Shreveport, LA — Eight outstanding high school seniors from Caddo and Bossier Parish schools have been selected to participate in the 2025-2026 class of the Bobbie Cates Hicks Science and Medicine Academic Research Training (SMART) program, hosted at LSU Health Shreveport (LSUHS). These students will work side-by-side with leading medical researchers on real-world projects across a variety of biomedical fields.

Launched by BRF in 1997, the SMART program provides a yearlong, immersive research experience for academically advanced students interested in careers in medicine, biomedical research, or biomedical engineering. To date, the program has supported 271 students over its 29-year history.

The 2025-2026 SMART student cohort includes:

• Lily Bodily, Caddo Parish Magnet High School
• Jackson Candler, C.E. Byrd High School
• Adya Darsi, Caddo Parish Magnet High School
• Austin Harkins, Airline High School
• Nathan Tatum, Caddo Parish Magnet High School
• Maya Trutschl, Caddo Parish Magnet High School
• Audrey Welch, C.E. Byrd High School
• Kevin Zhao, Caddo Parish Magnet High School

These students will be mentored by LSUHS investigators in fields ranging from molecular biology to orthopaedic surgery. Mentors for this year’s program include:

• Dr. Cory Coehoorn (Rehabilitation Science)
• Dr. Omar Franco Coronel (Cancer Research, Biochemistry)
• Dr. Norman R. Harris (Molecular and Cellular Physiology)
• Dr. Gopi Kolluru (Pathology and Translational Pathobiology)
• Dr. Deepak Kumbhare (Neurosurgery)
• Dr. Christina Ledbetter (Neurosurgery, Psychiatry)
• Dr. Xinggui Shen (Redox Biology and Cardiovascular Disease)
• Dr. Giovanni Solitro (Orthopaedic Surgery)

Funding for the SMART program is made possible by the generosity of several local donors, including the late Bobbie Cates Hicks, The Bruce J. Heim Foundation, The Community Foundation of North Louisiana, and The Magale Foundation.

The SMART program aligns with BRF’s mission to promote economic diversification and innovation by investing in science and technology education. It is a collaborative initiative between BRF, LSU Health Shreveport, and the Caddo, Bossier, and DeSoto Parish School Boards.

For more information about the SMART program, visit brfla.org.