Construction Begins on New, State‐of‐the‐Art Louisiana Cancer Research Center

 

NEW ORLEANS – Although preparation work has been under way at the site, construction on the Louisiana Cancer Research Center officially began today with a ceremony at the Tulane Avenue and South Claiborne Street location. A massive piling was signed by the major partners of the Louisiana Cancer Research Consortium (LCRC), Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, Tulane University Health Sciences Center and Xavier University, along with state and local dignitaries and several cancer survivors.

LCRC, a collaboration of the three universities’ health sciences programs, offers access to technologies, services and scientific consultation that enhance scientific interaction and productivity. The bricks‐and‐mortar cancer center has been on the drawing board for most of the past decade with design of the 10‐story, 175,000‐ square‐foot structure completed shortly after Katrina by RMJM Architects, a global design firm headquartered in the United Kingdom with offices in New York, Philadelphia, Cambridge, Princeton, St. Petersburg and Washington, DC.

“It has been a long time coming, but the project is definitely on course now,” said Steven Moye, President/CEO of the Louisiana Cancer Research Consortium, which will operate the facility. “It is the first of many state‐ofthe‐ art medical facilities planned for the city, and it will pioneer breakthrough advances in detection, treatment and prevention of cancer while fostering economic development in Downtown.”

The research center is located in what is known as the Greater New Orleans Biosciences Development District, an area that will also include the BioInnovation Center on Canal Street, the proposed Louisiana Medical Center at New Orleans and the new VA Medical Center, a teaching and research medical complex that will serve both Tulane and LSU medical schools.

Funding for the center comes largely from the 2002 legislative session in which then‐Rep. Mitch Landrieu led the charge to dedicate three cents of the Tobacco Tax to fund infrastructure and cancer research development for the consortium. At the urging of Senator Alario, an amount of $102 million for planning and construction came from the Blanco administration and the Louisiana Legislature in 2007.

“There was – and is – a critical need for a cancer center to serve Louisiana and the region,” said Landrieu, who now serves as Lieutenant Governor. “The legislature determined that the center’s funding should come from the Tobacco Tax, and I introduced the bill on the House side to secure that funding. I am proud to be part of this bipartisan effort for the people of Louisiana, and I am glad to see construction moving forward.”

“Louisiana has the highest cancer rate in the country, with one Louisiana resident dying from cancer‐related causes every hour,” said Dr. Augusto Ochoa, LCRC co‐director. “The research that will be possible in this new facility will help us change those numbers in a positive way and help us save lives of people not just here, but around the world.”

“The LCRC has always been an ambitious enterprise, bringing together the best and the brightest cancer researchers and caregivers for the benefit of the citizens of Louisiana. This new building will allow us to reach our full potential in terms of synergistic interactions between our various research programs, which are exploring the biology of
cancer and developing new therapeutic targets and treatment options,” said Prescott Deininger, PhD, LCRC codirector.

The new center provides a physical focal point for what is already happening in the consortium, according to Benjamin Sachs, MB, and Larry Hollier, MD, LCRC chair and vice‐chair, respectively. “We already utilize a system of core research facilities that provide state‐of‐the‐art technologies necessary to assist researchers in their work. Core equipment and services facilitate research across programs, but this will give us the opportunity to do that under one roof,” Sachs said.

Three of the floors of the building being constructed by Brice Construction will be dedicated to cancer research laboratories for LCRC’s Immunology, Molecular Signaling and Molecular Genetics research programs. One floor will house a vivarium and LCRC’s executive offices, and four floors will be dedicated to parking. A large theatrestyle meeting facility will be located on the first floor. With seating for 250, it can be used for scientific meetings as well as community events. The remaining floors will be flexible “white box” spaces for future growth as laboratories, offices or clinical services. Construction of the building is expected to be complete in 2012.

“The design combines two strong forms: a raised sculptural volume designed as a symbol of hope,” said R. Stephen McDaniel, RMJM’s leader in designing healthcare and research facilities. “The other is a two‐story glass element parallel to Tulane Avenue, which includes the lobby and conference center.”

RMJM has designed the Champalimaud Cancer Center in Lisbon, Portugal; the Mitchell Cancer Institute at the University of South Alabama and the Cancer Institute of New Jersey in New Brunswick. For LCRC, the firm partnered with Lyons and Hudson Architects, with mechanical engineering by Vanderwell in collaboration with New Orleans‐based Wink Engineering.

The new facility will help as the consortium seeks National Cancer Institute designation as a comprehensive cancer center, according to Hollier. The coordinated cancer research and education program tjat will optimize discovery and development of innovative cancer therapies, leading to innovative clinical treatment programs will be enhanced by the addition of this new facility.

“Louisiana, and specifically New Orleans, is gaining momentum in the area of biosciences,” said Hollier. “With this development, and the others that are planned, we know that New Orleans can become a destination for researchers and cancer patients from around the world.”