NEWS | Research at LSUHS

February’s designation as heart month would not be complete without recognizing the close biological connection between the heart and the brain. Rather than isolated organs working independently, the heart and brain are partners in a complex, dynamic system that supports both physical and cognitive health. At LSU Health Shreveport, researchers and clinicians study this connection to better understand how protecting cardiovascular health can also preserve brain function.

By defining the intersection of immune dysfunction and smooth muscle cell behavior, Dr. Art Yurdagul’s team is working to find strategies that stabilize plaques, prevent rupture and promote plaque regression.

Each year on February 11, the world celebrates the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, recognizing the vital role women play in advancing discovery and innovation. At LSU Health Shreveport, that impact is felt every day in our laboratories, classrooms and clinical environments, where women scientists are pushing the boundaries of biomedical research and inspiring the next generation to follow.

Love Data Week is an international celebration of data that invites us to think about data’s journey from collection and analysis to storage, sharing and preservation.

Researchers across campus generate large amounts of data throughout the research lifecycle as their studies progress. Administrators rely on data analysis to guide institutional strategy, planning and operations. Keeping information accurate, secure and usable is essential.

Everyday Health - People with MS who also have obesity or type 2 diabetes may be candidates for GLP-1 therapy, says Alan David Kaye, MD, PhD, a professor and the vice chair of research in the anesthesiology department at LSU Health in Shreveport, Louisiana. Dr. Kaye has published research on GLP-1s in people with MS.

In recently published findings, Dr. Arrigo De Benedetti and his team describe a promising new approach to treating advanced prostate cancer, particularly cases that have stopped responding to standard hormone-based therapies.

Amr Salem, DVM, MSc, PhD, Assistant Professor of Pathology and Translational Pathobiology and member of the LSUHS Center for Cardiovascular Diseases and Sciences, devotes his career to satisfying his curiosity: Why do blood vessels sometimes weaken, stiffen or clog, and how can we prevent that?

Invisible at birth yet essential for life, smooth muscle cells control digestion, urination, childbirth and blood flow. Research at LSU Health Shreveport reveals how genetic missteps in these cells can dictate a child’s future, and how science may one day change that outcome.

KTAL - Laura Baxter, the Director of Childhood Resilience at LSU Health Shreveport, explained that a partnership among LSUHS, Caddo 911, and the Shreveport Police Department is tracking statistics and seeing changes in crime data and trends.

Biz Magazine - An analysis of Caddo Parish 911 call data conducted by LSU Health Shreveport shows a significant decline in shootings and overall crime-related calls, even as demand for mental health and crisis-related services continues to grow.

Nola.com - Researchers at LSU Health Shreveport are already running trials to see if psilocybin, a hallucinogen found in certain mushrooms, can treat methamphetamine addiction.

AP News - Raydiant Oximetry, Inc., a clinical-stage medical device company pioneering innovations in fetal monitoring through advanced biophotonics and machine learning announced the initiation of an Investigational Device Exemption Pilot Study at LSU Health Shreveport.

KTBS - The federal government shutdown has paused a range of medical research projects across the country — including wastewater testing programs that help track infectious diseases and drug use trends. But at LSU Health Shreveport, the work continues, thanks largely due to financial support from the Caddo Commission and community philanthropy. 

Dr. Hind Lal and Dr. Tousif Sultan were recently published in Experimental & Molecular Medicine, for a study that found that hospitalization for community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) can lead to serious heart problems, even after recovery.

KTAL - For the past several years, LSU Health Shreveport has partnered with the Fundación Barrié, a nonprofit organization based in Spain, to give international students hands-on research experience in the U.S.