Newsletter
June 2016: Issue 7
Without change there is no innovation creativity, or iUPPORTER ncentive for improvement.
S
A news bulletin for the supporters of the University’s Research Trust
University of Malta receives revolutionary high end equipment donation The University of Malta has received a donation of revolutionary high end equipment which will enhance the study of the Stroke Research Group at the Department of Physiology and Biochemistry. The new equipment, a fully automated EVOS®FL Auto Imaging System, has been donated by E.J. Busuttil Limited of B’Kara, one of the leading distributors of healthcare and laboratory products, and facilitated through the University’s Research Trust (RIDT).
The EVOS®FL Auto Imaging System has been developed for advanced automated imaging applications, such as time-lapse imaging, multiwall plate scanning, image stitching and tiling, and cell counting. It comes complete with an onboard computer, innovative LED light source, filters and an array of objectives that have been selected to meet the Stroke Research Group requirements.
Research, Innovation & Development Trust
SUPPORTER Issue 7
Professor Mario Valentino, Head of the University of Malta’s Stroke Research Group, said that this important tool will allow researchers to eliminate the complexities of high-end microscopy while maintaining the highest levels of performance. He said: “This is a significant donation and we are extremely appreciative of our collaboration with E.J. Busuttil Ltd. This tool will provide us with high-quality imaging, easier than ever before. Continued on page 4
1
Message from
the CEO
Since its setting up in 2011, the RIDT has managed to raise over one million euros for research at the University of Malta. We consider this as a significant achievement, and it gives us the encouragement to keep going. This is one million euros more than what we ever had.
The biggest achievement of these five years has not been just the funds that we managed to raise. The biggest achievement has been the confirmation that the Maltese community is ready to support a good cause when it sees one. Community funding for research was unheard of, and some even argued that it will never happen. These past five years have proved otherwise. The Maltese community has acknowledged the sterling work being conducted by our researchers, and is supporting it.
THE FOUR SEASONS FOR BRAIN RESEARCH
Rather than sitting on our laurels we now need to build on this achievement. Our appeal is for all the sectors of society to rethink the way they look at philanthropy and at corporate social responsibility. This also applies to us, the University community – academics, students, technical and administrative staff. We can all support our University through a number of ways.
This fund raising concert organised by RIDT with the support of APS Bank, ADRC Trust and Studio 7, was held on Easter Sunday, 27th March 2016, at St Publius Church in Floriana. The Malta Philharmonic Orchestra also supported this event by lending the harpsichord that was used during the concert.
You can support this University by contributing a small part of your salary (or stipend if you are a student) towards research. No amount is small enough or big enough. A number of you have already joined these schemes and thanks to them we can today conduct more research in a number of areas of study.
All proceeds from the concert went towards brain research currently being carried out at the University of Malta. This event also supported the brain awareness week, which was held between the 14th and 20th of March in collaboration with the Malta Neuroscience Network.
Internationally acclaimed violinist Carmine Lauri was the soloist in Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons, who together with a 14-piece string ensemble made up of top musicians currently based in Malta, was under the direction of Michael Laus.
The evening commenced with Vivaldi’s Sinfonia from Griselda RV 718, followed by one of the composer’s most popular works, The Four Seasons concertos for violin. The highly appreciative audience who packed the church were also treated to Wieniavski’s Polonese as an encore.
You can also support this University by making a gift to the RIDT that costs you nothing during your lifetime. If you are interested in making a gift to the University’s research activity through your will feel free to talk to us.
Technoline Ltd donates research equipment to the university Technoline Ltd, agents for Shimadzu analytical equipment, has donated through RIDT, a new Gas Chromatograph (GC) to the Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics of the University of Malta.
The donated equipment is an indispensable tool in the ongoing research projects within the department, particularly in the monitoring and measurement of drug levels in biological samples from patients. The Department conducts such exercises in a range of neurological conditions, particularly in the study of Epilepsy. Mr Simon Cusens, CEO of Technoline Ltd stated that this donation is Technoline’s contribution towards the sterling research work that the University of Malta conducts. “We are very pleased that as a company we too can
contribute to see the University of Malta increasing its research activities, and we feel proud that through our donation we can one day provide better quality of life to people living with Epilepsy.” Prof. Janet Mifsud, from the department emphasised that this donation is advantageous in their studies because it will enhance their research potential and will lead to better understanding of pharmacokinetic basis of drug therapy. “This will lead to individualised and better pharmacological therapy for persons and children with difficult to treat Epilepsy” said Prof. Mifsud.
Why we are proud to be DONORS Malta University Holding Company (MUHC) operates in the educational, accommodation and leisure sectors. MUHC is a dynamic organisation revolving around the needs of: the University of Malta, students, academia and relevant markets, satisfying their needs by offering targeted solutions on different fronts. MUHC is fully owned by the University of Malta with subsidiary companies covering various sectors.
When we heard about the ice bucket challenge to support amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) a couple of years ago, we jumped at the chance to do our small bit through this challenge. Fast forward to 2016 and when we heard that the Research, Innovation & Development Trust at the University of Malta are supporting ALS research in the hope of developing better treatment for this disease for which there is currently no cure, we were eager to find ways to support this research. Having read and seen how debilitating and devastating the disease is, our desire to be able to do our small bit again increased further. Supporting research is highly rewarding, particularly when we see the way Bjorn Formosa, founder of ALS Malta and himself an ALS sufferer, speaks about the desire to be able to help people diagnosed with ALS in future. It’s very nice to think that by supporting such research through our events and fundraising efforts, we too might play a small part in improving the lives of future sufferers.
Continue to sustain our campaigns by making your donation online: http://www.ridt.org.mt We thank you for all your support.
Our next event to support research in ALS will be the first ever University Dragon Boat Races to be held on Sunday 17th July, and we hope to be able to raise more funds for this cause through this event.
Wilfred Kenely
Johanna Galea
Chief Executive Officer
Manager – Entertainment & Merchandising – MUHC
2
Research, Innovation & Development Trust
SUPPORTER Issue 7
Research, Innovation & Development Trust
SUPPORTER Issue 7
3
Latest NEWS CHECK OUT OUR BLOG https://researchtrustmalta.wordpress.com/
THINK MAGAZINE Issue 16 of THINK, the research magazine of
University of Malta receives revolutionary high end equipment donation /cont.
the University of Malta with a special feature on
The ground-breaking design with integrated hardware/software, no bulbs, no alignment, no on-going costs or maintenance, will be very beneficial to our research team who is working on a very tight budget.”
the evaluation of proposals under the Small
Mr Edwin Busuttil, Managing Director at E.J. Busuttil Ltd, said: “As one of the leading distributors of healthcare and laboratory equipment, we are committed towards improving the quality of life of our community. Being of great assistance to the University of Malta, in its mission on stroke research, is another practical way how we can help.” The instrument has been shipped directly from the manufacturers and installed by a representative service engineer. Wilfred Kenely, Chief Executive of RIDT, said: “A gift, such as this one, is paramount to the University’s ability to be at the cutting-edge. We are very grateful to E.J. Busuttil Ltd for their equipment donation and to partnering with the University’s Research Trust.”
the Maltese Genome, may be viewed on line: http://www.um.edu.mt/think/
EVALUATION RESULTS FOR RIDT SMALL GRANTS SCHEME RIDT is pleased to announce the result of Research Projects Scheme which was announced earlier this year. Out of a total of 79 proposals received covering a wide area of study from some 21 different departments, institutes and centres, 15 projects have been recommended for funding. For list of projects recommended for funding view: http://www.um.edu.mt/newspoint/extra/ resultssmallgrantsschemeridt
CENTRAL BANK OF MALTA STRENGTHENS ITS ASSOCIATION WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF MALTA The Central Bank of Malta has renewed the agreement to establish a Central Bank of Malta Chair in Economics with the University of Malta’s Faculty of Economics, Management and Accountancy for a period of three years starting from October 2016 with the possibility to renew thereafter. The Central Bank of Malta funding will go towards the strengthening of the Department of Economics, enabling the Faculty to engage foreign professors of Economics of recognised and distinguished standing every year for three years. They will be lecturing students registered for the Honours course and students registered for a new part-time course, Master of Arts in Economics, which will commence in academic year 2016/2017 with a duration of two and a half years. 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
STAY CONNECTED WITH
4
Research, Innovation & Development Trust
SUPPORTER Issue 7