Our Lady of the Lake Cancer Institute Marks Milestone in CAR-T Therapy
August 28, 2025
Baton Rouge, LA - Our Lady of the Lake Cancer Institute is proud to announce its participation as the first site in Louisiana for a Phase I clinical trial evaluating allogeneic CAR-T cell therapy. Nakhle Saba, MD serves as the principal investigator for this innovative study involving cellular immunotherapy. Allogeneic CAR-T therapy utilizes donor-derived T cells that are genetically engineered to recognize and target cancer cells. This innovative approach may lead to reduced treatment durations and enhanced patient outcomes.
“Our participation in the clinical trial of this investigational treatment is a testament to our relentless pursuit of excellence in cancer care," said Nakhle Saba, MD. “We are thrilled to be at the forefront of providing access to such clinical trials for patients in the Gulf Region.
This latest work marks another important milestone for The Heme-Malignancy and Cell Therapy Program, which launched at Our Lady of the Lake Cancer Institute in September 2024 under the leadership of Susan Foret.
"We are incredibly proud to be the first in state for this potentially groundbreaking clinical trial,” said Susan Foret, Vice President of Our Lady of the Lake Cancer Institute. “This work represents a major step forward in our mission to provide best-in-class care and treatments to our patients.”
Our Lady of the Lake Cancer Institute is a leader in providing comprehensive prevention, early detection, treatment and survivorship care in the region. Our teams have a vast network of collaborators across Louisiana to address treatment issues and make discoveries that have a national impact, and most importantly offer each cancer patient individually tailored treatment options. Our providers work together to ensure the highest standard of care for every patient. For more information, please visit FMOLHS.org/cancer.
About Our Lady of the Lake Health
Our Lady of the Lake Health is a not-for-profit Catholic healthcare ministry based in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, with more than 7,500 employees committed to serving the Capital Region and building a healthy community through excellence in patient care and education. With an 800-bed Regional Medical Center, a dedicated Children’s Hospital, a 78-bed hospital in Gonzales, Louisiana, two freestanding emergency rooms in outlying parishes, and a 600+ provider Physician Group, Our Lady of the Lake Health provides comprehensive healthcare services for common to complex conditions. Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center is a primary teaching site for graduate medical education programs in partnership with LSU, and is recognized in the areas of heart and vascular, trauma and emergency care, stroke, cancer care, minimally invasive procedures, and more. Our Lady of the Lake is part of the Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady Health System and is driven by its mission to serve all God’s people, especially those most in need. For more information, visit ololrmc.com.