On October 14th, LA CaTS Center Leadership, Cores and Partner Institutions came together for the annual External Advisory Committee (EAC) Meeting hosted by LSU Health New Orleans. This is a pivotal meeting focused on evaluating progress and shaping the future of clinical and translational research across Louisiana.
We were honored to welcome our distinguished EAC members, whose expertise continues to elevate the Center’s strategic direction:
- Dr. Craig McClain – Renowned for his work in translational medicine and liver disease
- Dr. Claudia Baquet – A national leader in health disparities and community engagement
- Dr. James Cimino – Expert in biomedical informatics and clinical decision support
- Dr. David D’Alessio – Accomplished clinician-scientist with deep insights into translational research infrastructure
The committee provided valuable feedback on the Center’s overall progress and engaged in dynamic discussions around several forward-looking initiatives, including:
- 🔍 AI integration to enhance research workflows and data analysis
- 🩺 Development of clinical research resources to better support investigators and clinicians
- 🌾 Rural health strategies to expand access to research to all communities
This meeting reaffirmed the critical role of the NIH-funded IDeA-CTR (LA CaTS) grant in driving statewide growth in clinical and translational research. The EAC’s guidance ensures that LA CaTS leadership remains aligned with national priorities while innovating to meet Louisiana’s unique needs.
We thank our advisors for their continued commitment and insight, and we look forward to implementing their recommendations to further strengthen our research impact.
For more information or corrections, contact info@LACaTS.org.