The University of Louisiana at Lafayette’s Dr. Ramesh Kolluru has been recognized as the 2016 Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Man of the Year.
Kolluru is UL Lafayette’s vice president for Research, Innovation, and Economic Development. He raised more than $117,000 for blood cancer research as part of the society’s Man and Woman of the Year campaign in Acadiana.
Kolluru’s effort is the highest amount — raised by one person — in the history of the campaign, which is sponsored by the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s Mississippi/Louisiana chapter.
As part of the campaign, 10 community leaders vie to see who can raise the most money for children who have survived or are being treated for a blood cancer. The campaign began Feb. 18 and ended last week. It raised a total of $275,000.
He also received the society’s Citizenship Award. He named two UL research grants after local girls fighting battles against leukemia.
Kris Wartelle, a reporter for the “Daily Advertiser” newspaper, was the campaign’s woman of the year. She raised almost $20,000.
Learn more about the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society at