At the European Society of Intensive Care Medicine's annual LIVES conference, the largest of its kind in Europe, Dr Emma Hunter, a PhD student from the Department of Applied Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, who also specialises in anaesthesiology and critical care medicine at the department of Anaesthesia, Intensive Care, and Pain Medicine, Mater Dei hospital, recently presented ongoing research. The poster presentation, "Surface HLA-DR Dynamics and Functionality of Monocytes in Pneumonia-induced Sepsis", emphasised the results of a study that characterised a state of immune paralysis in monocytes of severe pneumonia patients. More than 5,000 intensivists, anaesthetists, trainees, nursing, allied health professionals, basic scientists, established investigators, and prominent specialists in intensive care from over 100 countries worldwide attended the LIVES2024 conference in Barcelona. LIVES2024 offers a distinctive opportunity for students to interact with distinguished specialists and engage in discussions regarding the future of intensive care medicine.
Dr Brendon Scicluna, the PhD student's supervisor and a prominent figure in the field, was also invited to deliver a talk on the most recent advancements in the MENDSEP clinical study (ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT06287684). Principal investigator of the MENDSEP trial, Dr Scicluna, provided valuable insights from their research on immune dynamics and tailoring treatment approaches for critically ill patients with sepsis. Their presentations garnered substantial attention, underscoring the University of Malta, Mater Dei Hospital, and St. Vincent de Paul’s contributions to the advancement of translational research that could transform the future of emergency and critical care.
The work presented at the ESICM LIVES2024 conference is a testament to the collaborative efforts of a dedicated team. Dr Carmel Abela, chair of the department of Anaesthesia, Intensive Care, and Pain Medicine, Dr Stephen Sciberras, consultant intensive care, and Dr Antoine Vella, consultant geriatric medicine, are among the several researchers and clinicians from the University of Malta, Mater Dei hospital, and St. Vincent de Paul long-term care facility who have contributed to this vital effort. This body of work would not have been possible without the generous support of the University of Malta Research Excellence Fund, the ESICM Established Investigator Award, and the Xjenza Malta Research Excellence Program. Their investment is contributing to the advancement of precision medicine and the enhancement of patient outcomes for emergency and critically ill patients.
Dr Scicluna stated, "The potential of interdisciplinary research to address the most urgent health issues is exemplified by our collaborative efforts. Together, we are shaping the future of acute medicine, one discovery at a time."
