Grant and Funding Programs Offered by Laurette Fugain Association

Laurette Fugain Association is a French non-profit created in 2002 in memory of Laurette, a young patient who died from leukaemia. Based on this personal history, the organisation has built a broad action plan against leukaemias and other blood cancers. It is now recognised as one of the main associative funders of medical research in this field in France, while also supporting patients, caregivers and public awareness of life-saving donations.

The association’s first mission is to mobilise on “dons de vie” (blood, platelets, plasma, bone marrow). It informs the general public, particularly young people, about the nature, role and practical access to these donations so that giving becomes a natural civic act. Its campaigns contributed to the “Grande Cause Nationale” label in 2009 for life donations.

The second major axis is support for patients, former patients and families. Laurette Fugain develops innovative projects to improve patient care: accommodation near treatment centres, legal advice linked to illness, workshops and support groups, second medical opinions, forums and various tools that help patients and caregivers throughout the care pathway. It also backs initiatives that assist healthcare professionals in their daily work with haematology patients.

The third and most structurally funded mission is financing pediatric and adult medical research on all types of blood cancers, across fundamental, translational and clinical research. According to the association, more than 11 million euros have been allocated to 252 research projects, making it a leading associative contributor in the field of leukaemia research.

Research funding is organised through an annual call for project proposals, open to public research groups from official organisations such as Inserm, CNRS or university hospitals. The association never pays individuals directly; funds go to institutional research teams. Projects are selected on criteria such as scientific relevance, feasibility and potential impact for patients. A rigorous process governs funding: legal agreements, staged payments and intermediate and final scientific and financial reports ensure accountability.

In addition to project grants, the association operates . The Prix Laurette Fugain, worth a total of €15,000, rewards two young researchers or teams for outstanding contributions against blood cancers. The Bourse Jeunes Chercheurs (up to €2,500) helps promising haematologists attend major international congresses, important platforms for sharing advances in research. Application dossiers and calls are made available online, and awards are presented during the annual congress of the Société Française d’Hématologie.

The association is run by a committed director committee that sets strategic orientations and ensures implementation of decisions made by the general assembly. A specialised Scientific and Medical Committee, composed of leading haematologists and researchers, provides expertise for evaluating and monitoring funded projects. This structure underpins a demanding and transparent approach to funding.

Laurette Fugain reports its activities and finances in annual reports and retrospective brochures intended for the general public, which summarise the results achieved by funded teams. Figures highlight both the volume of research projects and hospital-based initiatives financed, and the proportion of the budget devoted to its three missions. The organisation also has local antennas in several French regions and overseas territories to relay its actions and support to patients and donors on the ground.

Through this combined work—public information, patient support and structured grant-making—Laurette Fugain Association plays a central role in the French ecosystem of funding and mobilisation against blood cancers.