The Louisiana Clinical and Translational Science (LA CaTS) Center is a consortium of the major academic and biomedical research centers in the State of Louisiana. Pennington Biomedical Research Center is the lead institution and will continue to partner with Louisiana State University Health New Orleans (LSUH-NO) and Tulane University Health Sciences Center in this initiative. LSUH-Shreveport, LSU-A&M (Baton Rouge), Xavier University and Children’s Hospital New Orleans, were early Research Partners in cycle 1. Southeast Louisiana Veterans Healthcare System, a newly opened University Medical Center in New Orleans ($1 billion State investment), Ochsner Health and the LSUH-NO School of Dentistry joined during Cycle 2. The LA CaTS Center is growing a unified clinical translational science program for Louisiana based on the creation of synergistic programs and unparalleled collaboration from all the major academic and biomedical research institutions in the state. Since inception 9 years ago, the LA CaTS Center has: 1) successfully leveraged resources and expertise of multiple participating institutions to build a vibrant statewide research infrastructure; 2) developed highly synergistic and integrative collaborative programs; 3) implemented a systematic approach to clinical research across all institutions, that includes a new SMART IRB Reliance Model review; and 4) implemented a highly effective governance system based on an unprecedented level of trust between partners. LA CaTS is experiencing exponential growth in research productivity as assessed by key metrics including a three-fold increase in external grant awards, a more than two-fold increase in publications with authors acknowledging LA CaTS Center resources and services and over 600 researchers benefiting from and using our services. Notably, during a period that has been marked by unique and unprecedented public health challenges including Hurricane Ida, LA CaTS has achieved, and in many cases exceeded, its stated objectives and projected milestones. In the previous cycle, LA CaTS led multiple successful applications for Administrative Supplements and NOSI awards, including efforts to expand health care access and prevention through a national NIH collaboration and, most recently, a partnership with the IDeA-state ISCORE consortium on the national PASC/RECOVER trial. However, we fully recognize that our work has only just begun, as we collectively address gaps in health care delivery and improve the lives of our at-risk population. It is also apparent that slowly, but surely, we are impacting public health one project at a time! With new services proposed and the additional resources that will be added, our Center is uniquely positioned to devote our activities and resources to our major theme “from barriers to breakthroughs: innovative approaches to chronic disease management in Louisiana.”