Cancer Research Days: committed towards scientific cancer research and innovation

The Parliamentary Secretary for Youth, Research and Innovation, Keith Azzopardi Tanti, addressed the Cancer Research Days event, organised by the Parliamentary Secretariat for Youth, Research and Innovation in collaboration with Xjenza Malta, as part of the October campaign — the month dedicated to breast cancer awareness.​​

The event aimed to bring together researchers, healthcare professionals, industry representatives and policymakers to present and discuss key facts and developments in the field of cancer research in Malta.

During the activity, Prof. Vincent Marmarà presented the results of five surveys conducted by the University of Malta on public knowledge, practices, and perceptions regarding cancer in the Maltese Islands. These surveys provide a clear picture of the current situation and help identify where further awareness and targeted interventions are needed.

The topics were discussed among participants, who analysed the results and proposed concrete solutions. These were then presented during a panel discussion moderated by the Cancer Research and Innovation Hub Malta (CRIHM), featuring Prof. Christian Scerri and Dr Amanda Spiteri Grech.

In his address, Parliamentary Secretary Keith Azzopardi Tanti reiterated the Government's commitment to continue investing in and strengthening this vital sector for the country. “Cancer affects every family, directly or indirectly. Therefore, research in this field is not only a scientific matter but also a human commitment. Over the past two years, the Government has invested more than €3 million in ten cancer research projects through a public call issued by CRIHM. We will continue to build on this success to encourage greater collaboration, innovation, and participation from our young scientists. This is an essential part of Malta's Vision 2050, which looks towards a nation built on knowledge, resilience, and innovation."

During the event, Giulia Aquilina, Executive for Research & Innovation within Xjenza Malta, also presented the process of the public call and the selection of cancer research projects, while videos showcasing the progress of projects funded last year were shown.

The event once again highlighted the conviction that collaboration between science, the healthcare sector, and public policy is key for Malta to continue strengthening its position as a centre of excellence in cancer research and innovation.

[MLT]

Cancer Research Days: impenn lejn riċerka u innovazzjoni xjentifika dwar il-kanċer

Is-Segretarju Parlamentari għaż-Żgħażagħ, ir-Riċerka u l-Innovazzjoni Keith Azzopardi Tanti indirizza l-avveniment Cancer Research Days, organizzat mis-Segretarjat Parlamentari għaż-Żgħażagħ, ir-Riċerka u l-Innovazzjoni, b'kollaborazzjoni ma' Xjenza Malta, u qed jittella' proprju fix-xahar ta' Ottubru li huwa ddedikat biex iżid aktar għarfien  dwar il-kanċer tas-sider.​​

L-avveniment kellu l-għan li jressaq flimkien riċerkaturi, professjonisti fil-qasam tas-saħħa, rappreżentanti mill-industrija u policymakers, sabiex jiġu ppreżentati u diskussi l-fatti ewlenin dwar ir-riċerka dwar il-kanċer f'Malta.

Matul l-attività, il-Prof. Vincent Marmarà ppreżenta r-riżultati ta' ħames sondaġġi imwettqa mill-Università ta' Malta dwar l-għarfien, il-prattiċi u l-perċezzjoni tal-pubbliku dwar il-kanċer fil-gżejjer Maltin. Dan l-istħarriġ joffri stampa ċara tas-sitwazzjoni attwali u jgħin jidentifika fejn hemm bżonn ta' aktar għarfien u interventi mmirati.

Is-suġġetti trattati ġew diskussi mill-mistiedna preżenti li analizzaw ir-riżultati u pproponew soluzzjonijiet konkreti, li mbagħad ġew ippreżentati waqt panel discussion li kienet moderata mill-Cancer Research and Innovation Hub Malta (CRIHM) u li fiha ħadu sehem Prof. Christian Scerri u Dr Amanda Spiteri Grech.

Waqt l-intervent tiegħu, is-Segretarju Parlamentari Keith Azzopardi Tanti tenna l-impenn tal-Gvern li jkompli jinvesti u jsaħħaħ dan is-settur kruċjali għal pajjiżna. “Il-kanċer jolqot lil kull familja, direttament jew indirettament. Għalhekk, ir-riċerka f'dan il-qasam mhijiex biss kwistjoni xjentifika, imma wkoll impenn uman. F'dawn l-aħħar sentejn, il-Gvern investa aktar minn €3 miljun f'għaxar proġetti ta' riċerka dwar il-kanċer permezz ta' sejħa pubblika maħruġa minn CRIHM u se nkomplu nibnu fuq dan is-suċċess sabiex inħajru aktar kollaborazzjoni, innovazzjoni u parteċipazzjoni taż-żgħażagħ xjenzati tagħna. Dan jallinja wkoll mal-Viżjoni Malta 2050, li tħares lejn pajjiż ibbażat fuq l-għarfien, ir-reżiljenza u l-innovazzjoni."

Matul l-attività, ġie wkoll ppreżentat il-proċess tas-sejħa pubblika u l-għażla tal-proġetti tar-riċerka fil-kanċer minn Giulia Aquilina, Executive tal-R&I fi ħdan Xjenza Malta, filwaqt li intwerew filmati tal-progress tal-proġetti li ingħataw il-fondi s-sena li għaddiet.

L-avveniment wera mill-ġdid il-kooperazzjoni bejn ix-xjenza, is-settur tas-saħħa u l-politika pubblika hija ċ-ċavetta biex Malta tkompli tissaħħaħ bħala ċentru ta' eċċellenza fir-riċerka u l-innovazzjoni relatata mal-kanċer.