Luxembourg Institute of Health Tumor–Stroma Interactions Group Gains Continued Support from Plooschter Project Donation

On 7 March, the Luxembourgish non-profit association Plooschter Project reaffirmed its support for the Tumor–Stroma Interactions (TSI) group of the Department of Cancer Research (DoCR) with a generous donation of €35,000 supporting the group’s ongoing research efforts to fight leukaemia and lymphoma.

(IN BRIEF) The Luxembourg Institute of Health has received a €35,000 donation from the non-profit Plooschter Project to support research by the Tumor–Stroma Interactions group within its Department of Cancer Research. The funding marks the seventh consecutive year of support from the association, which has backed the group since 2019 in its efforts to advance research on leukaemia and lymphoma. Led by Etienne Moussay and Jérôme Paggetti, the research team studies how interactions between tumour cells and their surrounding microenvironment influence blood cancer progression, with particular focus on chronic lymphocytic leukemia. During the donation ceremony, senior scientist Anne Largeot presented research projects supported by the initiative. The Plooschter Project also promotes stem cell donor registration across Luxembourg and recently received recognition from the Grand Duke of Luxembourg for its work. The partnership demonstrates the importance of sustained community engagement in advancing cancer research and improving treatment prospects for patients.

(PRESS RELEASE) LUXEMBOURG, 17-Mar-2026 — /EuropaWire/ — Luxembourg Institute of Health has received renewed support for its blood cancer research through a €35,000 donation from the Luxembourg-based non-profit association Plooschter Project. The contribution will support ongoing work by the Tumor–Stroma Interactions (TSI) group within the institute’s Department of Cancer Research, which focuses on understanding and treating leukaemia and lymphoma.

The donation represents the seventh consecutive year that the Plooschter Project has funded the group’s research activities, underlining the association’s long-standing commitment since 2019 to advancing translational research in hematological cancers.

The Tumor–Stroma Interactions group is led by Etienne Moussay and Jérôme Paggetti. Their research investigates how interactions between tumour cells and their surrounding microenvironment influence the development and progression of blood cancers, with the goal of identifying new treatment strategies.

A key area of focus for the research team is chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), the most common form of leukaemia among adults. By examining how cancer cells interact with surrounding tissues and immune cells, the scientists aim to identify new therapeutic targets that could lead to more effective treatments.

During the donation ceremony, Anne Largeot presented two research initiatives supported by the association’s contributions, highlighting how philanthropic funding helps accelerate research projects and translate laboratory discoveries into potential clinical advances.

The Plooschter Project is also widely known in Luxembourg for organising stem cell donor recruitment campaigns throughout the country. These initiatives encourage individuals to join the stem cell donor registry, increasing the chances of finding compatible donors for patients requiring life-saving transplants. The association’s efforts recently received recognition from Henri, who joined the stem cell donor registry and praised the organisation’s commitment to supporting patients and research.

The continued collaboration between the Luxembourg Institute of Health and the Plooschter Project illustrates how partnerships between scientific institutions and community organisations can help advance biomedical research while strengthening support for patients affected by serious diseases.

Media Contacts:

Etienne Moussay
Group Leader, Tumor Stroma Interactions

Jérôme Paggetti
Group Leader, Tumor Stroma Interactions

SOURCE: Luxembourg Institute of Health