On October 3 and 4, Xavier University of Louisiana will join other research-driven institutions and organizations during BIO on the BAYOU, an academic bioscience and biotech showcase. Individuals from across the Gulf South region will gather to share and advance cutting-edge biological innovation, technology, and research. Registration is free and open online.

This year’s conference will be held at the New Orleans BioInnovation Center and the Tidewater Buildings at 1441 and 1440 Canal Street in New Orleans, respectively. The event includes expert-led panels, private meeting capabilities powered by partneringONE, networking, and scientific presentations.

“Xavier is proud to serve as a co-sponsor of this year’s BIO on the BAYOU,” said Ms. Kaneisha Bailey Akinpelumi, associate vice president of the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs at Xavier. “It provides opportunities to showcase the bioscience and biotech research occurring at Xavier and other universities throughout the country, connect with industry and potential investors, and contribute to the growth of this sector in the Gulf South region.”

Akinpelumi recently acted as a guest host for a BIO from the BAYOU podcast, where she interviewed Dr. Christopher Williams, Professor of Pharmacology and Chair of the Division of Basic Pharmaceutical Sciences in Xavier’s College of Pharmacy, about the research coming out of Xavier University of Louisiana. Dr. Williams also talked about his career path and his research into breast cancer treatment. He also discusses the development of Xavier’s new medical school and the expansion of the biotech sector of New Orleans. Akinpelumi is scheduled to act as a moderator in an upcoming episode of the podcast as well, where she will converse with Dr. Tari Suprapto, director of search & evaluation (West) at Novo Nordisk. 

Aside from Xavier, other presenting institutions include Tulane University, LSU Health New Orleans, The University of Mississippi, Jackson State University, LSU Health Shreveport, The University of Kentucky, The University of Louisville, Mississippi State, Pennington Biomedical Research Center, The Puerto Rico Science, Technology & Research Trust, and the University of Southern Mississippi. The event is sponsored by Xavier, the New Orleans BioInnovation Center, the New Orleans BioFund, the New Orleans Business Alliance, Nikon, Stites & Harbison, Baton Rouge Area Chamber, Louisiana Economic Development (LED), Greater New Orleans, Inc. (GNO, Inc.), LA New Product Development Company (LA NPDT), CDD Vault, BRF (former the Biomedical Research Foundation of Northwest Louisiana), and TreMonti.

This year’s program will build on the success of the last year with an agenda featuring topics such as vaccines to ignite mucosal immunity, deep mining of small RNA data, breath prints, intraoperative devices for direct measurement of bone quality, and more!

The full agenda is visible here. Find more information and register at the BIO on the BAYOU website.