A new Foundation has been officially established on Friday 26 April 2024 by the Parliamentary Secretariat for Youth, Research and Innovation, that will focus on improving cancer research and treatment in Malta by bringing together the premier researchers in one hub.
The Foundation will be chaired by Prof. Christian Scerri from the University’s Physiology & Biochemistry Department within the Faculty of Medicine & Surgery. Prof. Scerri said he was profoundly happy to be able to say that this cancer research foundation was being established in Malta. He said that this development formed part of the plan for research and innovation of the European Union, including the cancer mission hub as well as Malta’s national plan regarding cancer.
Scerri said that this initiative is going to lead to a collective mission to focus on the treatment of this condition with global significance. He continued that cancer research in Malta is not a new development, but that this hub will bring all researchers together to collaborate more effectively and ultimately have a greater impact.
As this initiative moves forward, this foundation will also become involved with the education sector, and that an additional aim of the foundation is to spread knowledge regarding cancer and cancer treatment.
The Parliamentary Secretary, Hon. Keith Azzopardi Tanti, said that the battle against cancer is one which requires a meticulous and precise approach, where every detail matters and each resource must be properly allocated. He continued that it has been personal experiences, with family members and friends who have been diagnosed with cancer, which have pushed him to work on initiatives such as this.
“Whilst this foundation is independent and autonomous, this initiative is witness to that which we can achieve together through cooperation and collaboration.”