The 12th Pasteurdon began on Wednesday October 10. Here are some good reasons to respond to this fundraising campaign for the benefit of medical research.
“Faced with new threats to our health: infectious diseases such as Zika and Ebola, AIDS, antimicrobial resistance but also Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, cancers, our researchers need not only more resources, but also access to the latest technologies. “, says Stewart Cole, Director General of the Institut Pasteur.
With this in mind, the 12th Pasteurdon began on Wednesday, October 10, with the slogan “defend research”. This appeal for donations for medical research is currently broadcast by more than forty partner media, including 24 television channels and more than 15 radio stations, until October 14. Donations can be made via Internet, by telephone by calling 36 20, by SMS (92112) or by sending a check by post (Pasteurdon, 25 rue du Docteur-Roux, 75015 Paris).
Many projects
The research budget of the Institut Pasteur depends for 27% on the generosity of the public. For a donation of 100 euros, 78 go directly to research, public health actions and education. The rest is used to finance administrative costs and fundraising.
Researchers at the Institut Pasteur are working on numerous projects. For example, the complete sequencing of pathogens such as salmonella, listeria, influenza, now achievable in 10 days, makes it possible to better understand epidemics and to react. “As soon as there is a new disease, a virus, they go to work in the field,” says actress Alexandra Lamy, who is sponsoring the operation. “It is also at the Pasteur Institute that the National Reference Center (CNR) is responsible for monitoring human salmonellosis, recently brought to light by the contaminated milk scandal,” she adds. In another area, an application to assess mood and behavioral changes in bipolar patients is under development.
Two million euros raised in 2017
New strategies against multi-resistant bacteria are also being developed. “Even if antibiotics are effective, their use and effectiveness are under threat as more and more resistance is observed. Every year in Europe, 400,000 people are infected with bacteria that are multi-resistant to antibiotics. And this will increase. Multidisciplinary research must be carried out to better understand the factors linked to this resistance and their dissemination, but also to develop therapeutic alternatives”, specifies the Institut Pasteur. Since its creation, ten of its researchers have received a Nobel Prize, such as the one which rewarded Françoise Barré-Sinoussi for the discovery of the AIDS virus ten years ago.
Last year, two million euros were collected thanks to Pasteurdon. In particular, they made it possible to finance the arrival of Titan Krios, one of the most powerful microscopes in the world. Buildings (Omics) designed to multiply the synergies between digital technology and biology have also been created thanks to the generosity of the public.
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