The Greater New Orleans region is not only a robust health services provider and employer but also a thriving hub of biosciences research. Home to a booming BioDistrict in downtown New Orleans, multiple colleges and universities with strong biotech-related programs, and unique, cutting-edge research facilities, the region offers a favorable and supportive environment for scientists, innovators, and entrepreneurs alike.
Growing Network of Top-Notch Healthcare Facilities
A growing network of top-notch hospitals, trauma centers, and clinics serve the Greater New Orleans population, and both the volume and caliber of healthcare professionals and groundbreaking research in the area continue to climb. New Orleans is home to prestigious institutions like the LSU School of Medicine and Tulane University School of Medicine. Ochsner Health System, ranked the #1 hospital in Louisiana for eight consecutive years, and the Biosciences Economic Development District (BioDistrict) provide the region with world-class biosciences research and development, healthcare delivery, and high-paying jobs.
The BioDistrict, which includes the Veterans Administration Hospital, the new University Medical Center, the Louisiana Cancer Research Center, and the New Orleans BioInnovation Center, is creating an economic impact of $3.3 billion and has created 34,000 new jobs in the region.
Key Regional Assets for the Health Sciences Industry
Downtown Medical District: At the center of the region’s growing biosciences and healthcare industry is a 1,500-acre area in the heart of New Orleans’ Downtown. Here, leading medical schools, universities, hospitals, and research institutions work to advance bioscience knowledge. More than $2.3 billion has been invested in new hospital and medical research construction in this area.
State-of-the-Art Research Facilities: The Greater New Orleans region is home to some of the nation’s leading research in cancer, gene therapy, neurosciences, biostatistics, and tropical medicine. This research is conducted at and bolstered by institutions including Tulane and LSU Medical Schools and the Louisiana Cancer Research Center.
New Orleans BioInnovation Center: This 66,000 square-foot incubator is dedicated to fostering entrepreneurship and supporting Louisiana innovators as they develop life-saving new technologies. The Center offers wet-lab, office, and conference space, along with commercialization assistance and financing to help their program teams bring new diagnostics, treatments, or technologies to market.
Tulane National Primate Research Center: A hub for the study of infectious diseases, the Greater New Orleans region is home to one of seven primate centers nationwide, located in St. Tammany Parish. The Tulane Primate Center, often referred to as a “premier facility,” is funded by the National Institutes of Health and researches the development of vaccines, treatment options, and discovery of diagnostic tools for infectious diseases such as AIDS, Lyme disease, malaria, and tuberculosis.
Health Challenges in New Orleans
Despite these advancements, New Orleans faces several significant health challenges:
Obesity: New Orleans has a high rate of obesity.
Health Insurance: A high percentage of the population lacks health insurance.
Low Birth Weight: The region has a high percentage of babies born with low birth weights.
Violent Crime: New Orleans has a high violent crime rate.
Life Expectancy: The life expectancy in the New Orleans metro area is 76.6 years, which is lower than the national average of 78.7 years.
Health Disparities: Health challenges in New Orleans are not experienced equally by all groups. For example, non-Hispanic Blacks in New Orleans have higher rates of heart disease, cancer, stroke, accidents, and infant deaths.
Balancing Innovation with Health Challenges
The Greater New Orleans region stands out as a thriving center for health sciences, thanks to its world-class institutions, significant investments in healthcare infrastructure, and cutting-edge research facilities. However, the region must continue to address its substantial health challenges to ensure equitable and improved health outcomes for all its residents.
The Greater New Orleans region stands out as a thriving center for health sciences, thanks to its world-class institutions, significant investments in healthcare infrastructure, and cutting-edge research facilities. The BioDistrict and its key components, such as the Veterans Administration Hospital, University Medical Center, Louisiana Cancer Research Center, and the New Orleans BioInnovation Center, have created substantial economic impact and high-quality job opportunities.
The region’s leading research in cancer, gene therapy, neurosciences, and tropical medicine is conducted at renowned institutions like Tulane and LSU Medical Schools. The New Orleans BioInnovation Center fosters entrepreneurship and innovation, while the Tulane National Primate Research Center plays a crucial role in infectious disease research.
However, the region must address significant health challenges, including high rates of obesity, lack of health insurance, low birth weights, violent crime, and lower life expectancy. Health disparities, particularly among non-Hispanic Blacks, exacerbate these issues, highlighting the need for equitable health solutions.
While Greater New Orleans excels in health sciences innovation and infrastructure, continuous efforts are essential to overcome its health challenges and ensure improved health outcomes for all its residents.
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