Organizers
CREST 2027 – Cancer Research EcosystemS in Translation
Johannes Meiser (PhD), is Director of the Department of Cancer Research and Head of the Cancer Metabolism Group at the Luxembourg Institute of Health (LIH). His lab discovered “formate overflow,” a metabolic pathway that fuels cancer cell invasion and metastasis. Since 2024, his research has been core-funded by a European Research Council (ERC) Consolidator Grant. At the Department of Cancer Research, Johannes is continuously working on creating an ecosystem where basic mechanistic research meets the clinical translational landscape, putting fundamental discoveries into patient-centric relevance. A former FNR ATTRACT fellow and recipient of the 2024 FNR Outstanding Mentor Award, Johannes trained at Saarland University, the Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine, and the CRUK Scotland Institute in Glasgow before founding his group at LIH in 2018.
Elisabeth Letellier (PhD), is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Life Sciences and Medicine at the University of Luxembourg, where she co-leads the Molecular Disease Mechanisms group since 2020. Her lab dissects how metabolism and the tumor microenvironment, including stromal cells and the gut/tumor microbiome, drive colorectal cancer (CRC) progression and drug resistance. In close partnership with national hospitals, Integrated Biobank of Luxembourg (IBBL), and Laboratoire National de Santé (LNS), she spearheaded a growing CRC biobank of more than 250 high-quality patient samples, enabling rigorous translational work. Her team has established patient-derived 3D tumor models and in vivo models to understand the mechanisms of tumorigenesis in CRC and identify novel therapies. Beyond research, she directs the Molecular Medicine II course in the Integrated Systems Biology Master and leads the Practicals in Protein Structure and Biochemistry, training the next generation of cancer researchers.
CREST 2027 was conceived as the closing conference of CANBIO2, an FNR funded doctoral training unit co-led by the two scientific organisers and bringing together major cancer research teams across Luxembourg. The organisation of the event has also been supported by members of the wider CANBIO2 training community, including doctoral supervisors and candidates, researchers and support staff from LIH and the University of Luxembourg, whose contributions have made the conference possible.
