2016 was a scientifically successful year for LIH, which pursued its mission to generate and translate research knowledge in the biomedical field.

The institute issued a total of 272 publications, including reviews, book chapters and PhD theses. 19 publications were of outstanding scientific quality and appeared in international peer-reviewed journals with an impact factor above 10. Among these are 10 publications in the highly acclaimed journal The Lancet on major population health studies and one in Cell on the gut microbiome. In addition, 5 patent applications were filed during the year and numerous public-private partnerships were initiated.

LIH managed to attract substantial competitive funding, mainly from the Luxembourg National Research Fund (FNR). Three CORE projects were funded, one inter-institutional PEARL grant in neuropathology was accepted and two PRIDE PhD training programmes involving the University of Luxembourg could be initiated. Several cancer research projects were supported by the Luxembourg Cancer Foundation and FNRS Télévie.

A number of researchers got awarded for their exceptional scientific achievements. Dr Jérôme Paggetti and Dr Etienne Moussay received the “FNR Award for Outstanding Scientific Publication” and the “Award for Translational Medicine” for their important research work on leukemia. Dr Ala’a Alkerwi and her team were awarded the “Healthcare Research Award” for the ORISCAV-Lux study on cardiovascular health at the Luxembourg Healthcare Summit 2016. Finally, Dr Laurence Fond-Harmant received an “Erasmus+ Strategic Project” trophy for the coordination of a European project aiming at developing professional networks for the healthcare of elderly patients with psychic disorders.

Numerous scientific seminars were organised by LIH throughout the year for the local scientific community. Among these was a high quality lecture series in Infection & Immunity with 11 invited speakers from abroad held by the Department of Infection and Immunity. The highlight was the venue of Prof Douglas Green, a highly cited immunologist from the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, USA.

To get in touch with the broad public, the institute co-organised the Medical Research Day, an information day with conferences and workshops at the Centre Hospitalier de Luxembourg. LIH also took initiatives to promote its activities on different international days dedicated to diseases, such as the Rare Disease Day, the World Cancer Day, the World Health Day or the World Hepatitis Day.