News
Welcome back to the ACADI Newsletter! Here is a recap of what we have been up to in March.
Publications
Dr Pauline Duquenne’s paper “Assessment of risk of bias in mortality risk prediction models for older adults with cancer: A systematic review from YSIOG and SIOG NAHS” has been published The Lancet Healthy Longevity! To read more about the work and the study itself, please see the LIH press release and article here:
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666756826000139
We would also like to congratulate Lisa Zangarini, who is co-author on a paper published in International Medical Education! This work, entitled “More than Learning: Why In-Person Conferences Matter for Building Cross-Border Collaboration in General Practice: A Modified Delphi Approach” can be accessed here: https://www.mdpi.com/2813-141X/5/2/39
Conferences
Several members of our team have received some exciting news! Following submission for the International Agency for Research on Cancer’s (IARC) conference, to be held in May 2026, we have had several acceptances:
- Marie Haubrich’s work entitled « Comparative analysis of cancer patterns between adults targeted by cancer screening programs and older adults in Europe » has been accepted as a poster presentation.
- Gladys Langue will present work from her PhD entitled “Mammography use among women above the recommended age for breast cancer screening in Europe in 2019”.
- Dr Sophie Pilleron will present “Cancer burden among older adults in Asia: Current patterns and projections to 2050”.
Lisa Zangarini has also received confirmation that her submission, “Smartwatch in Older Adults: A Scoping Review of Clinical Applications and Adoption in Primary Care” has been accepted for an oral presentation at the conference for the World Organisation of Family Doctors (WONCA)!
The work, led by Lisa with collaboration from Dr India Pinker, Gladys Langue, Dr Clémence Bafei, and Dr Sophie Pilleron, will be presented in Paris, in July this year. At this conference, Lisa will also run a workshop, titled “Ethics and Decolonising Principles in Global Health,” where, as lead of the European Young Family Doctors’ Special Interest Group in Global Health, she will bring early-career clinicians together to discuss ways to improve health equity through General Practice worldwide.
Public Appearances
ACADI has spent some time over the past month engaging in local and international events to share knowledge and spark meaningful conversations through a range of events and activities.
Dr Clémence Bafei presented her research journey to students at Michel Lucius High School, for FNR’s annual Researchers at School event on the 11th of March. The event is designed to highlight the diverse career journeys of researchers and inspire young students who are curious about pursuing a future in research.
In a similar vein, Dr Pauline Duquenne and Dr Clémence Bafei both represented ACADI at the Young Women in Science Conference. This event was collaboratively hosted by the Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST) and the FNR, in Belval on the 19th of March. Dr Duquenne and Dr Bafei shared their experiences with young women and girls interested in science, answering their questions and inspiring their next steps.
On the 24th of March, Dr Sophie Pilleron delivered a talk on 24 March as part of FNR’s Citizen Science Training. The training introduced researchers to the core principles of Citizen Science and highlighted how these approaches can make research more accessible and impactful. Dr Pilleron shared insights from our team’s experience integrating Public and Patient Involvement into our projects, emphasising how this collaboration has shaped and continues to shape our research practices.
On the 26th of March, Dr India Pinker delivered a guest lecture at the University of St Andrews for their PgDip in Health Professions Education. This course is for healthcare professionals expanding their skill sets to educate other healthcare professionals and develop their research skills. Dr Pinker delivered a session on the practicalities of research ethics, from the foundations of ethics guidelines through to application submissions.
Lecture Series
RESCOM Causal Inference
On the 19th of March, we were happy to welcome Professor Fabrizia Mealli from the European University Institute for another fascinating instalment of the RESCOM lecture series on causal inference, funded by FNR and in collaboration with LISER and the University of Luxembourg. She presented an engaging lecture on causal inference under interference, covering methodological challenges, case studies, and best practices.
Up next, we look forward to welcoming Professor Martin Huber on the 29th of April, who will explore the timely intersection of causal inference and artificial intelligence.
ACADI Four Seasons
On the 26th of March, Gladys Langue presented some of her PhD research in a public lecture as part of the first instalment of the ACADI Four Seasons lecture series! This series intends to share our team’s research once a season, opening it to the public and creating a space for discussion and idea exchange. Gladys masterfully presented her ongoing study on General Practitioners’ diagnostic reasoning when faced with non-specific symptoms, showcasing some fascinating preliminary insights from her interviews. Congratulations Gladys!
Grant Partnerships
Our team has joined the WAHAC² (West Africa HIV & Aging – Chronic Care Integration) project, led by the University of Bordeaux, as a partner. The project was recently submitted to a European Horizon funding call as part of the first stage in a potential two‑stage process. Results from this initial stage are expected this summer and will determine whether we are invited to submit the full proposal for funding.
Meet the Team
The team has welcomed another member! Joining us for her internship is Maya Shamsi Basha:
Hello, my name is Maya, and I am delighted to be joining the LIH ACADI team as an intern.
I am currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Psychology with a Clinical Focus at the International Psychoanalytic University in Berlin. Throughout my academic journey, I have been committed to advocating for accessibility and inclusivity in both healthcare and scientific research.
Joining ACADI will enable me to further this commitment in a practical, research-driven setting, as we aim to empower geriatric cancer patients and contribute to shaping cancer treatment decision-making in Luxembourg.
I look forward to supporting the team on the TDM Café research project, where I will work on recruitment and preliminary data analysis. This project explores the perspectives of older adults with cancer, as well as caregivers, family members, and healthcare professionals involved in treatment decision-making, to better understand their needs.I am enthusiastic to develop my skills in scientific communication, gain experience in an interdisciplinary research environment, and strengthen my research and academic writing as I prepare to pursue a PhD.“- Maya Shamsi Basha
Reminder to share and get involved in our ongoing research!
Our study, TDM-Café, funded by ThinkPink Luxembourg and supported by Cargolux Airlines, is open and looking to hear from you about your experiences! Since launching, we have had a few questions:
Why older adults?
- Understanding cancer experience at any age is extremely important, but for this study specifically, we are focusing on adults over 65 because cancer treatment research hasn’t always included enough older adults, who have quite different experiences of cancer care because of how varied the profiles of ageing are. This means that the evidence guiding treatment choices for older adults isn’t as clear, so we are trying to get a sense of what matters most to help fill those research gaps.
What if I have experiences that fit more than one category?
- You are very welcome to share any or all of your experiences. If they relate to different roles, you can simply tell us which role each experience comes from by adding a short note like “as a patient,” “as a carer,” or “as a healthcare professional.” When you choose your role in the form, pick the one you feel you can speak about most easily. The questions are open‑ended, so you can add any extra explanation wherever it feels natural for you.
Can someone help me write my answers?
- Yes, of course. If writing your answers feels difficult, you can ask a family member or friend to help you. The most important thing is that the answers describe your own experiences. If someone helps you, please mention this briefly in one of the responses.
Thank you for your questions! Please send more in, we are always happy to answer them!
Links to participate:
EN: https://lsurvey.lih.lu/index.php/576418?lang=en
FR: https://lsurvey.lih.lu/index.php/576418?lang=fr
DE: https://lsurvey.lih.lu/index.php/576418?lang=de
LU: https://lsurvey.lih.lu/index.php/576418?lang=lb
PT: https://lsurvey.lih.lu/index.php/576418?lang=pt
Until next time, keep well!
ACADI Team