) successfully leveraged resources and expertise of multiple participating institutions to build a vibrant statewide research infrastructure; 2) developed highly synergistic and integrative collaborative programs; 3) implemented a systematic approach to clinical research across all institutions, that includes a new SMART IRB Reliance Model review; and 4) implemented a highly effective governance system based on an unprecedented level of trust between partners. LA CaTS is experiencing exponential growth in research productivity as assessed by key metrics including a three-fold increase in external grant awards, a more than two-fold increase in publications with authors acknowledging LA CaTS Center resources and services and over 600 researchers benefiting from and using our services. Notably, during a period that has been marked by unique and unprecedented challenges from COVID and then Hurricane Ida, LA CaTS has achieved, and in many cases exceeded, its stated objectives and projected milestones. Indeed, since the COVID pandemic hit Louisiana in March of 2020, LA CaTS has led multiple successful grant applications for Administrative Supplements and NOSI awards, notably to facilitate COVID testing and vaccinations in underserved Black communities through the RADx-UP program and most recently our partnership with the IDeA state ISCORE consortium on the national Long-COVID initiative - Post-Acute Sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 Infection (PASC)/RECOVER trial. However, we fully recognize that our work has only just begun, as we collectively address disparities and improve the lives of our citizens. It is also apparent, that slowly, but surely, we are impacting public health one project at a time! With new services proposed and the additional resources that will be added, our Center is uniquely positioned to devote our activities and resources to our major theme for the next 5-year cycle that will “address health disparities and improve the health outcomes of the citizens we serve”.

Project Narrative: Overall Louisiana is in the highest decile for mortality from chronic diseases. The Louisiana Clinical and Translational Research (LA CaTS) Center is an IDeA-CTR dedicated to resolving this devastating health burden by training and promoting clinical and translational research that addresses health disparities and focuses on improving health outcomes in our state. Major areas of research include obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer, and COVID-19, particularly in underrepresented minority and underserved communities.