Dr. Pelayo Correa Mourned
Pelayo Correa, MD, a cherished member of the LSU School of Medicine and LSU Health Sciences Center family and one of the world’s most influential figures in cancer epidemiology and pathology, died on November 20, 2025 at the age of 98, surrounded by his loving family.
Dr. Correa was a Visiting Scientist at the U.S. National Cancer Institute from 1970-1973 and joined the faculty of the LSU School of Medicine in 1974, where he was Professor of Pathology, rising to the rank of Boyd Professor, the highest academic honor in the LSU System.
Internationally, Dr. Correa is best known for defining the multistep “Correa Cascade” of gastric carcinogenesis and for helping establish Helicobacter pylori as a cause of stomach cancer—work that transformed prevention and treatment across the globe. He also founded the first population-based cancer registry in Latin America and contributed significantly to the Louisiana Tumor SEER Registry cancer registry in Louisiana.
Beyond his scientific achievements, Dr. Correa was admired for his humility, generosity, and deep commitment to mentoring students and young investigators. His impact on LSU Health Sciences Center and on global health will endure for generations.
His obituary can be found here.