Looking Ahead to Healthcare Week Luxembourg, Clinical Research Conference

At the end of the month, Luxembourg will host two major and related events at LuxExpo in Luxembourg-Kirchberg, organised by Fédération des Hôpitaux Luxembourgeois (FHL), Luxembourg Research Clinic and the event agency Quinze Mai; Healthcare Week Luxembourg (HWL) and the Clinical Research Conference will take place from 29 September to 1 October 2026.

Chronicle.lu took the opportunity to talk with representatives of those event, namely Sylvain Vitali (Deputy Director FHL) and Christof von Kalle (Research Clinic and Clinical Research Conference).

Chronicle.lu: What are the main aims and objectives of Healthcare Week Luxembourg?

Sylvain Vitali: Healthcare Week Luxembourg brings together healthcare professionals, public decision-makers, researchers, patients, innovators and industry representatives to address the major transformations facing European healthcare systems. Under the theme “Resilience in tomorrow’s healthcare systems: from prevention to antifragility”, the 2026 edition examines how our systems can not only withstand crises, but also learn, adapt and emerge even stronger. Particular attention is given to prevention, governance, innovation, artificial intelligence, continuity of care and the development of human and organisational capabilities. Above all, HWL seeks to identify existing vulnerabilities and discuss practical priorities and cooperation. Its ultimate purpose is to help build sustainable, adaptable and patient-centred healthcare systems that support both patients and the professionals who care for them.

Chronicle.lu: Why are there three organisers? Please detail their respective roles.

Sylvain Vitali: Healthcare Week Luxembourg is organised by the Fédération des Hôpitaux Luxembourgeois (FHL), in partnership with Quinze Mai. The FHL provides the event’s institutional and strategic leadership and ensures that the programme reflects the priorities and realities of the healthcare sector. The European Scientific Committee contributes its expertise to the development and scientific coherence of the programme. Quinze Mai is responsible for the event’s operational organisation, production and logistics.

The Clinical Research Luxembourg Conference is organised as a closely connected event within the framework of HWL. It brings an additional focus on patient-centred clinical and translational research. Part of its programme on 30 September is fully integrated into HWL, thereby creating a direct link between healthcare delivery, research and innovation.

Chronicle.lu: Is the issue of availability and supply chains for certain medicines one of the topics up for discussion? If so, what outcomes are envisaged?

Sylvain Vitali: Yes. The availability of essential medicines and medical products, as well as the vulnerability of healthcare supply chains are addressed as part of the broader discussion about the continuity of care, preparedness, strategic autonomy and health sovereignty. Medicine shortages and excessive dependence on a limited number of suppliers can directly affect hospitals’ ability to maintain essential services. The discussion will therefore seek to identify critical vulnerabilities, explore how essential capacities and stocks can be secured, and improve national, European and cross-border coordination. The objective is to identify practical courses of action that can strengthen preparedness and operational continuity.

Chronicle.lu: How many attendees are expected, and from which or how many different countries?

Sylvain Vitali: HWL 2026 expects more than 3,600 participants, 130 exhibitors and more than 120 invited speakers and experts. The event primarily attracts participants from Luxembourg, the Greater Region and other European countries, while also welcoming international experts. As registrations are still ongoing, the final number of countries represented will only be known after the event.

Chronicle.lu: Who are the main speakers from Luxembourg, and what are their fields of speciality?

Sylvain Vitali: We are pleased to welcome a broad range of speakers from Luxembourg’s government, healthcare and research ecosystem. They include: Stéphanie Obertin, Luxembourg’s Minister for Research and Higher Education and Minister for Digitalisation; Lex Delles, Luxembourg’s Minister of the Economy, SMEs, Energy and Tourism; Prof. Christof von Kalle, Director of the Luxembourg Research Clinic; Dr Martine Goergen, General Director of the Centre Hospitalier de Luxembourg and President of the HWL Scientific Committee; Dr Marc Berna, General Director of Hôpitaux Robert Schuman and Vice-President of the Fédération des Hôpitaux Luxembourgeois; Prof. Simone Niclou, Full Professor and Vice-Rector for Research at the University of Luxembourg; Dr René Metz, General Director of the Centre Hospitalier Emile Mayrisch; Dr Frank Glod, Deputy CEO of the Luxembourg Institute of Health.

Other representatives of Luxembourg’s healthcare, research and public institutions will also contribute to the programme. This diversity reflects one of HWL’s main strengths: connecting decision-making, healthcare delivery, research and innovation.

Chronicle.lu: What have we learned as a direct result of the Covid pandemic concerning clinical research in Europe? 

Sylvain Vitali: The Covid-19 pandemic was both an accelerator and the first truly global stress test for healthcare systems and clinical research. It showed what institutions, researchers, regulators and healthcare providers can achieve when they work towards a shared objective and are able to exchange data and knowledge rapidly. The experience has helped Europe prepare more effectively for comparable crises in the future.

At the same time, the pandemic exposed significant structural weaknesses. Clinical research remained fragmented across countries, while numerous small and sometimes overlapping trials competed for patients, expertise and resources. One of the main lessons is that research capacity cannot be improvised once a crisis has begun. Europe needs permanent and properly resourced research networks, larger multinational and adaptive trials, more harmonised procedures and faster, secure sharing of clinical and real-world data. These capabilities are an essential part of a resilient and learning healthcare system.

Chronicle.lu: How has Brexit affected clinical research in Europe?

Christof von Kalle: Brexit has made clinical research more administratively complex. Multinational studies that include sites in both jurisdictions may require separate authorisations, safety reporting and regulatory coordination. This can increase the time, cost and organisational effort involved in conducting cross-border clinical trials.

Brexit also created a period of uncertainty concerning research funding, participation in European programmes and the mobility of researchers. The United Kingdom’s association with Horizon Europe from January 2024 restored access to an important framework for European research cooperation and made it easier for British institutions to participate in and lead collaborative projects. However, it did not remove the separate regulatory requirements governing clinical trials in the UK and the EU. This experience underlines the importance of maintaining close scientific cooperation and practical bridges between European research ecosystems, even where regulatory frameworks differ.

Chronicle.lu: What are the main aims and objectives of the Clinical Research Conference?

Christof von Kalle: The Clinical Research Conference aims to bring together clinicians, researchers, healthcare institutions, policymakers and innovation stakeholders to strengthen the connection between scientific research and patient care. The conference will showcase clinical and translational research, encourage cooperation within Luxembourg’s research ecosystem and examine how scientific discoveries and technological innovations can be translated more effectively into tangible benefits for patients.

Chronicle.lu: Are there specific topics being addressed that are particularly relevant or important for Luxembourg?

Christof von Kalle: Topics of particular relevance to Luxembourg include the development of the national clinical research ecosystem, patient-centred research, precision medicine, oncology, neurological and neurodegenerative diseases, rare diseases, cardiovascular research, rehabilitation, infectious diseases, Long Covid and paediatrics. The programme also addresses health technologies, artificial intelligence, clinical data and the development of a learning healthcare system. These subjects are especially relevant to Luxembourg because its compact healthcare and research ecosystem offers opportunities for close cooperation between hospitals, research institutions, policymakers and technology companies.

Chronicle.lu: How many attendees do you expect?

Christof von Kalle: The Clinical Research Conference is smaller than the HWL and very b2b-focused. We expect around 300 visitors; the second part of the program on 30 September is an integral part of HWL.

For further details on HWL, see https://www.hwl.lu/, and the Clinical Research Conference, see https://www.hwl.lu/e/hwl26/en/content/visiter-le-luxembourg and https://www.lih.lu/en/event/clinical-research-luxembourg-conference-2/