Tulane National Biomedical Research Center

05/22/2026

Ah, one of our *favorite* days, and the best way to kick off a long Memorial Day weekend: our annual TNBRC crawfish boil.

A huge thanks to our tireless Employee Events Committee and facilities team for all their hard work putting this event on; to the Executive Committee for serving up heaps of crawfish and fixings; to our faithful DJ for keeping the vibe strong with great music; and to the weather for holding off just long enough for us to enjoy some sunshine and warm breezes.

05/22/2026

Gut dysfunction is a persistent challenge in HIV, even when the virus is well controlled.

A new study led by Namita Rout, PhD, associate professor of microbiology and immunology at the Tulane National Biomedical Research Center, suggests that diet-derived compounds found in vegetables such as broccoli and cabbage may help support immune activity involved in gut repair, opening the door to further research into nutritional strategies that could support long-term health for people living with HIV.

Congratulations to Dr. Rout and the TNBRC team on this important work.

Even when HIV is controlled, damage to the gut caused by the disease can persist. A new study found early evidence that diet-derived compounds found in vegetables from the mustard family, such as broccoli and cabbage, may help support immune activity involved in gut repair.

05/22/2026

Members of the TNBRC community rolled up their sleeves this week for Tulane’s Day of Service Wave of Green, dedicating their time and energy to serving our local community.

Employees volunteered across the Northshore, organizing inventory at Habitat for Humanity St. Tammany West, clearing trails at Northlake Nature Center, and cleaning housing while giving plenty of love to the animals at St. Tammany Parish Department of Animal Services. Others served right here on campus by making 219 enrichment toys for our rhesus macaques.

We are proud of our employees, not only for the important work they do every day to advance biomedical research, but also for the care, generosity, and community spirit they bring beyond our campus.

Thank you to everyone who took part in this meaningful day of service.

05/18/2026

A hearty congratulations to the wonderful group of Tulane BMS students who graduated last week after conducting their doctoral research at the TNBRC: Tabi Manuel, Folasade Adekanmbi, Naveen Suresh Babu, and Katherine Turbull (not pictured.)

We are so proud to have been part of your graduate training and grateful for all of your contributions to our community.

Congratulations from all of your TNBRC friends and colleagues!

05/04/2026

We were thrilled to host students from Tulane's Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program at the TNBRC. During their visit, students explored how our work connects with the concepts they are learning in their program's Advanced Research Methods and Advanced Virology courses.

After tours of the center, the students heard from Jennifer Manuzak, PhD, about her lab's research which is centered around HIV/malaria co-infection.

It is always a pleasure to host students who are passionate about biomedical research, public health, and medicine.

04/28/2026

Yesterday, Tulane hosted leading scientists and pediatricians from across the country for a Scientific Advisory Board meeting focused on one urgent question: How can we better protect babies from congenital CMV?

CMV is a common virus, but when it passes from mother to baby during pregnancy, it can cause serious birth defects and lifelong health challenges. It is also the leading infectious cause of hearing loss in infants.

Tulane is helping lead this work through its unique congenital CMV research model, giving scientists a rare way to study how the virus spreads during pregnancy and how it might be stopped.

Throughout the day, researchers shared new insights into how the immune system may help prevent transmission, how CMV crosses the placenta and how next-generation vaccines could better protect mothers and babies.

04/22/2026

Congratulations to Tabitha “Tabi” Manuel, one of several Biomedical Sciences students at the Tulane National Biomedical Research Center graduating next month from the Tulane University School of Medicine.

In the lab of Amitinder Kaur, Tabi’s doctoral research focused on congenital cytomegalovirus, or CMV, the leading infectious cause of birth defects and a significant cause of hearing loss in infants. During her time in the program, she also worked as a newborn hearing screening technician, giving her valuable real-world experience in pediatrics and health care.

We are proud to see Tabi recognized by Tulane and grateful for all she has contributed to our community during her time at TNBRC. We wish her continued success as she takes the next step toward a career in pediatrics.

Tulane University News and Press Releases

04/09/2026

A new review co-authored by Monica Embers, PhD, examines an important and still-unsettled question: What do we know about Lyme disease in pregnancy?

Published in Frontiers in Medicine: Obstetrics and Gynecology, the paper draws on human case reports, prospective studies and animal research across multiple species to assess the current evidence.

It also presents research recommendations, highlighting the need for further study to better understand whether infection may pass from mother to baby during pregnancy, birth or the postpartum period, and what that could mean for long-term health outcomes.

Perinatal transmission of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (Bb), the spirochetal agent of Lyme disease, is an issue of public health importance and research s...

04/06/2026

We were so happy to welcome Delgado's Veterinary Technician Program to our campus last week!

Students currently enrolled in a Lab Animal Science class had the opportunity to tour our center, see how animal care and research go hand-in-hand, and learn how a career in biomedical research means contributing to improvements in both human and animal health.

It's always a pleasure to connect with the next generation of veterinary professionals and share the impact of this important work!

04/06/2026

Many thanks to Tulane Med Insider for featuring TNBRC neuroscientist Tracy Fischer, PhD, whose important research on the neurological effects of long COVID is helping expand our understanding of the lasting ways infectious diseases can affect the brain. Dr. Fischer’s story is made even more compelling by the path that led her to science, bringing together a background in voice and opera with a deep commitment to research and discovery.

Tracy Fischer, PhD, is an Associate Professor of Microbiology and Immunology at Tulane University School of Medicine and a researcher in the Division of Comp...