Louisiana ranks low in almost every cancer prevalence data set, ranking 42nd in overall cancer prevalence compared to other states. Cancer is the second-highest leading cause of death in Louisiana — with 9,345 deaths per year and 26,490 new cases per year.
The Louisiana Cancer Research Center was established in 2002 by the Louisiana State Legislature to help the state move forward and ease the significant cancer burden.
The center, located in New Orleans, is the "hub of Louisiana research," facilitating the work of LCRC's four partner institutions — LSU Health New Orleans, Tulane University School of Medicine, Xavier University of Louisiana and Ochsner Health.
In 2023, first lady Jill Biden visited the facility on her first visit to New Orleans to stress the Biden administration's commitment to prevent, detect and “end cancer as we know it.”
Dr. Joe Ramos, the CEO and director of LCRC and director of LSU LCMC Health Cancer Center, and first lady Jill Biden
Dr. Joe Ramos, the CEO and director of LCRC and director of LSU LCMC Health Cancer Center, said collaboration is the key to progress in attacking Louisiana's cancer burden.
Before coming to New Orleans, Ramos oversaw the University of Hawaii Cancer Center — a designated National Cancer Institute. Now, he and other Louisiana leaders are making strides to bring that designation to Louisiana.
The NCI designation involves meeting several criteria: laboratory research in several fields; transferring research into clinical practice; innovative clinical trials in the community; outreach to residents; education of health professionals and showing improvement in specific, measurable areas, such as lowering smoking rates or increasing lung cancer screenings, said Ramos.
NCI designation has always been the aim of the center, which built a 10-story, $85 million research laboratory to help carry out that goal in 2012.
It will not happen alone, according to Ramos. The state needs a multi-pronged approach to "attack cancer with every tool at our disposal — while inventing a few new ones along the way."
LCRC also looks to break institutional walls by sharing information and research between Louisiana's universities: LSU Health New Orleans, Tulane School of Medicine, Xavier University of Louisiana and Ochsner Health.
More than that, research in the state does not stop in South Louisiana, Ramos said.
In his first months as director, Ramos set out to University of Louisiana at Lafayette, Grambling State University, LSU Shreveport Health Science Center and more programs across the state.
Dr. Joe Ramos, the CEO and director of LCRC and director of LSU LCMC Health Cancer Center, photographed at the Louisiana Cancer Research Center in New Orleans.
"Stronger together really means a lot to this program — and our mission," Ramos said. "We are looking at a holistic approach to the burden of cancer, and that involves everyone."
On top of collaborating with other institutions, Ramos and his team at LCRC research genetic environments, population sciences, epidemiology, cancer biology and translation oncology at its building and labs in New Orleans.
But, the research and resources would not mean anything if Louisianans do not have access to them, according to Ramos.
"The stakeholders at LCRC are the people," Ramos said. "We can't do this alone."
Louisianans need to be able to access cancer care, new therapies, cutting-edge clinical trials and other resources in the state to help the burden of cancer.
Part of that care includes meeting patients where they are.
LSU Health Science Center began the Virtual Research Nurse Program to better communicate the available resources to those suffering from COVID. Now, the center is using the program to access patients in Louisiana using telemedicine.
The nurse program "extends the reach to smaller communities by giving practitioners and families ways to solve with the tools at hand," Ramos said.
The program provides accessible information, tools and research to practitioners, doctors, patients and families dealing with the burden of cancer. The telemedicine works to bridge the gap in rural communities where the 'cutting-edge' technologies aren't taking place.
Other local initiatives include the Campaign for Tobacco-free Living and cessation programs and community engagement programs.
In 2023, LCRC member institutions received $31.6 million in cancer-related funding from the National Institutes of Health, including $14.6 million from the National Cancer Institute.
"We are here for the people, getting the research out there with the commitment to see a difference," Ramos said.