LSU Health Shreveport Hosts Inaugural Rasberry Lecture, Featuring Dr. Michael Curran on Cancer Immunotherapy

Shreveport, LA – LSU Health Shreveport (LSUHS) in partnership with the LSU Health Sciences Foundation hosted the inaugural Rasberry Lecture on Thursday, May 1, 2025 featuring visiting lecturer Michael A. Curran, PhD, a Professor of Immunology from MD Anderson Cancer Center. Through the generosity of W. Clinton “Bubba” Rasberry and his family, the Rasberry Family Endowed Lecture Series was created in 2024. It aims to bring world-renowned biomedical leaders to LSU Health Shreveport to share the latest medical knowledge, science and technology with our community.

 

The lecture series was born out of a desire to showcase the new Center for Medical Education’s state-of-the-art auditorium, which has been named the Rasberry Auditorium in Bubba’s honor. A special ceremony was held ahead of the lecture to recognize the Rasberry family and former state Senator Greg Tarver, another longtime supporter and LSUHS advocate.

 

“Our family is honored to support LSU Health Shreveport in bringing world-class biomedical leaders to our community,” said Rasberry. “We believe that knowledge drives innovation, and innovation saves lives. It is our hope that the Rasberry Lecture Series will inspire future breakthroughs and foster meaningful discussions that lead to better healthcare outcomes for all.”

 

More than 100 attendees arrived on campus to hear Dr. Curran’s lecture: “Cancer Immunotherapy: Today’s Breakthroughs, Tomorrow’s Possibilities.”

 

Dr. Curran earned his Ph.D. in Immunology from Stanford University, receiving the McDevitt prize for best graduate thesis.

 

As the first recipient of the American Cancer Society Levy Fellowship, he pursued postdoctoral studies under Dr. James P. Allison at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, where he pioneered research on T cell co-inhibitory receptor blockade—laying the foundation for today’s most effective FDA-approved immunotherapy. Now a Professor at MD Anderson Cancer Center, he leads research on immune resistance in “cold” tumors like pancreatic and prostate adenocarcinoma and glioblastoma. In 2019, he founded ImmunoGenesis, Inc., a clinical-stage biotech company developing novel immunotherapies to improve treatment for these difficult-to-target cancers.

 

“Thanks to the generosity of the Rasberry family, we are bringing world-class biomedical leaders to Shreveport, inspiring the next generation of healthcare professionals and researchers,” said Oren Rom, PhD, RD, Associate Dean for Basic and Translational Research at LSU Health Shreveport. “Dr. Curran’s groundbreaking work in cancer immunotherapy embodies the spirit of discovery that drives our mission, and we look forward to the profound impact this series will have on the future of medicine.”