Joseph Francis

Joseph Francis is a Professor and Director of the Center for Comparative Oncology in the Department of Comparative Biomedical Sciences at Louisiana State University's School of Veterinary Medicine, where he has been faculty since 2003. He holds a PhD from Kansas State University and veterinary degrees (BVSc/MVSc) from Madras Veterinary College.

His research examines neuro-immune mechanisms in cardiovascular diseases, PTSD, and cancer therapeutics, with emphasis on plant-based interventions. Key focuses include:

• Cytokine signaling in heart failure and hypertension
• Neuroinflammation biomarkers in PTSD
• Blueberry phytochemicals for metabolic and neurological disorders

His recent publications demonstrate strong emphasis on:

• Cardiac fibrosis and infarction mechanisms (7 papers)
• PTSD neuropathology and therapeutics (4 papers)
• Advanced imaging techniques (3 papers)
• Nutritional interventions (2 papers)

Awards and Honors:

• Distinguished Research Scholar Award (2020)
• Everett D. Besch Professorship (2015-2020)
• Arthur Guyton Young Investigator Award (2009)
• Pfizer Research Excellence Award (2006)
• Multiple NIH training and travel awards

Current grants include:

• NIH COBRE for preclinical cancer research ($3.9M, 2021-2025)
• NIH R01s for hemorrhagic infarction therapy and cardiac fibrosis
• Clinical trials on blueberry interventions for depression/CKD

He directs the Center for Comparative Oncology, leveraging multidisciplinary approaches to study tumor microenvironments.