Testimonial: a Vietnamese-French Collaboration

A Vietnamese researcher, supported by GERCA, is advancing critical research on rheumatic mitral valve stenosis—a condition causing 1.4 million deaths annually. With GERCA’s funding, their study explores innovative therapies like Empagliflozin, bridging collaboration between Vietnam and France to tackle health inequities in underserved regions.

As a medical doctor and researcher from Vietnam, I am deeply grateful
for GERCA’s support in advancing my research on rheumatic mitral
valve stenosis (MS)—a condition alarmingly prevalent in developing
countries like mine. MS significantly contributes to global morbidity and
mortality, with 1.4 million deaths annually. Unfortunately, in Vietnam and
similar regions, research into this condition often faces immense
challenges due to limited funding and inadequate facilities, despite the
urgent need for solutions.

When my research team, led by my professor, Pr. Olivier Morel, and I
conceptualized this project, I was both excited and deeply compelled by
its potential positive impacts. The study, “Impact of Plasma from Patients
with Rheumatic Mitral Valve Stenosis on Mitral Endothelial Valve
Dysfunction and Thrombogenicity: Protective Effect of Empagliflozin,”
holds the promise of uncovering mechanisms underlying valve
dysfunction and exploring Empagliflozin, a sodium-glucose cotransporter
inhibitor (SGLT2I), as a novel therapeutic option. However, alongside
this excitement came significant concern about how we would secure
the funding and access to advanced facilities necessary to bring this
research to life.

Thanks to GERCA, those concerns were alleviated. GERCA’s funding
has not only enabled me to conduct this vital research using the
advanced resources at CRBS Strasbourg but has also empowered me
to establish meaningful collaborations between Vietnam and France.

This research stands as a critical step toward addressing health
inequities, providing innovative care to patients in Vietnam and other
underserved regions who currently lack access to effective treatments.

I hope GERCA continues to grow and attract more dedicated donors so
that many other meaningful projects like mine can come to life. GERCA’s support has transformed a challenging idea into a reality, offering hope
to millions affected by MS.

As a researcher from a developing country, I am honored to contribute to
GERCA’s mission and am committed to ensuring that this research
makes a lasting impact on global healthcare.

Trung Anh Mai
Medical Doctor (Cardiologist)