The Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine (LCSB) has embarked on a new initiative called “LCSB on Tour”. The aim is to spread the word about cutting-edge biomedical research carried out in Luxembourg to all four corners of the country. A series of public lectures, held in various municipalities across the country, offers valuable insights into the latest advances in research on neurodegenerative diseases.
About the initiative
These free one-hour evening sessions are designed to be accessible to all, regardless of prior knowledge or scientific background, ensuring that attendees can engage meaningfully with the content presented. Through a combination of informative presentations and interactive discussions, participants can delve into the complexities of neurodegenerative diseases and gain insights into the innovative research taking place at the LCSB and its partner institutions in Luxembourg.
Each conference in the series focuses on a topic, from precision medicine and prevention for Parkinson’s disease, advances on dementia research and prevention, and the emerging role of the microbiome in brain health and disease. “Our idea with ‘LCSB on Tour’ is to bring research closer to the public. We organise many outreach activities throughout the year, like lab visits, open days and public lectures, but most of the time they take place on campus Belval or in the city of Luxembourg. By collaborating with municipalities across the country, we want to reach a wider audience and make it easier for people to join scientific events” says Dr Sabine Schmitz, Team Leader Science Communication and Outreach of the LCSB.
A first success in Diekirch
The first lecture of the series took place on 23 April in Aal Seeërei in Diekirch, where over 80 people gathered to listen to Prof. Rejko Krüger, head of the Translational Neuroscience group at the LCSB, present the latest advances in Parkinson’s research. “One of the emerging concepts in our research is precision medicine. By performing a genetic profiling and analyses of clinical symptoms in detail, we can identify patient subgroups defined by specific disease mechanisms. This will allow us to develop tailored causative treatment options for a particular group,” explained Prof. Krüger. “Additionally, we also take into account lifestyle and other risk factors to identify people at risk of developing memory problems and offer them ways to prevent or at least slow down the progression of the disease”.
The 45-minute presentation was followed by a Q&A session and a small reception where attendees had the opportunity to discuss and gain a deeper understanding of ongoing studies, discoveries, and potential treatment avenues by visiting the various booths by ParkinsonNet Luxembourg, Programm Demenz Prävention (pdp), the National Centre of Excellence in Research on Parkinson’s Disease and the patient association Parkinson Luxembourg.
The team received very positive feedback from attendees. “The lecture was very informative and engaging,” said Carla de Magalhães, head of the Commission sociale et du 3e âge of Diekirch and co-organiser of the event. “It is very interesting to learn about the progress of research in Luxembourg. I feel it is important to bring this kind of conference to our municipality. Although a cure is not yet available, it is encouraging for our citizens living with Parkinson’s disease, their families and friends to see where research is heading.”
What’s next?
As the ‘LCSB on Tour’ series continues to visit municipalities across Luxembourg, the LCSB is hopeful that it will serve as a catalyst for increased awareness, collaboration, and support for research initiatives aimed at combating neurodegenerative diseases. The next lecture will take place on 16 May in Ettelbruck where Prof. Michael Heneka, Director and head of the Neuroinflammation group at the LCSB, will present the latest advances in dementia research, focusing on recent discoveries that suggest prevention is possible. Visit the event page for more information and to register.
For more information about upcoming ‘LCSB on Tour’ events and keep up to date with the latest advances in neurodegenerative disease research, visit the LCSB website. Interested municipalities that want to become part of the LCSB on tour series are invited to contact LCSB’s event coordinator Sophie Wagner.