Entities involved include LSU's public hospital in New Orleans, Tulane University's Heart and Vascular Institute, Xavier University and Children's Hospital
In just about every major indicator of public health, Louisiana comes in near the bottom of the rankings. That's due in great part to poverty and the relative limited access to health care that comes with it, especially for many people with chronic diseases.
It makes sense, then, that eight medical centers and schools in the state are forging a partnership to increase research, clinical testing of new treatments and the training of doctors studying diseases among the poor.
The so-called Louisiana Clinical and Translational Science Center, or LaCaTS, will use a $20 million grant from the National Institutes of Health to let the entities involved pool their expertise and know-how to produce new treatments and to get them to the public sooner.
The entities involved include LSU's public hospital in New Orleans, Tulane University's Heart and Vascular Institute, Xavier University and Children's Hospital, among others.
Officials said the they hope to speed up the process to get new drugs and treatments approved. In addition, trials for new drugs or treatments could be completed more quickly thanks to access to a broader pool of interested patients. Officials also said preventive measures will be an important part of the program, including trying to discover triggers for chronic conditions.
These are obviously important goals that can significantly improve public health in the state in the long run. The grant, which will help hire researchers, is also an economic shot in the arm for medical research, an area the state is seeking to expand.
That makes this a win-win for all Louisianians.