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Dedication to science recognised by honorary distinctions
Two LIH employees receive prestigious national accolades
Dr Laurent Vallar and Florence Henry were honoured with the prestigious “Chevalier de l’Ordre Grand-Ducal de la Couronne de Chêne” and the “Chevalier de l’Ordre du Mérite du Grand-Duché de Luxembourg”, respectively, in recognition of their longstanding commitment to scientific research and coordination at the Luxembourg Institute of Health (LIH).
On June 19, on the occasion of the national day festivities, Stéphanie Obertin, Minister of Research and Higher Education, presented the traditional honorary medals to several awardees who made an essential contribution to the development of research and higher education in Luxembourg.
Florence Henry, Executive Assistant to the CEO and the CFAO office since 2009, was awarded the distinction of “Chevalier de l’Ordre du Mérite du Grand-Duché de Luxembourg” for her outstanding dedication and professionalism in supporting the institute’s leadership, ensuring the effective organisation, coordination and administration of corporate activities, thus helping create the necessary conditions for research excellence.
“I am deeply honoured and grateful to have received this distinction. It has been a privilege to support LIH’s leadership and work alongside such dedicated colleagues over the years. One quote has always guided me: ‘In the end, people will not remember what you did or what you said, but only how you made them feel’. I have always tried to approach my work with kindness, respect and a genuine commitment to supporting others”, states Florence.
In parallel, Dr Laurent Vallar was bestowed the distinction of “Chevalier de l’Ordre Grand-Ducal de la Couronne de Chêne”. A long-standing member of the LIH community, he first joined the institute in 1997 as a post-doctoral researcher and subsequently leading his own research laboratory, before becoming Head of Science Strategy in 2017. In this role, Dr Vallar has been instrumental in shaping LIH’s scientific strategy, supporting researchers in securing competitive funding and fostering strategic collaborations that strengthen the institute’s research excellence and international visibility. More recently, he has also been dedicated to establishing an institutional framework to support and promote the careers of early-career researchers – a cause particularly close to his heart as he shares the experience gained over nearly three decades in biomedical research.
“I am sincerely honoured to have received this distinction. I see it not only as a personal recognition, but also as a reflection of the excellence of our researchers and colleagues at the LIH. Helping transform scientific ideas into successful projects is indeed one of the most rewarding aspects of my work”, concludes Dr Vallar.
