Release Date: August 1, 2024
The Collaborative Intramural Research Program (CIRP) supports new co-led research by an interdisciplinary team featuring one Ochsner Health researcher and one tenure- or tenure-track LSU Health Shreveport faculty member.
The research projects selected for a CIRP grant award demonstrate innovation and meaningful collaborations. Funding is available for three $100,000 ($50K to Ochsner and $50K to LSU) team awards per year but because proposals were so exceptionally strong this year, four projects were awarded. Congratulations to our 2024 CIRP Awardees:
Ari Cohen, MD
Medical Director, Ochsner Multi-Organ Transplant Institute
Paul Thevenot, PhD
Associate Professor, Ochsner ITR Transplant
Kelley Nunez, PhD
Assistant Professor, Ochsner ITR Transplant
Terry Lairmore, MD
Director of Surgery/Oncology, LSU Health Shreveport
Project: Loss Of Menin Tumor Suppressor Function Alters The Tumor Microenvironment And Spatial Transcriptome Of High-Grade Cholangiocarcinoma Associated With Racial Disparities
Li Li, MD, PhD
Associate Professor, Ochsner ITR Oncology
Sarah Thayer, MD
Professor of Surgery, LSU Health Shreveport
Project: Cancer Stem Cells: Understanding Their Origin, Their Role In Metastasis, And Their Potential Use As A Predictive Biomarker And Therapeutic Target In Pancreatic Cancer
Korak Sarkar, MD
Director, Ochsner Neurosciences Medical 3D Lab
Cory Coehoorn, PhD
Director of Rehabilitation Science Program, LSU Health Shreveport
Project: Cognitive Impact Of Rapid Heat Stress: A Model Of Decision Making For Firefighters
Xin Zhang, MD, PhD
Assistant Professor, Ochsner ITR Rheumatology
Shile Huang, PhD
Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, LSU Health Shreveport
Project: Targeting Metabolic Function By Metformin To Enhance The Activity Of Rapamycin: Novel Paradigm Of SLE Treatment
The CIRP grant program was conceived and began in 2020 by Leo Seoane, MD, Chief Academic Officer, Ochsner Health and Chris Kevil, PhD, Vice Chancellor for Research, LSU Health Shreveport as a means to stimulate research collaborations between the scientific and medical faculty as part of our institution’s partnership. CIRP applications are accepted every spring and should be submitted through the research grants office. Learn more about the CIRP submission process.
