Special Guests Visit Pennington Biomedical
Visits and Tours this month included Dr. Ben Carson, along with his wife Candy, and students from Westdale Middle School and Unitech Academy
April 30, 2025 · Baton Rouge, LA
This month, Pennington Biomedical welcomed renowned neurosurgeon and former U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Dr. Ben Carson to tour the Center and discover more about the incredible science and research conducted here.
Touring with his wife, Candy Carson, Dr. Carson was shown around by scientists and staff who briefed them on the research findings and studies that have taken place over the past 35 years, as well as discussing with them the next steps in discovering the triggers of chronic disease.
Dr. Carson visited each division of Pennington Biomedical, including touring basic
science labs; the metabolic chambers, including the infant metabolic champber - the
only such chamber being utilzed for research in the world; and the Center's clinic
and in-patient units. Dr. Carson had lunch and a roundtable discussion with Center
leadership before departing. 
Taking place concurrently, students from Westdale Middle School were also given a
tour of Pennington Biomedical. Students were brought to the exergaming room in TReCC
to see how the fun of video games can also translate into exercise and strength building,
Dr. Bob Dubin provide a tour of the clinic to see some of the unique equipment used,
and Dr. Kayla Fuselier of the Genetically Engineered Models Core demonstrated how
to use the precision equipment needed for microscopic experiments.
In a rare moment, these two tour groups passed each other, with Baton Rouge students
meeting the former cabinet member and world-famous neurosurgeon, providing a perfect
example of the sort of prominent guests that walk through the halls of Pennington
Biomedical, right in the backyards of these future researchers.
A few days later, an additional tour passed through the halls of Pennington Biomedical.
Twenty students from Unitech Academy were given a tour of the Center by Dr. Stephanie
Waldrop, who took them through the clinic, and Dr. David McDougal, who took them through
the Basic Science labs. Both provided them with an overview of the types of careers
one can have in research.
If you have a group who is interested in touring Pennington Biomedical Reseach Center, please contact the Communications and Marketing Office at marketing@pbrc.edu.
For more information contact:
Joe Coussan, Media Relations Manager, joe.coussan@pbrc.edu, 225-763-3049 or Ernie Ballard, Senior Director of Communications & Marketing, ernie.ballard@pbrc.edu, 225-263-2677.
About the Pennington Biomedical Research Center
The Pennington Biomedical Research Center is at the forefront of medical discovery as it relates to understanding the triggers of obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer and dementia. Pennington Biomedical has the vision to lead the world in promoting nutrition and metabolic health and eliminating metabolic disease through scientific discoveries that create solutions from cells to society. The center conducts basic, clinical, and population research, and is a campus in the LSU System.
The research enterprise at Pennington Biomedical includes over 600 employees within a network of 44 clinics and research laboratories, and 16 highly specialized core service facilities. Its scientists and physician/scientists are supported by research trainees, lab technicians, nurses, dietitians, and other support personnel. Pennington Biomedical is a globally recognized state-of-the-art research institution in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. For more information, see www.pbrc.edu.
Pennington Biomedical Research Center
6400 Perkins Road
Baton Rouge, LA 70808
