Do You Have “The Answer?” Find Out at Pennington Biomedical Research Foundation’s Premier Gala

December 9, 2025  · Baton Rouge, LA

The annual fundraiser for the research center’s affiliate foundation will be held March 27, 2026, at the L’Auberge Casino Hotel Event Center

“The Answer,” the annual premier gala for the Pennington Biomedical Research Foundation, will be held at the L’Auberge Casino and Hotel Event Center on Friday, March 27, 2026, with members of the Greater Baton Rouge community and beyond invited for a night of trivia, entertainment, a live and silent auction and more. For more than 10 years, the Pennington Biomedical Research Foundation has held the annual gala to support innovative, life-changing discoveries at the world-renowned Pennington Biomedical Research Center. 

With the theme of “Best of the Bayou,” the gala will celebrate Louisiana’s rich culture and charm. Hosted offsite for the first time at L’Auberge Casino and Hotel in Baton Rouge, “The Answer” is offering table packages for purchase and tiered donor options, as well as individual tickets for purchase. Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased at pbrf.org/answer.

“We are excited to announce ‘The Answer’ for 2026, and on behalf of all of us at the Pennington Biomedical Research Foundation, I’m proud invite our friends, neighbors and the whole community to join us,” said Janet Olson, Interim President and CEO of the Foundation. “Since our first ‘Answer’ in 2016, we have seen the power of the community to drive and sustain the discoveries and innovations taking place at Pennington Biomedical. Every dollar and donor supports new discoveries and fosters a healthier community and world.”

Through the sale of tickets, tables and sponsorships, “The Answer” has driven support for Pennington Biomedical research, discovery and impact. To date, Pennington Biomedical researchers have studied, analyzed and tested nearly every obesity and diabetes drug on the market today, as well as developing major obesity and lifestyle interventions. From the creation of the heart-healthy DASH diet to the application of the world’s only functioning infant metabolic chamber, Pennington Biomedical is generating solutions, from cells to society, in a wide variety of populations, ranging from expectant mothers and their babies to the U.S. Military. 

“At Pennington Biomedical, our scientists are advancing world-class research that is changing lives and redefining what's possible in the fight against obesity and metabolic disease,” said Dr. John Kirwan, Executive Director of Pennington Biomedical. “We are tackling one of the defining health challenges of our time—from developing next-generation treatments to addressing childhood obesity before it takes hold. None of this work happens in isolation. We are deeply grateful to our partners across Baton Rouge and beyond who share our vision and continue to champion this mission.”

The financial contributions generated by the event ensure future decades of research breakthroughs, faculty recruitment and investments in leading-edge infrastructure. In 2024, support generated from the gala contributed to the purchase of new equipment for the Center’s metabolic kitchen. In 2025, proceeds from the gala contributed to the installation and ramp-up costs of a new Bruker BioSpec Maxwell Magnetic Resonance Imaging machine, designed specifically for high-definition analysis of small sample tissues and animal subjects. 

“Our new BioSpec Maxwell is truly state-of-the-art," said Dr. Chris Morrison, Associate Executive Director for Basic Science at Pennington Biomedical. "Very few institutions have such novel imaging capabilities, and this instrument pushes us to the forefront of research discovery. The BioSpec Maxwell not only adds a new layer of detail and precision to our research, but it helps in positioning Pennington Biomedical for previously unavailable recruiting and collaboration opportunities.”