Fondation Saint-Luc
Advancing excellence and humanity in care at Saint-Luc Hospital (UCLouvain) in Brussels through research and innovation.
History
The Fondation Saint-Luc was created in 1986 as the philanthropic foundation of the Cliniques universitaires Saint-Luc, the university hospital of UCLouvain in Brussels. Since its creation, the Foundation has been the privileged link between generous donors—individuals, families, companies, and foundations—and the medical, scientific, and humanistic missions of the hospital. Over nearly four decades, it has contributed to financing groundbreaking medical research, improving patient care, and supporting projects that combine excellence in science with a deeply human approach to health.
Mission
Our mission is to mobilize philanthropy in order to:
- Advance medical research that paves the way for new diagnostics and therapies.
- Support patient care and well-being, ensuring treatment is not only scientifically excellent but also humane.
- Promote innovation and education, enabling the training of young medical talents and the development of pioneering healthcare solutions.
- Build and equip infrastructures that reflect the highest standards of modern medicine and patient comfort.
In short, the Fondation Saint-Luc exists to bring together science, care, and humanity, making possible projects that would not be achievable without philanthropic support.
Goals
Medical breakthroughs: accelerate research in fields such as oncology, hematology, infectious diseases, cardiology, neuroscience, rare diseases, and more.
Human-centered care: provide patients and their families with services that improve quality of life (well-being centers, psychological support, pediatric play areas, music therapy, etc.).
Education & training: support scholarships, fellowships, and mandates for young physicians and scientists to ensure the future of medical excellence.
Infrastructure & technology: fund major hospital projects such as the Institut Roi Albert II (Cancer & Hematology), new surgical technologies, and digital health innovation.
Past Activities
Over the years, the Foundation has supported hundreds of initiatives. Some highlights include:
Financing cutting-edge research programs in oncology and hematology, leading to advances in CAR-T cell therapy and personalized medicine.
Creating patient well-being spaces: relaxation rooms, child-friendly facilities, and areas dedicated to supporting patients’ psychological resilience.
Supporting the purchase of advanced medical technologies, such as state-of-the-art imaging systems and surgical navigation tools.
Funding scholarships and research mandates for young researchers, allowing them to develop innovative projects and build international careers.
Contributing to COVID-19 research and response, including projects on infectious diseases and the biology of pandemics.
Current Activities
Today, the Fondation Saint-Luc is actively engaged in:
The Institut Roi Albert II (Cancer & Hematology): a new state-of-the-art building bringing together all oncology and hematology care, research, and teaching in one location. It is the only center in French-speaking Belgium treating all cancers in both adults and children, and a reference for rare cancers.
Mandates for qualified researchers: sustained support for experienced scientists like Prof. Frédéric Lecouvet, enabling them to lead ambitious, multidisciplinary research.
Soirée Académique: an annual event showcasing young medical talents supported by donors, giving visibility to the next generation of doctors and scientists.
Events and campaigns such as the Crayer Street Evening, NextGen initiatives, and sporting events like the 20 km of Brussels, which mobilize new audiences for philanthropy.
Digital fundraising: developing online donor communities, peer-to-peer fundraising, and tools to engage younger generations of supporters.
Future Planned Activities
Looking ahead, the Foundation is committed to ambitious projects that will shape the future of medicine at Cliniques universitaires Saint-Luc, including:
Expanding CAR-T cell therapy and immunotherapy research, bringing these promising treatments to more patients.
Strengthening international research collaborations through mobility grants and joint projects.
Opening new patient well-being centers integrated into hospital infrastructure, including spaces for integrative care, rehabilitation, and mental health.
Accelerating innovation in medical technology, such as AI-driven diagnostics and robotic surgery.
Sustaining donor engagement through transparent impact reporting, digital tools, and strong community events.
Launching new infrastructure projects, notably in pediatrics and neurology, to provide the best environment for healing and discovery.
Conclusion
The Fondation Saint-Luc stands at the crossroads of medicine, science, and humanism. By connecting the generosity of donors with the vision of doctors, researchers, and caregivers, it ensures that every gift translates into tangible progress for patients. Our ambition is not only to cure disease but also to accompany patients and families with dignity, empathy, and hope.
Fundraisers
Fundraiser by Julien Guevar
Giants for the Little Ones
Giants for the Little Ones Two friends, 330 km around the giants of the Alps, to give children leaving intensive care a real “afterwards.” Dear friends, dear friends of friends, dear donors, For those who don’t know us yet: we are Thomas and Julien, two friends brought together by the mountains ten years ago, in 2015, when we discovered trail running together in Scotland. Since then, we’ve shared around twenty races (the Eiger Ultra Trail, the Lavaredo, the Mont-Blanc 90K, the Pierra Menta, the TOR 130, and more) — always as a pair, always crossing the finish line together (sometimes within a second of each other). Moving forward side by side, supporting one another through the hard moments and never letting the other go: that’s simply how we approach the mountains. This year, we’re taking on an adventure that both daunts and draws us in: the Tor des Géants — the TOR 330 — in the Aosta Valley, in September 2026. The TOR 330 is: 330 km in a single stage, looping around the giants of the Alps — Mont Blanc, the Matterhorn, Monte Rosa, the Grand Combin, the Gran Paradiso; nearly 24,000 m of positive elevation gain; a near-self-supported race, day and night, to be completed in under 150 hours — about six days with very little sleep. The TOR 330 is reputed to be one of the most demanding ultra-trails in the world. We approach it with humility, aware that nothing is ever guaranteed. But, as always, this adventure is about far more than sport for us. If we’re taking it on, it’s also for a reason that touches us deeply, each in our own way: “This cause is profoundly close to my heart. My son, when he was six months old, had to be admitted to intensive care. With Bénédicte, I discovered the world of paediatric intensive care — the dedication of the many professionals who work there every day (doctors, physiotherapists, nurses, psychologists), the kindness of an entire ward, as well as those long hours of waiting and uncertainty.” — Thomas “This project resonates with me especially as the father of two young children. I’m keenly aware of what a hospital stay means for a child and their parents, and of how much the support given to families matters in those moments of great vulnerability. As an animal-health professional, I also witness every day the essential role that listening, support and kindness play when worry sets in.” — Julien We both know it: the ordeal doesn’t end at the hospital doors. For the child and the parents alike, the road to recovery often begins afterwards — and it can be long. It’s that road — the “afterwards” — that we’ve chosen to support together, alongside the paediatric intensive care team at Saint-Luc and the Saint-Luc Foundation. Their project, “Better support for children and their families after intensive care” , starts from good news paired with a challenge: thanks to medical progress, more and more children now survive intensive care. But many, like their parents, are left with lasting after-effects. The project aims to make intensive care more humane from day one, and to provide follow-up after the return home, so that neither the child nor their loved ones are left alone to face the afterwards. We’ll push ourselves to the limit to cross that finish line . But the summit that truly matters is the one we can reach thanks to you: every donation, whatever its size, directly supports these children and their families. Because, as the Saint-Luc team puts it so well: surviving is not enough — you also have to be able to rebuild. Together, let’s turn every kilometre into hope. Let’s make the giants of the Alps a force for the smallest among us. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for your generosity and your support. Julien & Thomas 100% of your donation goes to the Saint-Luc Foundation. If your donation is 40 euros or more, you’ll automatically receive a tax certificate and recover 30% of the amount given if you are based in Belgium. And even without donating, you can help us: share this page with those around you. Every share can make a difference for these children and their families.
- Raised
- $50
- Next milestone
- $100
1 supporter
DonateOfficial fundraiser
2 Wheels 4 Purpose
One Ride. One Cause. Infinite Impact. From the Baltics to the Mediterranean, 7000+ kilometres, 20+ countries, and 70,000+ meters of elevation. As our wheels turn from Estonia to Gibraltar, each mile brings visibility to a crucial cause, solidarity with every person affected by cancer, and tangible support for life-saving research. The ride transforms endurance into empathy, motion into momentum, and passion into purpose, all to fuel the single, vital mission of creating a future without cancer. We are always happy to have people join our mission, no matter how you contribute or what you bring, your input is always appreciated! Follow our journey : www.2wheels4purpose.com By donating you directly support the Saint-Luc Hospital and the Ciclobiome project. The Ciclibiome Project Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women. Today, one of the standard treatments for certain types of breast cancer combines two drugs: hormone therapy and a CDK4/6 inhibitor, a medication that slows down cancer cell growth. This treatment is effective, but it does not work for all patients, and we still cannot predict in advance who will truly benefit. The goal of the Ciclibiome Project is to go further: to understand why some patients respond well to treatment while others do not, and to discover how to improve its effectiveness while limiting side effects. To achieve this, researchers at Cliniques universitaires Saint-Luc, in collaboration with UCLouvain, the Institut Jules Bordet, and CHU UCL Namur, are analyzing two key elements: The immune system and the metabolism of patients (that is, how their body reacts and uses energy), The gut microbiome, meaning the billions of bacteria living in our intestines that influence our health. In practice, patients taking part in the study regularly provide blood and stool samples. These samples enable researchers to identify biological signatures that could explain why the treatment works better for some women. The first results are encouraging: they already show that these drugs very early on modify the activity of both the immune system and metabolism. In the long term, the Ciclibiome Project could make it possible to: Predict in advance whether a patient will respond to treatment, Develop new treatment combinations (for example, by adding immunotherapy), Avoid unnecessary side effects, And above all, better personalize care for each woman with breast cancer. This project, funded thanks to the support of donors and the Fondation Saint-Luc, represents an important step toward more precise, more effective, and less burdensome medicine for patients. Thank you for your support !
- Raised
- $0
- Goal
- $400,000
Donors
Eoin Kiely Congrats Rene! amazing physical achivement for a very wothy cause.
Katelynn Lockard To the fundraiser: Giants for the Little Ones