Radiance Technologies, LSU Health Shreveport, and LA Tech Unite for $5.85M DARPA Contract to Fuel Defense Biology Innovations

RUSTON, La., Sept. 17, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Radiance Technologies (Radiance), an employee-owned leader in defense and intelligence solutions, has been awarded a prime Other Transaction (OT) contract valued up to $5.85 million over 18 months by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Biological Technologies Office (BTO). The contract supports the Simulating Microbial Systems (SMS) program, where Radiance will lead a groundbreaking partnership with Louisiana State University (LSU) Health Shreveport and Louisiana Tech University to develop whole-cell modeling and simulation capabilities for Escherichia coli (E. coli).

This marks Radiance's first collaboration with DARPA BTO and establishes North Louisiana as an emerging hub for cutting-edge biotechnology research. The project, named "Crowded, Heterogeneous, Intracellular, and Multi-Scale Environments for Revolutionary Bio-Applications (CHIMERA)," aims to create a next-generation simulation system capable of predicting bacterial behavior under various conditions. This technology could transform national security, healthcare, and biotechnology applications.

With CHIMERA, researchers and the Department of Defense will be able to virtually test how bacterial cells respond to various environments, including exposure to antibiotics or conditions relevant to bio-manufacturing, before conducting physical experiments. This predictive capability could aid in preventing antibiotic resistance, optimizing microbial production processes, and understanding how pathogens behave in battlefield conditions.

"This partnership represents exactly the kind of innovative collaboration that drives real breakthroughs," said Radiance CEO Bill Bailey. "It's exciting to see North Louisiana becoming a real player in advanced biotech research."

Leveraging the unique strengths of each institution, this joint initiative will tackle complex scientific challenges that no single organization could address alone. Radiance brings advanced artificial intelligence and machine learning expertise to interpret extensive biological data. LSU Health Shreveport contributes state-of-the-art laboratory infrastructure, including transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics facilities. Louisiana Tech University adds expert microscopy and computational analysis capabilities.

Dr. Jason Comer, Associate Professor of Microbiology and Immunology at LSU Health Shreveport and Director of the BSL-3 Research Facility, emphasized the collective nature of the effort: "This is a bold new chapter in research for North Louisiana. Each partner in this collaboration brings something unique to the table. Together, we are forming a true research corridor along I-20."

"We're excited to contribute our interdisciplinary expertise in microscopy and computational analysis to CHIMERA, driving innovative solutions at the intersection of biology and technology," said Dr. Mark DeCoster, Professor of Biomedical Engineering and leader of Louisiana Tech's research efforts for the project.

"CHIMERA has the potential to revolutionize how we understand and engineer microbial systems, delivering real-world benefits for national security and beyond," said Dr. Andrew Gardner, Principal Investigator of the SMS program at Radiance Technologies.

Together, Radiance, LSU Health Shreveport, and LA Tech are pushing scientific boundaries in ways that couldn't be accomplished alone.

About Radiance Technologies:

Radiance Technologies is an employee-owned prime contractor founded in 1999. Radiance has over 1000 employee-owners across the United States serving the Department of Defense, the national intelligence community, and other government agencies. From concepts to capabilities, Radiance leads the way in developing customer-focused solutions in the areas of cybersecurity, systems engineering, prototyping, and integration, as well as operational and strategic intelligence, including scientific and technical intelligence. For more information, please visit www.radiancetech.com.

About LSU Health Shreveport:
LSU Health Shreveport is one of two health sciences centers of the Louisiana State University (LSU) System and home to the only academic medical center in a 150-mile radius. The primary mission of LSU Health Shreveport is to teach, heal, and discover in order to advance the well-being of the state, region and beyond. LSU Health Shreveport encompasses the School of Medicine, School of Graduate Studies and School of Health Professions and Sciences, Graduate Medical Education (GME), and a robust research enterprise. For more information, visit www.lsuhs.edu.

About Louisiana Tech University:

Louisiana Tech University, established in 1894 in Ruston, Louisiana, is renowned for its commitment to academic excellence and hands-on learning. With diverse undergraduate and graduate programs, modern facilities, cutting-edge research centers, and vibrant student life, the university provides an unparalleled educational experience. Emphasizing faculty expertise, mentorship, and active community engagement, Louisiana Tech prepares students for successful careers and meaningful contributions to society.

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Media Contacts:
Julia Parrish
Communications Manager
Radiance Technologies
julia.parrish@radiancetech.com 

Lisa Babin
Chief Communications and Public Affairs Officer
LSU Health Shreveport
Office: 318-675-8769
Cell: 318-458-0166

Cami Geisman
Executive Vice President for External Affairs
Office of the President, University Communications
Louisiana Tech University
Phone: 225.202.0870

SOURCE Radiance Technologies