FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
BIOTECH ECOSYSTEM IN LOUISIANA DRIVING INNOVATION AND INDUSTRY GROWTH IN THE BIG EASY
Strong support for biotech startups and talent development is creating opportunities for commercialization and economic growth in Louisiana.
New Orleans, Louisiana – Today, the National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology (NSCEB) visited New Orleans, Louisiana on its Biotech Across America Roadshow. Commissioner Alexander Titus met with stakeholders from across the local community to learn more about New Orleans’s biotech startup culture and investments in talent development.
In its April 2025 Action Plan for strengthening U.S. biotechnology, the NSCEB highlighted product development and scaleup, commercialization, and early investment as challenges for the sector. The strong support for early-stage biotech companies in New Orleans shows how strategic action can boost the industry and regional economic growth.
“Biotechnology startups are some of the most leading-edge innovators in deep tech, but they face real barriers to scaling and commercialization,” said NSCEB Commissioner Alexander Titus. “The ecosystem in New Orleans is finding impressive ways to address these challenges by making biotech an economic priority in Louisiana. We need to continue to unleash private sector innovation because it is a national security imperative to ensure the United States can translate breakthrough science into global strategic advantages.”
“New Orleans is home to world-class research institutions, a growing startup ecosystem, and a deep commitment to health access — all critical ingredients for American biotech leadership. Welcoming the National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology to our city underscores that what we’re building here isn’t just local economic development — it’s a contribution to our nation’s security and resilience,” said Andy Kopplin, Chair of the BioDistrict New Orleans and President and CEO of the Greater New Orleans Foundation.
“The Commission’s visit proves that America won’t lead in biotech from two coasts alone,” said NOBIC Executive Director Kris Khalil. “New Orleans anchors a corner of American biotech that no other city can replicate, and the BioInnovation Center helps push local scientists, founders, and institutions onto the national stage. Biotech now underpins American national security and fuels our economic resilience, and regional hubs like ours help solidify global competitiveness.”
“LSU Health New Orleans serves as Louisiana’s cornerstone for innovative research and institutional strength, playing a critical role in advancing national, regional, and local biotechnology priorities,” said Nicole Honoree, Vice Chancellor for Economic Development and Strategic Initiatives at LSU Health Sciences Center. “While its research, training, and patient care are anchored in the New Orleans BioDistrict, LSU Health’s integration within the broader LSU system enables collaboration across disciplines including agriculture, nutrition, veterinary medicine, and engineering, collectively accelerating biotechnology innovation for the public good.”
Event Details:
At the New Orleans BioInnovation Center (NOBIC), Commissioner Titus met with NOBIC and BioDistrict leadership for a presentation on the New Orleans biotech ecosystem. Founders from local biotech companies and startups shared their work and discussed how NOBIC and BioDistrict’s support impacted their commercialization and scaleup journey. Louisiana’s biotech strength lies in this collaborative hub that is tying the ecosystem together across industry, academia, and local and state government.
Participants and Commissioner Titus then held a roundtable discussion focused on how the New Orleans innovation landscape is boosting biotech, challenges for both new and established companies, and key actions from both the public and private sectors that could unlock further growth.
In the afternoon, Commissioner Titus joined Louisiana State University (LSU) and Xavier University of Louisiana (XULA) for facility tours. XULA’s soon-to-open Ochsner College of Medicine showcases how higher education can partner with private sector institutions to drive talent development in critical areas. At LSU’s Health Sciences Center, cutting-edge training programs are making New Orleans a hub for advanced talent development in the field of health sciences.
Event Participants Included:
- BioDistrict New Orleans
- City of New Orleans
- Chosen Diagnostics
- Greater New Orleans, Inc.
- Informuta
- Louisiana BIO
- Louisiana Economic Development
- New Orleans BioInnovation Center
- Obatala Sciences
- Office of U.S. Senator John Kennedy
- Ochsner Ventures
- Tulane University
- Xavier University of Louisiana
Biotech Across America Roadshow
The Commission is hitting the road to highlight biotechnology across America, including the companies, academic institutions, workforce development programs, and policy initiatives that are driving the future for this rapidly growing industry. Commissioners will continue learning about the work being done across this vibrant ecosystem while engaging on the key findings and recommendations from the Commission’s recent report to Congress.
About NSCEB: The National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology is a time-limited, high-impact legislative branch advisory entity whose purpose is to advance and secure biotechnology, biomanufacturing, and associated technologies for U.S. national security and to prepare the United States for the bioindustrial revolution. The Commission published a comprehensive report in April 2025, including recommendations for action by Congress and the federal government. The bipartisan Commission is composed of Congressionally-appointed Commissioners with members from both the Senate and the House of Representatives as well as experts from industry, academia, and government. For more information about the Commission and to view the report, visit: biotech.senate.gov.
Contacts:
NSCEB: press@biotech.senate.gov