Louisiana Center for Health Innovation

10/20/2026

LCHI is contributing to UL Lafayette’s ongoing campus-wide efforts to support student mental health and well-being.

The Bridging Awareness and Service Linkages Mental Health and Su***de Project brings together expertise from across the University to increase awareness and connect students with mental and behavioral health resources.

LCHI Director Dr. Gabriela Mustata Wilson will serve as a co-principal investigator, joining colleagues in outreach and education, behavioral health screenings, crisis and referral networks, and community partnerships.

We look forward to supporting this work and its impact across our campus community!

Learn more about the initiative: https://lnkd.in/gJpqzqRz

10/13/2026

We are proud to recognize 2026 TExBioMed alumni Naomi Fay Dela Pena, Ja’kyron Duplechain, and Ashleigh Brown for presenting their research at the 2026 Health Summit: Advancing Health in a New Era.

The summit provided a valuable platform for these undergraduate researchers to share their work with healthcare professionals, educators, community leaders, and students from across Louisiana while gaining experience communicating research to broader audiences. LCHI Director Dr. Gabriela Wilson also presented a breakout session at the summit.

We would also like to thank the faculty mentors who supported these students throughout their summer research experience and helped prepare them for this opportunity: Dr. Scott Sittig; Dr. Ismatara Reena; and Dr. Anna Jilla. Their mentorship played an important role in helping these students grow as researchers and presenters.

ULLafayette

09/04/2026

We’re excited to celebrate Dr. Gabriela Mustata Wilson, Director of the Louisiana Center for Health Innovation, on being selected as Louisiana’s only member of the inaugural National Invention Ambassadors Network.

Through this national network, Dr. Wilson will help mentor emerging inventors and entrepreneurs, connect innovators across disciplines, and support the journey from promising ideas to real-world solutions.

We’re proud to see Dr. Wilson recognized for her leadership and look forward to seeing the impact she’ll continue to make.

Read the full story from UL Lafayette: https://lnkd.in/gHfG5b_j


University of Louisiana at Lafayette

08/24/2026

Welcome back!

The Louisiana Center for Health Innovation wishes students, faculty, and staff at UL Lafayette a great first day of the fall semester.

We’re looking forward to another year of collaboration, research, and innovation. Wishing everyone a great semester ahead!

08/14/2026

08/03/2026

Congratulations to our 2026 TExBioMed Summer Institute scholars!

Over the past 12 weeks, our 12 scholars dedicated themselves to research and professional growth while gaining valuable hands-on experience. They concluded the program by presenting their research through oral and poster presentations to a panel of community partners serving as judges, along with faculty, family, friends, and members of the UL Lafayette community.

We were honored to welcome remarks from UL Lafayette President Dr. Ramesh Kolluru and Interim Vice President for Research and Innovation Dr. Kumer Das as they recognized the students’ hard work and accomplishments throughout the summer.

Congratulations to our presentation award winners:

1st Place: Natalie Himel
Phonological Competition in Spoken Word Recognition: A Mouse Tracking Study
Research Mentor: Dr. Hung-Chu Lin

2nd Place: Joseph Rebert
Chatbot for ADRD Patient Care
Research Mentor: Dr. Sonya Hsu

3rd Place: Terriona Hopkins
A Statewide Analysis of the Physical Therapy Workforce in Louisiana
Research Mentors: Dr. Gabriela Wilson and Sahithya Sakhamuri, MPH

Every member of this year’s cohort should be proud of what they accomplished. Throughout the summer, our scholars strengthened their research skills, explored new areas of healthcare innovation, and gained experiences that will continue to support their future goals.

We would like to thank our mentors, community partners, faculty, family, and friends for supporting our scholars throughout the summer. Your guidance and encouragement played an important role in making this program a success.

As they move forward, many of our scholars are taking with them new professional connections, shadowing opportunities, and the opportunity to present their research at the Health Summit in New Orleans. We look forward to seeing all they accomplish next.

Congratulations again to our 2026 TExBioMed Summer Institute scholars. We are incredibly proud of each of you!

University of Louisiana at Lafayette UL Lafayette Advance Student Research UL Nursing & Health Sciences UL Lafayette Career Services UL Lafayette TRIO SSS-R Southwest Louisiana Area Health Education Center (SWLAHEC) United Way of Acadiana Catholic Charities of Acadiana CGI in the United States Foundation for Wellness

07/24/2026

The countdown is on! As the TExBioMed Summer Research Institute enters its final week, our undergraduate students are preparing to present the research they have been working on all summer.

Take a look back at some highlights from the program. Students visited community partners like SWLAHEC, connected with Career Services and TRIO, and participated in workshops on intellectual property, public speaking, and other professional development topics.

We can’t wait to celebrate our students’ accomplishments and see them showcase their research at the TExBioMed Final Presentations and Celebration!

University of Louisiana at Lafayette UL Lafayette Advance Student Research UL Lafayette TRIO SSS-R Southwest Louisiana Area Health Education Center (SWLAHEC)

07/09/2026

Congratulations to Our Director, Dr. Gabriela Wilson!

The Center for Health Innovation is proud to celebrate Dr. Wilson, on her selection to the inaugural Leadership Louisiana Health Fellows class.

This distinguished program brings together leaders from across the state who are committed to strengthening Louisiana through collaboration, innovation, and service. Dr. Wilson’s selection reflects her dedication to advancing health innovation, fostering meaningful partnerships, and improving the health and well-being of communities across Louisiana.

We are excited to see her contribute to this exceptional network of leaders while bringing new insights back to our center and the communities we serve.

Please join us in congratulating Dr. Wilson on this well-deserved achievement!

Learn more about Leadership Louisiana Health Fellows:
https://lnkd.in/ggbWV5fn

06/16/2026

Last week, the Louisiana Center for Health Innovation attended the Maternal Health Summit hosted by the , , and Healthy Start - CenLa.

The summit brought together healthcare professionals, researchers, and community partners to engage in evidence-based discussions focused on improving maternal health outcomes and strengthening care for families across Louisiana.

We appreciate the chance to participate in these discussions on maternal health and the collaborative efforts that contribute to better health outcomes.

06/11/2026

Last week, LCHI welcomed , who shared insights on the organization’s work across the Acadiana region with our TExBioMed cohort. Students also participated in the ALICE simulation, gaining a deeper understanding of the challenges many families face and the importance of community-driven solutions.

Thank you to United Way of Acadiana for taking the time to present and engage with our students!