North Louisiana's existing infrastructure, notable research facilities, skilled workforce, competitive incentives and available research funding are attracting and nurturing innovative biotech and life sciences companies. The region's and the state's current assets and our physical position within the medically underserved Gulf Coast make the biotech and life sciences sector ripe for growth in Louisiana. Dr. Reddy's Laboratories, headquartered in India, is just one of the companies that has discovered the advantages of locating and expanding in North Louisiana. As the fifth largest generic pharmaceutical manufacturer in the world, Dr. Reddy's located operations in Shreveport in 2008 because of the region's long history of pharmaceutical manufacturing, skilled and qualified workforce and competitive incentive package. Two years later, the company expanded the number of product lines manufactured in North Louisiana because of the facility's record of success.
North Louisiana's emerging biotech and life science sector benefits from innovative programs dedicated to promoting a knowledge economy, such as the Biomedical Research Foundation and its related initiatives.
InterTech Science Park is an urban science and technology park that leverages the considerable research, education and facility resources of nine universities and colleges and thirteen community and technical colleges in North Louisiana. The Park seeks and supports companies in the technology clusters of biomedical and biotechnology, information, communications, digital and sound media, environment and energy. Biomedical Research Institute supports and partners with LSU Health Sciences Center in Shreveport. The 10-story, 160,000 square foot research facility with 56 state-of-the-art labs is currently occupied by scientists and researchers from LSUHSC-S. Opened in February 1994, the Institute houses more than 250 researchers, technicians and support personnel working to find cures to such diseases as stroke, cancer, arthritis and Alzheimer's. Some of the innovative research conducted by LSUHSC-S is being commercialize by start-up companies, housed at InterTech Science Park.
Nationally recognized research institutions provide the intellectual capital that fuels this R& D intensive sector. North Louisiana's 12 colleges and universities partner with private biotech, pharmaceutical, and life science companies to commercialize their research and assist with product development.
LSU Health Sciences Center- Shreveport offers a multidimensional research program through its School of Medicine. Disciplines in basic and clinical sciences offer students and faculty unlimited research potential. Biomedical research at LSU Health Sciences Center in Shreveport is inextricably linked to both patient care and education. Faculty and students engage in diverse research projects with the unifying goals of advancing scientific knowledge and applying that new knowledge to patient care. Currently there hundreds of research projects in progress which focus on a variety of diseases and conditions including, but not limited to, cancer, Alzheimer’s Disease, Autism, Parkinson’s Disease and Diabetes. With institutional maturation comes growth in research. In fiscal year 2008-2009, LSUHSC-Shreveport researchers brought in more than $22 million in extramural funding to the community. For comparison purposes in fiscal 1986-87, LSUHSC-S generated only $2.9 million in extramural funding. In addition, LSU Health Sciences Center is actively working to help researchers market their discoveries to biomedical companies.
Biotechnology is currently being used in high-caliber, cutting edge drug discovery research being conducted in the Department of Basic Pharmaceutical Sciences in the College of Pharmacy at the University of Louisiana at Monroe. In collaboration with government, private and industrial institutions, faculty in the ULM College of Pharmacy are conducting research in cellular and molecular biology that will ultimately provide novel approaches for drug discovery, delivery, and formulation. Areas of research focus include cancer diagnosis and treatment, improvement in the regulation of diabetes, preventing or inhibiting the progression of degenerative illnesses such as Alzheimer’s disease, as well as efforts aimed in understanding the basic cellular and physiological mechanisms involved in successful recovery from heart and vascular disease. In the last five years, the ULM College of Pharmacy has made huge strides in establishing a national reputation as a leading research institution. This is further evidenced by a significant increase in extramural research funding and peer review scientific publications by the College in recent years. Interdisciplinary collaboration has led to a synergy of ideas and new research approaches, resulting in numerous patent applications by College of Pharmacy faculty. ULM College of Pharmacy have formed partnerships with biotechnology companies, recently collaborating with an Australian based pharmaceutical company, Beta Pharmaceutical Ltd. College of Pharmacy researchers are focusing on the development of novel therapies to be used in the prevention and treatment of breast cancer in women. A proposed “Center of Excellence” is planned for the College of Pharmacy that would link university researchers and leaders in the Biotech/Pharmaceutical industry and would provide for basic research and incubator facilities to establish a biomedical business development program.
Institute for Micromanufacturing (IfM): Since its inception in 1991, the Institute for Micromanufacturing at Louisiana Tech University has been an industry leader in carrying out cutting-edge research and development efforts, resulting in micro- and nanosystems for biomedical, biological, environmental, chemical, information technology, and other applications. The IfM’s primary research and development thrusts are in the areas of Biotechnology, Nanotechnology, Biomedical Nanotechnology, Environmental Technology, and Information Technology. Enterprise Campus: Established in 2009, Enterprise Campus (Louisiana Tech University’s research park) aims to serve as the intellectual epicenter for technology enterprises in North Louisiana by providing an environment that supports the powerful engagement of industry, government and community partners in the research, development, and educational activities of Louisiana Tech University. Enterprise Campus will enrich learning experiences for students, provide research synergies between tenant companies and faculty, and accelerate technology transfer through collaborations with those who are most effective at commercializing technologies.
In addition to the state's infrastructure assets, Louisiana's Research & Development Tax Credit rewards innovation by offering a tax credit up to 40% to businesses that establish or continue research and development activities in Louisiana, fostering not only an innovative environment, but a financially competitive solution. Discover how your business can take advantage of Louisiana's wealth of business opportunities