During its general assembly on Thursday, April 9 in Angers, the Soleil Afelt association presented a check for €33,000 to the Inserm immunology laboratory. Concrete support for local pediatric oncology research.
State-of-the-art equipment to better understand the disease
This donation, from public generosity, will allow the Angevin laboratory to acquire new tools. Among them: an electron microscope, a water bath, and an automated system capable of visualizing and measuring certain key proteins, RAG proteins, as well as DNA abnormalities.
These equipment will help refine the characterization of populations of atypical lymphocytes, a major challenge in understanding certain pediatric cancers. All the work of the laboratory, led by Dr. Yves Delneste, will also benefit from these investments.
Unified effort in Maine-et-Loire
The €33,000 was collected during the “Gold September” campaign, a month dedicated to the fight against childhood cancers. A mobilization widely supported in U stores in the department, which contributed €10,000. A new collection is already planned for September 5 and 6, 2026.
Every year, Soleil Afelt dedicates around 20% of its donations to funding pediatric oncology research projects, in close collaboration with the teams at the Angers University Hospital, especially those of Professor Pellier.
Financing a PhD student, a first for the association
Another important step: starting this September, the association will finance a PhD position for the first time, in partnership with the University of Angers. An investment of €61,000 over three years.
The future researcher will focus on the role of RAG proteins in childhood B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemias, especially in refractory or relapsed forms. These researches are part of the HyperRAG project, led by Dr. Charline Miot.
An association committed for over 40 years
Established in 1983, Soleil Afelt (Friends and families of children with leukemia or tumors) works daily to improve the lives of children undergoing pediatric oncology treatment, both during and after hospitalization.
The association, run entirely by volunteers, collaborates closely with medical teams in Angers. It is responsible for the creation of the “Le Figuier” family house in Angers, a welcoming place for the relatives of hospitalized children.
