Center of Excellence for Emerging Viral Threats (CEVT)
The Emerging Viral Threat (EVT) Lab
was established by scientists at LSU Health Shreveport to address the need for faster detection and processing of COVID-19 tests in March 2020. The EVT Lab was the first in North Louisiana approved by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) to conduct COVID-19 testing. On December 16, 2020, the Louisiana Board of Regents unanimously supported a one-year initial approval of the Center for Emerging Viral Threats (CEVT) a one-year conditional designation as a Center of Research Excellence. The Board of Regents’ approval follows unanimous approval by the LSU Board of Supervisors to recognize the Center for Emerging Viral Threats as a Center of Excellence.
Since its inception, the CEVT has been an invaluable resource for North Louisiana in combating the pandemic. As of December 2021, the lab has processed over 500,000 COVID-19 tests, administered over 115,000 vaccines, and sequenced over 9,200 SARS-CoV-2 genomes representing 48% of all genomic sequencing in Louisiana.
These test samples have allowed LSU Health Shreveport to lead Louisiana in genome sequencing which holds the potential for long-term control of COVID-19 and in preparing for future viral threats. Currently, the CEVT is the only academic center in Louisiana to obtain complete genome sequencing of the viruses and is working closely with the World Health Organization (WHO) and CDC-sanctioned testing labs. In addition, the CEVT has provided life-saving clinical trials, expanded testing, and developed large-scale community vaccination clinics to include outreach to the medically underserved.
Your gift to the Center of Excellence for Emerging Viral Threats supports research on infectious viruses, provides surveillance and detection for current and future viral threats, provides cutting edge diagnostics and access to national clinical trials, and will help educate physicians, scientists, and the community about prevention, treatment and the science of viral-mediated diseases.
Your gift powers our vision and helps the LSU Health Science Center in Shreveport remain at the forefront of healing, learning and discovering. Your generosity is helping to transform medicine and lives.
Many gifts made to LSUHS Foundation are eligible for TAF Priority Points. If you have an existing TAF ID number, or would like us to report your giving information to TAF in order to create one, please contact us via the TAF ID Submission Web Form.
920 Pierremont Road • Suite #506
Shreveport, LA 71106
Office: 318-861-0855
Fax: 318-861-2855