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A part of BRF’s EdVentures initiatives, the BioStart Laboratory Research Internship Program provides a semester-long internship opportunity for 7 to 10 Southwood High School seniors participating in the Biotechnology Magnet Academy. Students conduct a hands-on research project under the guidance of a faculty mentor at LSU Health Shreveport.   Participants spend three hours every day for one semester, or approximately 18 weeks, working in a laboratory with their LSU Health Shreveport mentor. They are introduced to research methods and laboratory techniques, gaining lab experience that stands out as unique among their peers. Some of this year’s projects included research regarding causes behind liver cancer growth, the role of DNA instability in specialized proteins in Parkinson’s, the nutritional needs of the Arcanobacterium haemolyticum bacteria, and the effects of the TLK1 enzyme in the treatment of head and neck cancer. Annually, participants present their research findings at poster sessions, regional conferences, science competitions and public outreach venues. This year’s class will present their research at an open house in the Southwood gym on Tuesday, January 28 at 9 a.m., and they will also compete in the Louisiana Region 1 Science and Engineering Fair held at Bossier Parish Community College in March 2020. […]

At each of the universities participating in this fall’s competitions, $4,500 in prize money, scholarships to the Louisiana Startup Prize 2020 and the Patent Academy, plus professional services from EAP were awarded to students who placed in EAP’s Grand Prix Business Model Competitions.   Click here to learn more about EAP’s Grand Prix Business Model Competitions.     Grambling State University’s Golden Pitch Competition   1st place ($3,000) Alain Pacquette, Kimorah John and Kish Jean Alpha Sole   2nd place ($1,000) Destney Johnson and Jyandria Carr-Vaughn Luv Her Beauty   3rd place ($500) Tyra Jones Cultivate Praise   University of Louisiana Monroe’s Warhawk Business Competition   1st place ($3,000) Asja Jordan Potential 2 Kinetic   2nd place ($1,000) Nicholas Salter, Jeri Trammell and Adesola Akinpelu XERN Vr   3rd place ($500) Emily Puyear Day Break   Northwestern State University’s Inferno Pitch Competition   1st place ($3,000) Hailey Bolton Pet Trackr   2nd place ($1,000) Jacorrian Davis Genie Mirror   3rd place ($500) Kenny Do and Cameron Davis D & D Electronic Accessories   LSU Shreveport Pilot Pitch Competition   1st place ($3,000) Kenneth Moore Home Made   2nd place ($1,000) Taylor Trepagnier Team Two   3rd place ($500) Lucia Casu […]

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Gen. Timothy M. Ray, Commander of Air Force Global Strike Command headquartered at Barksdale Air Force Base (BAFB), served as the keynote speaker at BRF’s Annual Meeting on Wednesday, Nov. 6. at East Ridge Country Club in Shreveport.   To continue its mission of growing our region’s economy and to support initiatives which contribute to economic development, BRF is highlighting the impact of Barksdale Air Force Base to the economy of Northwest Louisiana as well as sharing the important objectives of Global Strike Command and celebrating the airmen who serve our nation.   Special guests of the event included BAFB senior staff and service members.   Barksdale Air Force Base is the largest employer in the Shreveport-Bossier City area, with more than 14,000 employees. Of those, 1,188 are civilian employees – an important portion of our local workforce that is engaged in supporting the goals of the U.S. Air Force. As an invaluable institution in our community, BAFB had an approximately $807.5 million economic impact on the Shreveport-Bossier City area in 2018. To pursue the continued success of Barksdale, BRF is encouraging our community to support this critical economic engine.   The top commander at BAFB, Gen. Ray was commissioned […]

General Timothy M. Ray of Barksdale Air Force Base (BAFB) will be the keynote speaker at BRF’s Annual Meeting on Wednesday, Nov. 6. The meeting will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at East Ridge Country Club in Shreveport. Gen. Ray is Commander, Air Force Global Strike Command; and Commander, Air Forces Strategic – Air, U.S. Strategic Command. To continue its mission of growing our region’s economy and to support initiatives which contribute to economic development, BRF is highlighting the impact of Barksdale Air Force Base to the economy of Northwest Louisiana as well as sharing the important objectives of Global Strike Command and celebrating the airmen who serve our nation.   Barksdale Air Force Base is the largest employer in the Shreveport-Bossier City area, with more than 14,000 employees. Of those, 1,188 are civilian employees – an important portion of our local workforce that is engaged in supporting the goals of the U.S. Air Force. As an invaluable institution in our community, BAFB had an approximately $807.5 million economic impact on the Shreveport-Bossier City area in 2018. To pursue the continued success of Barksdale, BRF is encouraging our community to learn how they can support this critical […]

Click here to access our August 2019 special edition.

Business model competitions to prepare student entrepreneurs for success BRF’s Entrepreneurial Accelerator Program (EAP), which specializes in stimulating entrepreneurship opportunities in North Louisiana, has partnered with four universities this fall to continue EAP’s Grand Prix business model competitions that encourage student innovation. Competitions at LSU Shreveport (LSUS), Northwestern State University (NSU), Grambling State University, and the University of Louisiana Monroe (ULM) began on August 19. There will be an application period where students submit their ideas for a business in any industry. “EAP continues to forge ahead with our mission to support aspiring entrepreneurs in North Louisiana,” said Dave Smith, Executive Director of EAP. “In doing this, one of our important tasks is aiding entrepreneurship education in universities and colleges. In three years, we have grown the university business model competitions from one to six schools, with possibly two more joining next spring. We want our students to know that they can successfully start and grow any business in our region.” Students participate in a workshop with EAP team members and other advisors who provide the competitors with expertise, mentorship and key connections needed to fuel their success. In the final phase of the competition, the top five participants at […]

BRF’s Entrepreneurial Accelerator Program (EAP) celebrated its fifth year of operation and the launch of 10 new portfolio companies joining EAP’s 34 Wall of Entrepreneurial Achievement companies with a program that featured remarks by Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards and Shreveport Mayor Adrian Perkins. Officials and BRF/EAP leadership recognized the companies and representatives in an event at BRF’s InterTech 1 facility in Shreveport. BRF President and CEO John F. George Jr., M.D. explained EAP is an economic development initiative and partnership that formed five years ago between the Caddo Parish Commission, the City of Shreveport and BRF to launch and grow startups locally to diversify the region’s economy. Since its inception, EAP has broadened its reach across 21 North Louisiana parishes and has provided services to 260 startups. Services cover startup needs from forming a business plan to pitching to accredited angel investors. Some EAP startups have the opportunity to receive investment from two of North Louisiana’s first angel funds – the New Louisiana Angel Funds 1 and 2, of which BRF is the managing member. In five years, EAP’s team of business analysts, led by EAP Executive Director Dave Smith, has vetted 859 ideas or companies. More than 70 […]

FRIDAY, AUGUST 30, 2019 3:30PM – 4:30PM InterTech 1 2031 Kings Highway Shreveport, Louisiana 71103 Honored Guests and Speakers Governor John Bel Edwards and Shreveport Mayor Adrian Perkins Please RSVP before August 21, 2019 by clicking here or writing to [email protected].

The BRF Board of Directors honored former board member Dr. W. Juan Watkins after its meeting on July 17, 2019. A founding member of the board of the Biomedical Research Foundation of Northwest Louisiana, now BRF, and a Shreveport otolaryngologist, Dr. Watkins served a total of 25 years on the board since BRF was founded in 1986. During Dr. Watkins’ tenure, he contributed to board decisions that led to BRF leveraging Caddo Parish tax millage dollars with over $3 billion in state and federal grants and revenue from BRF business units for a return on investment of over 59:1; taking ownership of University Health Hospitals, which saved over 3,200 jobs; and significantly expanding its economic development initiatives by creating six business units: InterTech Science Park, the Center for Molecular Imaging and Therapy, the Entrepreneurial Accelerator Program, Envision Research, the Digital Media Institute at InterTech, and EdVentures STEM education programs. “It has been a pleasure to serve on this board. We have done many good things together for Shreveport and Northwest Louisiana,” said Dr. Watkins. “The BRF is something that we need to continue to support because it means so much to our community.” At a reception held in his honor, […]