The Roquette Foundation for Health organized yesterday a virtual event to celebrate its 3-year anniversary. They also revealed the winner of its first ever Research Award and put the spotlight on the “Coup de Coeur” Award. This ceremony was also the opportunity to honor the public’s favorite project.
La Madeleine (France), 2 December 2020 – The Roquette Foundation for Health, under the aegis of La Fondation de France, has been supporting innovative or educational programs in the field of food and nutrition for the past three years. This year, the Foundation presented its first Research Award as well as a Jury's ‘Coup de Coeur’ Award, during a digital event.
The 2020 Research Award has been given to Laurent Reber (PhD) for his work on food allergies
The jury, gathering French experts from the medical and academic spheres, chose this winning project, which addresses a public health issue that affects 10% of the population, particularly children.
A nominee in the category "Prevention in healthcare: what are the stakes and approaches around food and nutrition?", the winning project led by Laurent Reber (PhD) highlights the key role played by a molecule called IgE (Immunoglobulin E) in food allergies. It is based on recent clinical studies showing that a therapeutic antibody can block this IgE and induce significant beneficial effects. Today, its cost remains very high and greatly reduces its potential as a therapy in the treatment of these allergies.
The project therefore consists in developing a new therapeutic approach: a vaccine that will offer a less costly and more effective solution in the long term. It will improve the life quality of many people suffering from food allergies. With this Award, Laurent Reber (PhD) and his team receive an endowment worth €25,000 to continue their work.
"This support from the Roquette Foundation for Health is fundamental because this project represents a major potential breakthrough in the treatment of food allergies. A vaccine approach will make it possible to treat a larger number of patients in the long run. Therefore, we will be able to change the lives of these patients suffering from severe food allergies", explained Laurent Reber.
"Awarding a Research Award is very meaningful to us, especially during this unprecedented year. "Believing in progress" is one of the pillars of our Foundation. The project promoted by Doctor Reber and his team offers an innovative solution that will be beneficial in the long term for the health of women and men all around the world. We look forward to supporting it! " said Anne Lambin, Head of the Roquette Foundation for Health.
The Jury's ‘Coup de Coeur’ Award given to Lucie Marousez
The jury also wanted to award the Jury’s ‘Coup de Coeur’ Award to Lucie Marousez's project. This 25-years old researcher from the University of Lille is working on an innovative treatment of breast milk by high hydrostatic pressure which increases its biological and intestinal properties. In addition, this treatment reduces losses due to failure of the usual pasteurization.
The Award for the Public’s favorite project awarded to the non-profit organization Life Project 4 Youth
The Roquette Foundation for Health’s virtual award ceremony on December 1, 2020, ended by awarding the public’s favorite project, following a vote that took place over the past two weeks. Throughout November, an online platform allowed everyone to watch the videos presenting 12 projects supported today by the Roquette Foundation for Health, and to vote for their favorite project. Out of these 12 projects, 3 finalists were selected, and the winner was decided after a live vote of the participants during the ceremony. The public decided to reward this year the project LifeLine overseen by Life Project 4 Youth, whose goal is to offer young people from extreme poverty and exclusion an educational program based on apprenticeship. The young people assist their community, the inhabitants of the slum of Malwani (India), around the themes of health and nutrition.
Discore more about the Roquette Foundation for Heath.
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Roquette Foundation for Health contact
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