# Gulf South Minority/Underserved Clinical Trials Network (Gulf South M/U CTN)

> **NIH NIH UG1** · LSU HEALTH SCIENCES CENTER · 2022 · $2,367,121

## Abstract

ABSTRACT
The Gulf South Minority/Underserved – NCORP (GS-M/U-NCORP) and the Ochsner-Community-NCORP, the
two NCORPs in Louisiana, have both met the objectives proposed for the last funding cycle, expanding access
to and significantly increasing the number of patients participating in clinical trials in Louisiana and the Gulf
South region. These successful NCORPs have agreed to come together to form the Gulf South
Minority/Underserved Clinical Trials Network (Gulf South M/U CTN) NCORP, which will have as its primary
affiliates the LSU – Cancer Center New Orleans (LSU-CC-New Orleans), LSU – Feist Weiller Cancer Center
Shreveport (LSU-FWCC-Shreveport), Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center (MBPCC) and the Ochsner-Cancer
Center (Ochsner). The new Gulf South M/U CTN will provide cancer care and access to clinical trials for >50%
of new cancer cases in the region, expand the number of sites offering access to clinical trials from 22 to 42,
and exceed the required 30% proportion of minority patients participating in NCORP trials. The Gulf South
M/U CTN will bring additional resources including the Louisiana Tumor SEER registry (LTR-SEER) and the
state-wide cancer screening programs such as the Louisiana Breast and Cervical Health Program (LBCHP),
and the Louisiana Comprehensive Cancer Control Program (LCCCP). In addition we will benefit from ongoing
research led by our investigators and aimed at understanding cancer inequities and disparities in our region.
The new Gulf South M/U CTN has also expanded its network with major health providers in the region
including the Veterans Administration Hospital (New Orleans), Woman's Hospital (the largest dedicated clinical
center for women's health) in Baton Rouge and the Christus Health community sites. The new Gulf South M/U
CTN has garnered the support of the Louisiana Department of Health Secretary and the Governor, who are
developing a cancer care plan for the state (Taking Aim at Cancer in Louisiana Collaborative -TACL), where
the Gulf South M/U CTN is the major provider of state-wide cancer clinical trials. This support will help us to
continue increasing the participation of patients in NCORP and non-NCORP studies. To achieve our goals we
will implement the following three strategies. 1. Expand the number of sites through additional partnerships
with community organizations such as FQHC's where we will test novel approaches to increase the
participation of community physicians providing care to cancer patients in the region; 2. Support the
development of CCDR and Health Disparities research initiated by our investigators to understand the
inequities created by cancer in our region and 3. Increase our participation in national trials supported by
NCORP and other organizations to expand the scope and depth of trials offered to our patients.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10460422
- **Project number:** 5UG1CA189854-09
- **Recipient organization:** LSU HEALTH SCIENCES CENTER
- **Principal Investigator:** AUGUSTO C. OCHOA
- **Activity code:** UG1 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $2,367,121
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2014-08-01 → 2025-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10460422

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10460422, Gulf South Minority/Underserved Clinical Trials Network (Gulf South M/U CTN) (5UG1CA189854-09). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10460422. Licensed CC0.

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