Louisiana's Clinical and Translational Science (LA CaTS) Center held its Annual Retreat in New Orleans alongside the Southern Society for Clinical Investigation Regional Meeting. Investigators and core leaders from across our six-institution statewide network came together to begin planning our #NIH CTR-N renewal. The engagement was exceptional; candid, strategic, and forward-looking. We left with a clear sense of direction. Thank you to Dr. Joey Granger, PI of the Mississippi Center for Clinical and Translational Research, for sharing invaluable lessons from MCCTR's recent renewal experience. The afternoon LA CaTS/MCCTR/LCTRC Joint Scientific Symposium, led by Dr. Tonette Krousel-Wood, showcased outstanding work from the next generation of clinical and translational investigators. Grateful to our partners at LSU Health Sciences Center New Orleans, Tulane University, LSU Health Shreveport, Xavier University, Ochsner Health, and Pennington Biomedical Research Center. #LACaTS #NIGMS #SSCI2026 #TranslationalScience