At the heart of the fight against COVID-19
Prof Dr Ulf Nehrbass, CEO of LIH and spokesperson of the Task Force, also wished to salute the responsiveness and the team spirit that have enabled the national research ecosystem, the clinical community and the Luxembourg authorities to create a remarkable synergy from the start of the crisis.
The Grand Duke and the Grand Duchess also took the pulse of the main studies carried out within the framework of the Task Force including the "CON-VINCE" study, carried out by Prof Dr Rejko Krüger, Director of the Transversal Translational Medicine unit of the LIH, which aims to assess the dynamics of the spread of the COVID-19 disease within the Luxembourg population, or the “Predi-COVID” study conducted by Dr Laetitia Huiart, Director of the Department of Population Health at LIH. This study aims to identify the main risk factors and biological markers associated with complications encountered by certain patients infected with COVID-19, as well as the long-term consequences of the disease on the health of the population in Luxembourg. "These studies will improve understanding of the disease and generate reliable data on its spread, helping decision makers to take action based on scientific evidence in the coming weeks", said Prof Dr Nehrbass.
These studies represent a concrete and direct contribution to patients, in line with the values and objectives of LIH. This was made possible thanks not only to the project leaders, but also thanks to all the teams involved "behind the scenes". “An incredible collaboration was set up very spontaneously and in record time between all the stakeholders, most of them volunteers, coming from different LIH laboratories or from external organizations, demonstrating professionalism and unstoppable loyalty" he concludes.
In other areas too, research continues!
The Grand Ducal couple also had the opportunity to discover the work of Prof Dirk Brenner, Deputy Director of Research and Strategy of the Department of Infection & Immunity (DII) of LIH and to Dr Johannes Meiser PhD, Leader of Cancer Metabolism Group (FNR ATTRACT Fellow **) who investigate basic research aspects of tumor metabolism and the immune system.
The Grand-Ducal visit ended in the laboratories of the Department of Infection & Immunity (DII) directed by Prof Dr Markus Ollert, where the COVID-19 analyzes are currently taking place. The DII indeed has solid expertise in virology, immunology and serological testing and therefore plays a key role in the management of the pandemic in Luxembourg.
*LIH, LISER, LIST, LNS, University, FNR, under the coordination of the Ministry of Higher Education and Research.
**The ATTRACT program is intended for researchers not yet established in Luxembourg, who demonstrate the potential to become leaders in their field of research.