Tulane Research Summit Becomes Statewide Festival

Tulane University is converting its annual research showcase into a statewide event. The new format, named Innovate Louisiana, will unite researchers from multiple institutions in a single venue. The change marks a shift from a single-campus display to a collaborative marketplace for ideas and talent.

The expansion involves three new partners. Louisiana Economic Development and LCMC Health provide financial backing. The University of Louisiana at Lafayette and Ochsner Health join as academic partners. This coalition allows the event to draw from a wider pool of students, faculty, and staff across the state’s higher education system.

The event is scheduled for April 6 through 9, 2027. It will take place in the Avron B. Fogelman Arena within the Devlin Fieldhouse on Tulane’s uptown campus. Organizers aim to connect academic work directly with industry leaders. The goal is to facilitate recruitment, technology licensing, and new business partnerships in a concentrated setting.

Programs will include poster sessions, lightning talks, and live pitch competitions over the four days. On April 7, the New Orleans BioInnovation Center will host BioChallenge Louisiana. This segment supports founders and teams working in biotechnology and brain health. The same day will end with the Open Medical Innovation Challenge, a pitch competition for health and wellness ideas.

Friday, April 9, will feature the School of Science and Engineering Capstone Design Expo. Students in biomedical, civil, chemical, engineering physics, and computer science will present their final projects. These exhibits provide companies with direct access to recent academic work. Registration for the event is free, and abstract submission opened on Monday, November 2.

Mary Pinder-Schenck will deliver the opening keynote. She serves as senior vice president of medical affairs at Revolution Medicines. The company recently received U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval for a pancreatic cancer drug that targets RAS. Pinder-Schenck began her medical career at Charity Hospital in New Orleans. Tulane is currently renovating that building into a hub for healthcare and research.

Chad Steele, vice president for research at Tulane, stated the event aims to place major corporations in the same room as local talent. He specifically cited SpaceX, Hyundai, Laitram, and Saronic as examples of companies that could recruit graduates or license technology. Kumer Das, interim vice president for research at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, noted that the partnership leverages the institution’s track record in workforce development and economic opportunity.

Organizers describe the initiative as the start of an annual tradition. The event provides a permanent platform for Louisiana’s research and entrepreneurial communities. Partners interested in joining the coalition can contact Clay Christian at Tulane. The current focus is on building connections between universities and industry across the state.