Newsletter
August 2015: Issue 5
Without change there is no innovation creativity, or iUPPORTER ncentive for improvement.
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A news bulletin for the supporters of the University’s Research Trust
The Malta Community Chest Fund supports research The Research Trust is proud to announce that the Malta Community Chest Fund (MCCF) will be joining forces with the University of Malta and will be financially supporting a research project in the genetics of Osteoporosis and Fractures in Malta. This collaboration is the result of discussions between the research trust and the MCCF with the involvement of HE the President Marie Louise Coleiro Preca, who, having visited last December the research facilities of the University, is a declared supporter of the long term benefits of research.
Osteoporosis is a silent bone disease characterised by low bone mass and reduced bone strength leading to increased brittleness and fracture risk. In Malta, the number of people affected with osteoporosis is estimated to be around 20% in women and 6% in men aged 50 years and older. One of the most important risk factors that play a major role in the development of osteoporosis and fractures is family history, which highlights the presence of a genetic heritable component. Individuals with a family history may become affected at any age, even below the age of 40 years, with a greater risk of sustaining an osteoporotic fracture. Prof. Angela Xuereb, Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences, together with Dr Melissa Formosa from the same faculty, will be co-ordinating this study on behalf of the University of Malta. The University of Malta is currently collaborating with two large international consortia GENOMOS and GEFOS, to identify genetic factors underlying osteoporosis and fracture risk in different populations. A number of newly discovered gene variants are currently being tested in the Maltese population, which require further investigation to confirm their involvement in bone physiology. This project will study genotyping of new variants in order to increase the list of potential genes which could be used in the diagnosis of susceptible individuals and how the new gene variant might be affecting bone formation. The study will be working with two newly recruited Maltese families with a family history of osteoporosis, with the aim of identifying potentially new genes contributing to the disease. From left: Prof. Angela Xuereb, Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences and Dr Melissa Formosa.
Research, Innovation & Development Trust
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HEALTHY SMILES ON WHEELS – Mobile Message from
Dental Clinic completed
the CEO
A few weeks ago, while attending a fundraising event organised by ALIVE Charity Foundation, one of the cyclists told me that they face substantial scepticism from people who doubt whether tiny Malta can contribute to the discovery of a treatment for cancer. Comments such as ‘we are too small to matter in such an aggressive global fight’ is one argument that these fund raisers faced for the past two years. Notwithstanding all this, they have managed to donate to date €135,000 to the RIDT and they are on their third challenge this year... aiming to break their own record.
Just a few days after this episode, I was informed by the Breast Cancer Research Group within the University of Malta that their group has come up with new findings that can facilitate the therapy of breast cancer patients. The group has now been invited to present their findings to a number of leading research institutions across Europe. It may not be the final solution to all problems created by cancer, but it definitely secures the University of Malta on the map of cancer research institutions in Europe. We are small, but we have a contribution to make, so let’s make it. It is extremely gratifying to note that these findings have been registered in one area where the RIDT, with the generous support of organisations such as ALIVE Charity Foundation, Action for Breast Cancer Foundation and Europa Donna, has been focusing on. The breast cancer research group has been established around five years ago, and they have been receiving funds from various sources, including the European Commission, but we cannot underestimate the fact that this research has received a boost over the past two years through the funds raised by these organisations through the Research Trust. This is a clear example that investment in research pays, because it is an investment in our future.
The RIDT-funded Mobile Dental Clinic has now been completed. The state-of-theart clinic was presented last month to the sponsors and supporters, in the presence of the rector Prof. Juanito Camilleri.
The Mobile Dental Clinic is the brain child of Prof. Nikolai Attard, Dean of the Faculty of Dental Surgery and Dr Gabriella Gatt, Assistant lecturer at the faculty and project co-ordinator. It is now ready to start its work, not only giving on-the-spot check ups to various people and communities, but also to compile an anonymous database of the status of the nation’s oral health. The latter will give current and future health care providers an invaluable source of information about the Maltese and Gozitan population. “Whoever gets access to the Mobile Unit is going to be screened, and will receive a check up,” explains Dr Gatt. “The person will also be told if they need to visit a dentist or change their eating and/or drinking habits and their oral hygiene practices. Ultimately, each person will be receiving tailored advice.” “Moreover, in extreme emergencies, the Dental Unit will also do procedures on patients,” adds Prof Attard. “But the point of the Unit isn’t to do this per se, but rather to bring oral health – which can affect our overall health – to the forefront.” This project has been made possible thanks to a number of people and sponsors who have aided us throughout the journey. The conversion from truck to a fully fledged dental clinic was entrusted in the hands of Ing. Albert Bonnici. The Mobile Dental Clinic is supported by GSK Ltd, Cherubino Ltd, Good Causes Fund, Express Group, Rahuma International, Bart Enterprises Ltd, ProHealth Ltd and Suratek Ltd.
There is indeed a lot to be proud of. Wilfred Kenely Chief Executive Officer Prof. Nikolai Attard, Dean of Faculty of Dental Surgery with Ms Monica Abdilla, GSK country manager and Mr Abdilla
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Why we are proud to be DONORS Alive Charity Foundation is working collaboratively with the Research Trust of the University of Malta and the Faculty of Physiology and Biochemistry within the University of Malta to discover the causes of different cancers in Malta and to find ways to prevent it. With a clear vision in mind, ALIVE set off on a mission two years ago to shift the people’s mentality and make them more aware of the urgent need of medical research and healthy living so as to prevent illness rather than cure it.
Indeed the foundation, through its yearly cycling challenge became pioneers in investing in medical research in Malta. Since the foundation’s conception, we have worked closely with two organisations: Action for Breast Cancer Foundation and Europa Donna to raise funds for cancer research. ALIVE Charity Foundation donated €135,000 to the RIDT to sustain a specialised programme in breast cancer research. This would not have been possible without the generosity of the Maltese community. This year, the ‘Daikin – ALIVE2015 Cycling Challenge for Cancer’ will be dedicated to the gold ribbon, which is the official ribbon of children with cancer. Our intention is to continue raising funds and start a research in two other common cancers found locally especially in children, that of Leukemia and Brain Tumour.
ALIVE 2015 GOES FOR THE GOLD RIBBON
Alive Charity Foundation, although a relatively budding foundation, is fast becoming a recognised non-governmental organisation. Through cycling, we have already raised and donated numerous funds through RIDT for medical research in Malta, emphasising the importance of practicing a sport to lead a healthy lifestyle. It is a known fact that to be fit and healthy you need to be physically active. Regular physical activity can help protect you from serious diseases such as obesity, heart disease, cancer, mental illness, diabetes and arthritis. Riding your bicycle regularly is one of the best ways to reduce your risk of health problems associated with a sedentary lifestyle. Cycling is a healthy, low-impact exercise that can be enjoyed by people of all ages, from young children to older adults. Donations to ALIVE 2015 can be made online www.alivecharity.com Nicky Camilleri Chairman, Alive Charity Foundation
New journal for the department of English COUNTERTEXT is a new journal by the Department of English at the University of Malta, which uniquely centres on the study of literature and its 21st century extensions. It is published by the Edinburgh University Press.
It publishes articles, interviews, book reviews and creative work concerned with contemporary literary and post-literary cultures – find out more at http://www.euppublishing.com/journal/count This journal is the brain child of Prof. Ivan Callus and Dr James Corby (Head of Department), who both deserve a special mention for their vision and passion in seeing this through. Bernie Mizzi also deserves a special mention for her initial encouragement and continued support. COUNTERTEXT has been made possible through the support of RIDT and Ms Bernie Mizzi who has encouraged the project from its inception. Research, Innovation & Development Trust
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Latest NEWS CHECK OUT OUR BLOG https://researchtrustmalta.wordpress.com/
THINK MAGAZINE Issue 13 of Think, the research magazine of the University of Malta is out. Read it online – www.um.edu.mt/think
NEW FINDINGS IN BREAST CANCER RESEARCH
THE RIDT ORGANISED ITS FIRST ‘THANK YOU’ EVENT ON THE 22ND OF JULY AT THE UNIVERSITY CAMPUS IN MSIDA.
The Breast Cancer Research Group led by Dr Godfrey Grech from the Department of Pathology, in collaboration with the Laboratory of Molecular Genetics led by Prof. Christian Scerri, from the Department of Physiology and Biochemistry have recently presented their new findings at an international Seminar Series organised by Affymetrix, a pioneer company in microarray technology and leader in genomics anlaysis. The workshops were held in June at the Erasmus Medical Centre (Rotterdam), Karolinksa Institute (Sweden), Uppsala Hospital (Sweden), German Cancer Research Centre (Berlin) and KrebsCentrum University (Dreseden).
RIDT thanks its SUPPORTERS This was not only a chance for us to say ‘Thank you’ to all our generous supporters, but also to present some of the achievements reached since the setting up of the Trust in 2011. Guests were also given the opportunity to see the latest in the list of these achievements, the Mobile Dental Clinic, which was formally handed over to the University in the presence of benefactors who made this project possible.
DE SOLDANIS’ DICTIONARY GIVEN A NEW LEASE OF LIFE The Department of Maltese is in the final stages of preparing for publication De Soldanis’ ‘Damma tal-Kliem Kartaġiniż’ which was completed around 1767. This dictionary differs from other 18th & 19th century similar works because it not only includes Sicilian and Italian loanwords, but also includes a wealth of information about contemporary culture.
RIDT PUBLICATION ISSUED ‘Transforming our future through research’ is RIDT’s latest publication which offers an overview of projects covering from last year to the current year. An online version of the publication may be viewed here: https://www.ridt.eu/ downloads
Transforming our future through research
RESEARCH, INNOVATION & DEVELOPMENT TRUST University of Malta Valletta Campus St Paul’s Street, Valletta, Malta.
Tel: 2340 8201 email: info@ridt.org.mt
ridt.eu
University of Malta Università ta’ Malta
SCIENCE IN THE CITY 2015 SAVE THE DATE: Friday, 25 September 2015 For more information on the Research, Innovation and Development Trust, please contact us Tel: +356 2340 8201 Email: info@ridt.org.mt
For more information visit www.ridt.eu
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