There are many opportunities available for residents and fellows to participate in research oriented projects. Trainees are expected to participate in research projects throughout their training. Residents and fellows present their research findings at an annual research forum. They are encouraged to submit their research results for publication and presentation at regional and national meetings. Support for presenting papers at national meetings is provided by the department.

At the 2002 Annual USCAP meeting in Chicago, our institution was in the top thirty institutions for number of first authored scientific abstracts that were accepted for presentation. We have been in the top ten programs in the world for submission of scientific abstracts for the Stowell-Orbison Awards for pathologists in training. Our residents have won first place and honorable mention for the Stowell-Orbison, Society for Ultrastructural Pathology, American Society of Cytopathology, and Papanicalou Awards.

Faculty members from the Pathology department and other departments throughout the institution, along with guest speakers from other universities, present research oriented topics at the monthly Experimental Pathology Seminar Series.

Research facilities include space within the department and within the Virginia K. Shehee Biomedical Research Institute. The research institute, which opened in February 1994, is 10 stories high, 160,000 sq. ft., and is located adjacent to the LSU Medical School.

Role interaction with Residency Program: The Division of Research offers a weekly Molecular Basis of Disease Journal Club that is an informal discussion group which targets leading edge biomedical research in all areas related to understanding of the initiation and progression of disease. Residents are encouraged to attend the journal club to broaden their knowledge base in basic science. My laboratory also welcomes residents interested in renal disease to participate in ongoing projects in the lab.