The Centre Baclesse has received a donation of €51,319 from the "JETONS LE CANCER" Endowment Fund, founded by Rotary, for the purchase of an artificial intelligence workstation for its Cancer Biology and Genetics Laboratory. This acquisition will accelerate Dr. Laurent CASTERA's research into cancer predisposition.
Support for cancer genetics research
Five to ten percent of cancers occur in the context of genetic inheritance. This heredity is linked to the presence of genetic alterations in certain genes, known as variants. There are two reasons to look for these variants. People with hereditary cancers benefit from appropriate treatment, as do their family members, and in some cases have access to new targeted therapies.
Our Cancer Biology and Genetics Laboratory is one of the pioneers in the search for these variants, with experience recognized and valued through several international scientific publications. A third-generation sequencer such as the one recently installed in our laboratory needs to be coupled with a sufficiently powerful IT infrastructure to fully exploit the nature of this new data and make it possible to transfer it into a sustained diagnostic routine for the benefit of all patients.
The acquisition of a new workstation focused on HPC and artificial intelligence will boost existing computing capacity. Combined with third-generation sequencing, this will make it possible to explain hitherto unexplained family histories of cancer, and thus improve care for patients and their families.
Sharing and Solidarity
On July 3, the Baclesse Center and Rotary District Normandy formalized this support by signing a partnership agreement in the presence of Professor Roman ROUZIER, Director General of the Baclesse Center, and Mr. Alain Duval, Governor of Rotary District Normandy.
This was an opportunity to present the Baclesse Center and its areas of research, as well as the "Jetons le Cancer" (Let's Beat Cancer) campaign. The Rotarians visited the Cancer Biology and Genetics Laboratory and enjoyed a presentation on how to use the computer equipment. It was an essential time of sharing to measure the concrete impact of Rotary's generosity.
About Rotary
Since February 2015, Rotary and its "Jetons le Cancer" Endowment Fund have been innovating with a simple initiative: volunteers collect donations at the entrance to department stores on the first Saturday of February each year, giving out shopping cart tokens in exchange for one euro. The initiative relies on the mass effect of Saturday shopping, the simplicity of the gesture, and the notion of exchange in line with Rotary values. It is linked to World Cancer Day on February 4 to increase its local impact.
The funds raised by Rotary Clubs are paid in full to the "Jetons le Cancer" Endowment Fund, which is dedicated to financing the purchase of equipment and materials for cancer research and treatment, based on applications submitted by research institutes and laboratories seeking funding for equipment. A scientific committee composed of experts provides a detailed opinion on the projects to be funded and designates the beneficiaries of the grants.
In 2024, the collection reached €242,919 for 2,001 participating clubs. The "Jetons le Cancer" Endowment Fund announced to the Normandy Rotary District that the application from the Baclesse Center in Caen had been selected for a grant of €51,319.
A great satisfaction for Rotary Normandie, part of Rotary International and headquartered in Lisieux. Within Rotary Normandie, there are more than 1,500 women and men in 58 Rotaract clubs (young professionals and students aged 18 and over) and 11 Interact clubs (high school students). Find out more at https://rotarynormandie.org
A huge THANK YOU!
