AIR MA LTA N E W S
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Malta – a Vibrant Centre for Medical Research
Vital work requires ongoing support
M
alta is well known for a number of things, and rightly so, but an area of activity is increasingly putting the country on the map for a different set of reasons. The University of Malta, actually one of the oldest in the world, is fast becoming a centre of excellence for research including, though not exclusively, medical research into a number of areas. Naturally, such activity, crucial as it is, requires considerable resources. Significant amounts of funds are made available through EU Programmes and State funding. However, this needs to be supplemented from other sources if it is to be sustained at the required momentum. The University’s Research, Innovation and Development Trust (RIDT), set up 6 years ago, was tasked with the daunting mission of stimulating a culture change in how research is funded whilst raising the required supplementary finance. To date, over Euro 2 million have been raised, with the support of large organisations and corporate entities and also, significantly, of society as a whole. In fact, a variety of community-financed initiatives and projects have proven to be real game-changers, raising funds for research that might never have been undertaken. Thanks to such efforts, RIDT is currently enabling a number of Ph.D. research scholarships covering important areas such as breast cancer, children’s cancer, renal disease and the genetics of osteoporosis. Significantly, a new eye research study will be conducted with the assistance of the Malta Community Chest Fund Foundation. Support from this foundation, which operates under the auspices of the President of Malta, is welcome national recognition of the culture change RIDT is helping bring about. ALS Malta Foundation, spearheaded by patient-turned-campaigner Bjorn Formosa, has recently donated a three-year grant for new studies in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), an incurable and fatal motor neurone disease that causes the death of neurons which control voluntary muscles.
Another novel community project has led to the building of a mobile dental clinic. This systematically gathers vital epidemiological data, crucial for future health care planning, whilst providing oral health advice and dental care in various localities across Malta and Gozo. Indeed, as even this brief review of projects demonstrates, there is little doubt that ongoing investment in science and medical research is vital to securing a healthy, sustainable and brighter future for everybody. Your support matters Our success however depends very much on the involvement of the community we serve. During the month of July Air Malta will be assisting the University’s Research, Innovation and Development Trust (RIDT). During this month, Air Malta’s Cabin Crew will be collecting funds on-board the airline’s flights towards this cause. Your gift would help the RIDT to make a difference for the future and there are several ways you can help. You can donate cash (any currency) on board this flight. Cabin crew will be distributing envelopes on related flights, in which you can drop your spare change – every little counts. Donations can also be made online, at www.ridt.eu or by a cheque mailed to: RIDT, University of Malta, Valletta Campus, St Paul’s Street, Valletta, Malta. This campaign also forms part of Air Malta’s Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives whereby the airline supports hardworking organisations in the Maltese community. As Malta’s national carrier the airline is the only airline flying from Malta that fully supports the local community in all possible ways and every year carries an increasing number of medical cases, including stretcher cases for treatment abroad. No other airline operating to Malta provides continued support to voluntary and non-governmental organisations like Air Malta.