Press release sent on 31 January 2024 – Laboratoire national de santé (LNS) has a new CEO: Dr. Michel Toungouz Névessignsky will take over as director of the Dudelange-based National Health Laboratory with its 6 scientific departments and around 400 employees with effect from 1 February 2024. He succeeds Prof. Dr. André Rosenthal, who has headed LNS as Director ad interim since December 2022.

Michel Toungouz Névessignsky (MD/PhD) brings extensive leadership experience in medical diagnostics and laboratory medicine to Luxembourg for his role. The 58-year-old Belgian has held several directorship positions in diagnostic and translational academic and industry life science institutions over the past decades.

A clear focus on patient care

LNS’ new CEO studied medicine and specialized in laboratory medicine. His PhD in immunology in Brussels was followed over the years by further qualifications in the fields of transfusion medicine (Paris), immunogenetics (Berlin) and medical management (Brussels).

“Improving patient care, both diagnostically and clinically, is the leitmotif of my career and the two-way flow between research and clinical practice requires constant team efforts,” says Michel Toungouz Névessignsky: “With this in mind, I am looking forward to get to know all major stakeholders at the four hospitals, the medical doctors in the major private practices and all the other important players at the ministry of Health and Social Security, the Directorate of Health and the National Health Fund (CNS)  in the Luxembourg healthcare sector.”

Advancing diagnostics by translating research results

His impressive translational research experience will prove useful for networking and continuing collaborations of the LNS with Luxembourg´s research institutions, for instance the University of Luxembourg and the Luxembourg Institute of Health (LIH). André Rosenthal is sure that his successor will guide the LNS with wisdom and team spirit: “I am delighted to be able to place the fate of LNS into the hands of Michel Toungouz Névessignsky. To be the director of LNS is a great challenge and a responsible task. I am sure that Michel, together with the international team at LNS, will improve the quality and turn-around-time of the routine diagnostics services and advance the medical diagnostics portfolio to serve the growing medical needs in precision oncology and personalized medicine of all patients in Luxembourg.”

Management style

Prof. Dr. Evelin Schröck, President of the LNS’ Board of Directors, adds: “Michel Toungouz Névessignsky is an experienced healthcare manager with leadership experience in culturally diverse ecosystems. Modern leadership is about guiding, influencing, and supporting the achievement of results without depending on role-based authority. This is key for the delivery of results in time with high quality to fulfill our common mission to make life in Luxembourg healthier.”