Plooschter Projet strengthens support for TSI Group with renewed donation

• Donation
• Tumor Stroma Interactions
• Department of Cancer Research
• Cancer

On March 22nd, the Luxembourgish non-profit association Plooschter Projet reaffirmed its dedication to advancing leukaemia research by renewing its support for the Tumor Stroma Interactions (TSI) group of the Department of Cancer Research (DoCR) at the Luxembourg Institute of Health (LIH). This year, the association contributed a generous donation of EUR 42,000 to support the group’s ongoing efforts to understand the tumour microenvironment in chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL).

This marks the sixth consecutive donation from the Plooschter Projet since the beginning of its partnership with the LIH in 2019, underlining a long-standing commitment to CLL research in Luxembourg.

Led by Dr. Etienne Moussay and Dr. Jérôme Paggetti, the TSI group explores how the tumour microenvironment supports cancer progression, with a particular focus on CLL—the most frequent type of leukaemia in adults. In CLL, malignant B cells accumulate in lymphoid tissues and manipulate their surroundings to suppress immune responses. This immune suppression limits the effectiveness of T cells, allowing the cancer to grow unchecked.

During the event, TSI PhD student Rafael Barros gave a 20-minute presentation outlining the group’s latest findings and ongoing research initiatives, highlighting the technological advances and translational relevance of their work.

In addition, the TSI group introduced a new biannual activity report that will summarise progress on the projects supported by the non-profit. This new communication tool is meant to keep donors and the wider public informed of how their contributions are advancing scientific discovery.

The renewed support by the Plooschter Projet not only provides vital resources for cutting-edge cancer research but also exemplifies the impact of long-term partnerships between science and the community in driving innovation and hope for patients.