• Ageing, Cancer, and Disparities Research Unit – ACADI

Welcome back to the ACADI Newsletter! We hope you have been enjoying the sun and the transition to summer. Here are our latest team updates.

Publications

Dr Sophie Pilleron contributed to another timely piece of work, entitled “EBCC-15 manifesto: Removing age-related barriers to improve equity in breast cancer care” is finally out! This piece outlines patient-centred, age-inclusive strategies across the breast cancer care pathway, advocating risk-based rather than age-based decisions to improve access, treatment, and outcomes. You can read the manifesto here: https://www.thebreastonline.com/article/S0960-9776(26)00132-3/fulltext

Dr Clémence Bafei and Dr Pilleron published a commentary entitled: “Improving the validity of treatment effectiveness studies using real-world data in geriatric oncology: Common biases and practical solutions to avoid them”. You can read it here: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1879406826001372?dgcid=author.

Conferences

Conference season is upon us! The past month has been one of inspiration as we have been busy learning from and exchanging with leading experts.

On the 14^th of May, Dr India Pinker, Gladys Langue and Lisa Zangarini attended University College London’s Qualitative Health Research Network conference. The conference offered thought-provoking perspectives on how to meaningfully involve the communities we aim to serve from the very start of research, alongside compelling examples of the profound impact qualitative methods can have when done well.

From the 19^th to the 21^st of May, Dr Sophie Pilleron, Marie Haubrich and Gladys Langue attended and presented at the 60^th annual conference of the International Agency for Research on Cancer (affiliated with the World Health Organization). Our team gave brilliant poster presentations, we are proud of you!  

On the 26^th of May, Dr Sophie Pilleron attended the annual COST-Action (CA21152) meeting for the Implementation Network Europe for Cancer Survivorship Care (INE-CSC). The meeting was held in Coimbra, Portugal, and marked the final months of the network’s funding period. It offered a valuable opportunity to reflect on the network’s growth as well as to explore next steps and build on the new professional connections it fostered.

On the 28^th of May, Dr Sophie Pilleron, Marie Haubrich, and Lisa Zangarini attended the Europa Donne Soirée-Conférence, which brought together both patient voices and professional perspectives on the cancer journey. The organising committee also kindly allowed us to share some of our ongoing research, primarily the ThinkPink-funded study TDM-Café.

Teaching

Building on last year’s successful session, Dr Sophie Pilleron once again delivered training at the University of Luxembourg for students in the Diploma of Specialised Studies in Oncology. The session focused on cancer risk factors and approaches to primary and secondary prevention, reinforcing key foundations in cancer control from a research perspective.

Team Building

Over the past month, the team has engaged in various activities together, including writing retreats at the National Library of Luxembourg. These sessions offered a refreshing change of scenery and dedicated time to focus on writing, which can often get pushed aside amid the many tasks of the working week.

In between writing sessions, we also made the most of the weather – literally enjoying fruits of our labour with some cherry-picking!

Looking ahead, we have begun training for the Sudstroum Escher Kulturlaf taking place in Esch in September, where our team will be participating in the 5 km group run. We hope to see many of you there!

PhD Progress

We are very happy to share that Gladys passed her annual meeting with her Thesis Advisory Committee and has been cleared to continue her PhD. Congratulations Gladys!

Gladys also attended a 3-day writing retreat with the University of Luxembourg from the 27^th to 29^th of May. She made great progress with her manuscript writing while connecting with 15 other PhD students from a variety of faculties. From their writing base of the Youth Hostel in Luxembourg City, the students had the opportunity to visit the Boch casemates between writing sessions to complete their experience. Thank you to the University of Luxembourg for organising this event!

Meet the Team

This month, we welcomed Nesrine Neissen Masmoudi to the team for her 2-month internship:

I am a dentist by training and am currently pursuing a Master of Public Health at the French National School of Public Health. I am an intern in the ACADI Research Unit, where I work under the supervision of Dr. Clémence Bafei, Dr. Pauline Duquenne, and Dr. Sophie Pilleron. During my internship, I will contribute to evaluating physicians’ informational needs regarding the treatment strategies for older patients with colorectal cancer. 

– Nesrine Neissen Masmoudi

Until next time, keep well!

ACADI Team