A new scientific partnership has been announced which will create opportunities for Maltese and Polish researchers in the field of cancer.

This has come about through a memorandum of understanding between the University of Malta and the Polish International Centre for Cancer Vaccine Science (ICCVS) which will provide a framework for Maltese and Polish scientists and researchers to benefit from opportunities to collaborate and share research in the medical sphere, especially in the field of cancer immunology and cancer vaccine treatment while opening new doors for research grants.

Details about this new discovery, science-oriented collaboration were provided by Minister for Research, Innovation and the Coordination of Post Covid-19 Strategy Owen Bonnici and Minister for Education Justyne Caruana gave.

They explained that this partnership has the aim of sharing new knowledge that results in innovative ways to treat cancer for immunotherapy to become more precise, personalised, and effective.

Minister Bonnici said, “this partnership between the University of Malta and the International Centre for Vaccine Science in Poland will facilitate more research and academic exchanges between the two institutions. This is a collaboration that will help local scientists and open new opportunities to securing competitive research grants from Horizon Europe and the European Research Council.”

“Moreover,” Minister Bonnici explained, “any discovery generated through this partnership will contribute to the creation of new knowledge that ultimately results in innovative applications for cancer treatment for the benefits of patients and society.”

Minister for Education Justyne Caruana, speaking about the importance of research in every field, praised the initiative, saying “research and information are very important in all sectors, but especially when it comes to cancer, which has a high incidence, so that we look ahead to overcome the challenges that this presents.”

“This is why its important to teach STEM subjects from an early age to nurture our children in these areas,” said Minister Caruana.

Prof. Alfred J. Vella called this “an important step in fostering research collaboration in the fields of cancer immunology and cancer vaccine science, which can ultimately revolutionise cancer treatment.”

They said that this scientific partnership was established thanks to the long-standing collaboration between Dr David Saliba from the University of Malta and Prof Ted Hupp, the director of the ICCVS.

Dr David Saliba emphasised that this collaboration “will give Malta’s scientists the opportunity to participate in academic exchanges and be part of cutting-edge cancer research, while creating a solid basis for securing competitive research grants at European level.”

Prof Tedd Hupp added that, “the International Centre for Cancer Vaccine Science is a centre of excellence focused on inter-disciplinary research. This collaboration is a key step in our common global vision to stimulate knowledge exchange and facilitate new discoveries in cancer research.”

Photo: DOI/Clodagh O’Neill

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