2026 News Feed
Louisiana Study Shows Promising Outcomes for Bariatric Surgery in Adolescents and Young Adults with Severe Obesity
A new study from researchers at LSU’s Pennington Biomedical Research Center, FMOL Health | Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center and Metamor Institute demonstrates that metabolic and bariatric surgery can be delivered safely and effectively for adolescents and young adults living with severe obesity, offering promising improvements in weight loss and obesity-related health conditions.
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Dr. Tim Allerton Awarded Up to $3.6 Million NIH Grant to Study New Approach to Advance Heart Failure Research
Dr. Tim Allerton, Assistant Professor and Director of the Vascular Metabolism Laboratory at LSU’s Pennington Biomedical Research Center, has been awarded a prestigious National Institutes of Health (NIH) R01 research grant totaling up to $3.6 million to investigate a promising new approach to treating one of the fastest-growing forms of heart failure.
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LSU and FMOL Health | Our Lady of the Lake Award $1.6M to Seven Research Teams
LSU and FMOL Health | Our Lady of the Lake have awarded more than $1.6 million in competitive research grants to seven teams from across the state as part of their Collaboration in Action Program, or CAP. Each of the winning teams is working to solve critical health challenges in Louisiana, including for patients suffering from cancer, trauma, and heart and lung disease. CAP also works to advance sports medicine and performance, as well as medical data science, to bring the benefits of innovation directly to those who need it most.
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RURAL Health Study Reveals Key Drivers of Chronic Disease in Franklin Parish
Following the release of data from Assumption Parish earlier this year, researchers at LSU’s Pennington Biomedical Research Center have published the first set of data from the Risks Underlying Rural Areas Longitudinal, or RURAL, Heart and Lung study in Franklin Parish. The data book for Franklin Parish is now available to explore.
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Dr. Robert Newton Jr. Appointed to American Heart Association Physical Activity Committee
Dr. Robert Newton Jr. was appointed to the Physical Activity Committee of the American Heart Association’s Council on Lifestyle and Cardiometabolic Health. His two-year term will begin July 1, 2026, and continue through June 30, 2028.
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Dr. Logan Townsend Appointed Assistant Professor at LSU’s Pennington Biomedical Research Center
LSU’s Pennington Biomedical Research Center is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Logan Townsend as an Assistant Professor, effective July 1. Dr. Townsend, most recently a postdoctoral fellow at the Centre for Metabolism, Obesity and Diabetes Research at McMaster University in Canada, will lead the newly established Integrative Stress Metabolism Laboratory at Pennington Biomedical.
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Dr. Robert Dubin Named Fellow of The Obesity Society
Dr. Robert Dubin, Associate Professor at LSU’s Pennington Biomedical Research Center, has been named a Fellow of The Obesity Society, or FTOS, one of the highest honors bestowed by the organization. The prestigious FTOS designation recognizes individuals who have demonstrated exceptional scholarly achievement in obesity research, including a strong record of peer-reviewed publications and significant contributions to the field. Fellows of The Obesity Society are also eligible to hold leadership positions, vote on organizational matters and help guide the future direction of the society.
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Key Factors That Build Resilience and Support Mental Health in Female Athletes Identified
Researchers have identified several modifiable factors that influence psychological resilience in female athletes and found that greater resilience may help protect against depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and high levels of perceived stress.
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Researchers Identify Cellular Trigger Behind Pollution-Driven Lung Damage
A team of LSU researchers has pinpointed a specific type of lung cell that acts as a master switch for the harmful inflammation caused by a dangerous class of air pollutants—a discovery that opens the door to new treatments for asthma and other respiratory diseases.
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Long-Term Study Finds Lifestyle Intervention Reduces Risk of Multiple Chronic Diseases in Adults with Prediabetes
A major long-term study of adults with prediabetes found that intensive lifestyle intervention significantly reduced the risk of developing multiple chronic health conditions over time, highlighting the lasting benefits of healthy behavior changes for aging populations.
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