Research Commercialization and Educational Enhancement Program (RC/EEP)
The Louisiana Recovery Authority, Board of Regents, Governor, Legislature and the U.S. Department of House and Urban Development (HUD) allocated funds for research commercialization and educational enhancement at the campuses most severely impacted by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. One such program, administered by the Board of Regents, is the Research Commercialization and Educational Enhancement Program (RC/.EEP) which in 2007 was funded for four years by a $28,500,000 from HUD’s Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program.
The RC/EEP is designed to promote long-term economic recovery in the devastated areas by focusing on key research subject areas with commercial potential by 1) developing economic opportunities in the impacted areas, and 2) enhancing the quality of undergraduate and graduate education in the sciences, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) disciplines as well as film and music.
Sixteen campuses in the eight parishes designated by HUD as most severely impacted by the 2005 hurricanes were eligible to submit proposals to the Regents in the 15 disciplines deemed most likely to produce significant economic development, workforce, and educational advances in the storm-affected areas. Projects were reviewed and selected by experts in the specific subject area based on their scientific and technical quality, as well as their potential impact and strategic implications for Louisiana’s economic stabilization and growth of the storm-impacted region and the State.
VIEW THE RC/EEP CONSULTANTS’ REPORT AND FUNDING RECOMMENDATIONS
Contact program manager: Sara Sims
RC/EEP Funded Projects
Coastal Area Research Enhancement in Support of Genetic Improvement of Native Coastal Wetlands Creation and Restoration The Louisiana State University Agricultural Center is repurposing its citrus station in Plaquemines Parish as a wetlands plants center, and significantly expanding research and development in coastal wetlands preservation and creation. Total Award: $915,146. Lead Institution: LSU Agricultural Center.
South Louisiana Institute for Infectious Disease Research This project is conducting and integrating research programs in a number of areas related to infectious diseases and has established a center with broad interdisciplinary expertise. The development of core facilities in this area is intended to yield significant growth in commercialization efforts. Total Award: $3,350,000. Lead Institution: LSU Health Sciences Center-New Orleans. Partner Institution: Tulane University Health Sciences Center.
Support for Educational and Economic Development in Southwest Louisiana The focus of this project is the development of significant collaborations between McNeese State University and SOWELA Technical Community College. The goals are to restore critical lab equipment and research capacity at McNeese, and to integrate new laboratory equipment for teaching and conducting STEM tutorial labs and achieve Southern Association of Colleges & Schools (SACS) accreditation at SOWELA. McNeese is conducting research in areas ranging from alligator serum uses to gravitational wave analysis applications. Total Award: $2,700.000. Lead Institution: McNeese. Participating Institution: SOWELA Technical Community College.
Development of a Nationally Recognized Model in Research Commercialization, Education and Workforce Development in Chemical Engineering and the Chemical Sciences through University and Community College Collaborations This collaborative project has the dual objectives of pursuing translational research in chemical engineering, particularly related to health, energy and the environment, and developing a skilled technical and professional workforce in chemical sciences to meet the growing needs of the petro chemical industry in the region. Total Award: $3,900,000. Lead Institution: Tulane University. Participating Institutions: Nunez Community College, Xavier University of Louisiana.
Design, Delivery and Development of Therapeutic Peptides The objective of this project is to identify, produce, test and commercialize peptide-based therapeutics for a wide array of diseases, as well as provide significant research and training opportunities in biomedical research for undergraduate and graduate students. Total Award: $5,800,000. Lead Institution: Tulane University Health Sciences Center. Participating Institutions: LSU Health Sciences Center-New Orleans, Loyola University, University of New Orleans, Xavier University of Louisiana.
Clinical and Translational Research Education and Commercialization Program at Tulane University Health Sciences Center and Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center-New Orleans This major initiative provides funding for a Research Core: the Clinical and Translational Research Center and its Core Laboratory; an Education Core: funding faculty research scholars at both institutions and a Master’s of Science degree program/certificate program in clinical research; and a Commercialization Core: using student interns and institutional technology transfer staff to work with faculty to identify and develop commercial business opportunities — invention disclosures, patents, technologies, business plans, and startup companies. Total Award: $5,950,000. Lead Institution: Tulane University Health Sciences Center. Participating Institutions: Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center-N.O., New Orleans Bioinnovation Center, Children’s Hospital, New Orleans.
Center for Nanomedicine and Drug Delivery The objective of this project is to both develop a center of excellence in nanomedicine and continue transferable research into nanomedicine and the mechanisms of drug delivery. Total Award: $1,500,000. Lead Institution: Xavier University of Louisiana.
Chagas Disease in Southeastern Louisiana This project has developed a Research Scholars Program at Loyola to provide excellent opportunities in biomedical research for undergraduate students who will have established skills to enter the workforce. Total Award: $498,000. Lead Institution: Loyola University.
New Orleans Music, Entertainment and Educational Consortium This project has established a consortium of institutions to prepare students to work in the regionally important music industry and to explore novel approaches to developing career and professional skills of local musicians Total Award: $992,278. Lead Institution: Loyola University. Partner Institutions: Delgado Community College, Dillard University, University of New Orleans.
Multi-Media Intercollegiate, Interdisciplinary Technological Research This project seeks to increase training opportunities for students in all aspects of film production through Mass Communications curricula to ultimately contribute to Louisiana’s rapidly growing film production industry in Louisiana. Total Award: $1,500,000. Lead Institution: Dillard University. Partner Institution: Delgado Community College.
Enhancement of Undergraduate Research in Cancer Biology This project focuses on supporting the research of the Principal Investigator on a form of cancer caused by viral infection, building opportunities for students to participate in ongoing research activities as laboratory technicians as part of their training, and expanding Louisiana’s laboratory workforce. Total Award: $500,000 Lead Institution: Xavier University of Louisiana. Partner Institution: University of New Orleans