A long-term commitment
For several years now,Groupama Loire-Bretagne (Groupama Foundation) has supported the Rare Diseases Foundation through its ongoing commitment to research projects led by teams in western France. This sponsorship reflects a shared commitment to advancing knowledge and improving the management of rare diseases, with a focus on the needs of patients and their families.
A variety of promising projects
Thanks to this support, several projects were funded between 2020 and 2025. They cover a wide range of fields, from the genetics of canine epilepsy as models for human epilepsy, to the study of new genes involved in rare developmental and epileptic encephalopathies, as well as research on cleft lip and palate, neural tube defects, severe hemophilia, Hirschsprung’s disease, and MRKH syndrome and uterine agenesis/aplasia.
Supported projects
- 2025: Prof. Sylvie Jaillard (Full Professor, Rennes University Hospital) – MRKH syndrome – Uterine agenesis/aplasia and long-read genomic sequencing (MUSE project)
- 2022: Dr. Damien Brezulier (UMR CNRS 6226, University of Rennes 1) – Moving Toward a New Treatment for Cleft Lip and Palate
- 2022: Prof. Régis Giet (University of Rennes, CNRS, INSERM, IGDR) – Functional study of TACC1, a new gene implicated in a rare form of epileptic developmental encephalopathy
- 2020: Dr. Pascale Quignon (IGDR Rennes) – Genetic research on canine epilepsy as a model for human epilepsy
- 2020: Dr. Valérie Desquiret (Mitovasc Laboratory, Angers) – Targeted therapeutic approaches to restore oxidative metabolism in rare diseases associated with mutations in mitochondrial complex I
“ Our commitment to the Rare Diseases Foundation in our region stems from a strong conviction: to advance medical research while providing concrete solutions for people affected by rare diseases and their loved ones. By supporting outstanding research projects conducted in the Greater West region, we are helping to better understand these conditions, accelerate discoveries, and pave the way for new treatments.
At the same time, our philanthropic efforts aim to improve patients’ quality of life by supporting projects that address their day-to-day needs, going beyond the purely medical aspect. This long-term partnership with the Foundation fully embodies the spirit of our work: a meaningful, compassionate commitment rooted in our local communities, serving the public good and offering hope to the families involved. »
Magali DUVAL Head of Rare Disease Sponsorship - Groupama Loire-Bretagne
Support that makes a difference
This commitment by Groupama Loire-Bretagne illustrates the tangible impact of corporate sponsorship: enabling researchers to make decisive breakthroughs, explore new avenues, and, in some cases, build on work that could pave the way for more substantial funding in the future.
In total, nearly 48,000 euros were awarded to these projects, underscoring the continuity and quality of this partnership in support of research on rare diseases.
The Rare Diseases Foundation extends its heartfelt thanks to Groupama Loire-Bretagne for its trust and commitment to our cause.
This support directly contributes to advancing research and fostering hope for new breakthroughs for people affected by rare diseases.