Paintings, sculptures, photography and prints of 18 artist from Luxembourg and two scientists of the Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine (LCSB) of the University of Luxemburg are exhibited since Wednesday at the Kulturfabrik Esch-sur-Alzette.

During the preview event LCSB Director, Prof Rudi Balling, opened the exhibition "Art2Cure" in the presence of 200 invited guests. Interested visitors can purchase the artworks. The biggest part of the proceeds will benefit Parkinson’s research in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. Already on the first evening eight artworks changed hands. „We are very pleased with this joint project between research and art“, said Rudi Balling in his opening speech: "It impressively shows the big support, that biomedical research receives in Luxembourg. “

The organisers of the art exhibition are doctor and art enthusiast Dr Gilles Weidig as well as Dr Philippe Lamesch from the LCSB. „I am a scientist and artist myself“, said Lamesch, who manages LCSB’s fundraising efforts: "Gilles Weidig and I found it important to organise an event that brings together art and science to make people aware of the research that is conducted at the University of Luxembourg.“ Another aim of the organisers is to support research on Parkinson’s disease. Therefore, the artworks (paintings, sculptures, prints and photography) can be purchased. 70% of the proceeds will be donated to research.

"We will invest this money in a research programme, that will create direct benefit to Parkinson’s patients – the National Center of Excellence in Research on Parkinson´s Disease“, said Prof Rejko Krüger, coordinator of the clinical study, at the preview event. Focus of the programme, in which all biomedical research institutions in Luxembourg participate, is a patient cohort: hundreds of patients will be investigated using state-of-the art laboratory methods. „The proceeds from the sales of the artworks enable to perform a more in depth analysis of body fluids or nerve cells to better understand the molecular mechanisms that cause the disease“, said Krüger. Based on this knowledge, the LCSB researchers and their partners aim to develop a more accurate diagnosis and better therapies for patients.

The exhibition is open to the public on 13 June from 17:00 - 22:00, from 15 to 20 June daily from 15:00 - 20:00 and on 20 June 2015 from 10:00 to 18:00 in the Kulturfabrik Esch/Alzette (16, rue de Luxembourg, Esch-sur-Alzette). It shows works from Jhemp Bastin, Fernand Bertemes, Christian Frantzen, Mikka Heinonnen, Thomase Iser, Belen Irazola, The’d Johanns, Philippe Lamesch, Isabelle Lutz, Guy Michels, Martine Pinnel, Roland Quetsch, Sergio Sardelli, Armand Strainchamps, Sumo, Nico Thurm, Joachim van der Vlught und Wouter van der Vlught.

Photo: (c) Bruno Santos / LCSB