Raising students’ awareness of biomedical research and scientific professions with a view to rare genetic diseases is the objective of the “1,000 researchers in schools” operation, launched ten years ago by the AFM.Telethon.
At the end of November, three establishments in Eure-et-Loir – the Herriot college in Lucé, the Racine college in Maintenon and the Fulbert high school in Chartres – benefited from this operation aimed at 3rd, 2nd, 1st and final grades. As many schools are registering, the selection is by drawing lots.
What activities are planned in Eure-et-Loir to support the Telethon?
Mireille Marchand, professor of SVT (life and earth sciences) at the Lycée Fulbert, considers herself quite lucky as she has already hosted a researcher on several occasions. On Thursday, November 24, Emmanuel Thévenot, program manager of Généthon, the AFM-Téléthon laboratory, led the three interventions offered, in total, to almost 150 students of the 1st and final year of the SVT specialty.
“In the six years that I have participated in this school operation, the results of the research work have evolved enormously. The goal is to meet young people, but also to encourage vocations by talking about professions around research. »
Emanuel Thevenot (Program Manager at Genethon
Through an interactive presentation, Emmanuel Thévenot recalls the fundamental principles of genetics but also the work done to find cures, and which led in particular to gene and cell therapies.
Promising clinical trials
“There are fifteen drug development projects underway at Généthon,” he explains. And new clinical trials have been launched that bring hope. “It remains to be seen how effective these treatments will be after ten or fifteen years…”
Lorenzo Francescana
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