Interview with the Coordinator of the Malta Neuroscience Network Programme, Prof. Giuseppe Di Giovanni regarding the Malta Neuroscience Net-
work.  "With the creation of the Malta Neuroscience Network, we will be keeping up with the most important developments with regard to brain research world-
wide: multi-disciplinary collaboration. Understanding
the way the brain works, and above all brain diseases is
extremely complicated, and requires the involvement of
researchers coming from a number of diff erent scientifi c
disciplines and clinical areas collaborating in new ways."peer-reviewe

Di Giovanni, Giuseppe

English

OAR@UM

Xjenza Online - Journal of The Malta Chamber of Scientistswww.xjenza.orgNews ArticleThe New Malta Neuroscience Network ProgrammeInterview with the Coordinator Prof. Giuseppe Di GiovanniUniversity of Malta, Department of Physiology and Biochemistry“The human brain has been described as the “lastfrontier” in medical research and one of the most diffi-cult areas in medicine. Unravelling the brain’s secretscould change the lives of millions of people of all agessuffering from neurological and psychological conditions,addictions and lesions of the central nervous system forthe better. Brain diseases can affect anyone of any age,socio-economic status or gender. One in three Maltesepeople and about 1 billion people worldwide will findthemselves having to face a psychiatric or neurologicaldisease at some point in their lives, and while treatmentsexist, currently there are no cures. From autism to mul-tiple sclerosis and Alzheimer’s disease to brain trauma,brain disorders represent the most important challengeto public health in the 21st century” says Professor DiGiovanni, Co-ordinator of Malta Neuroscience Network.“With the creation of the Malta Neuroscience Net-work, we will be keeping up with the most import-ant developments with regard to brain research world-wide: multi-disciplinary collaboration. Understandingthe way the brain works, and above all brain diseases isextremely complicated, and requires the involvement ofresearchers coming from a number of different scientificdisciplines and clinical areas collaborating in new ways.Just as important is the participation of patients, famil-ies and health workers as well as the organisations thatrepresent them such as the Richmond Foundation andwe hope many more” continues Professor Di Giovanni.Currently, we are in a time which scientists havedefined “The Golden Age of Neuroscience”. Revealingthe brain’s secrets is a global concern involving scientistsworldwide. Now we have a much deeper understandingof the complexity of the brain which has greatly im-proved human health. Over the last few years, we havemade important discoveries, like for example, better-ing our understanding of the mechanisms that underliehuman consciousness, we have discovered mirror neur-ons and created technologies which allow communica-tion between the brain and computers (brain-computerinterface). In addition to these innovative developments,we have increased of understanding of the genetic basisof complex diseases such as autism, schizophrenia, Par-kinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s.While these efforts are promising, it is important torealise that success will be most easily assured if re-searchers receive funding which allows for them trans-late their research into a clinical setting enabling themto work with clinical researchers ensuring that new dis-coveries pass from the bench to the bedside. This is theonly approach which will get us closer to our object-ives of understanding the brain and its incredible influ-ence more fully and which will allow us to protect brainhealth and therefore benefit patients, their families andhealth workers.The challenges facing research in neuroscience todaycan only really be overcome with strong support fromthe community (government and society). Global col-laboration efforts such as the BRAIN initiative in theUSA and the Human Brain Project in Europe havebeen fundamental in fast tracking discoveries in brainresearch. Malta is a key player and in fact many Malteseresearchers publish high quality research on the brain.This has happened despite the Maltese Government’s,relatively small investment in neuroscience research inthe last ten years.There has also been wide debate with regards tomaximising the impact that research funding can have:should the focus be on basic research or research whichis in an advanced stage with commercial potential? Theanswer is logical: both. However, the Government hasdecided to finance the applied one exclusively. In truth,research is a process and progress is necessary at everystage to enable new or better diagnoses, preventionstrategies, and treatments and finally cures. We needto understand how the brain works as a single systemfrom the biological bases of the disease, with the aimc© 2015 Xjenza Online79of identifying and developing potential diagnostic toolsand therapies.“With the creation of Malta Neuroscience Networkand its Research Fund by RIDT will raise awareness andunderstanding of the brain and brain disease, and in-crease support for Malta’s excellent and innovative brainresearch,” continued Prof. Di Giovanni. “Every Maltesewill benefit from Malta’s leadership and vision in thisimportant area. We hope that the Government of Maltawill match on 1:1 basis, private and non-governmentaldonations. The Fund will be first single investment inbrain research ever made in Malta.There has never been a more exciting time to be partof the global brain research and brain health community.We thank all of our supporters over the past year—andespecially our dedicated Board and staff. We look for-ward to advancing Malta’s central role in the comingyear.”Information about the MaltaNeuroscience Network“The new Malta Neuroscience Network is a web basedcommunity made up of researchers (neurologists, psy-chiatrists, radiologists, biomedical scientists, engineers,psychologists, cognitive and ICT scientists. . . ) and oth-ers from different faculties at the University of Maltaworking on neuroscience. Prof Giacomo Rizzolatti hasagreed to be present at the launch of the Brain Aware-ness Week (December 1-6) and will be attending theMalta Medical School Conference (IX MMSC). He isone of the most important scientists in the world; heis then MD, neurologist who discovered mirror neurons.His discovery has changed Neuroscience in the same waythat the discovery of DNA changed biology.” He will beawarded by the Rector the Affiliate Professorship andhe will be list among the members of our Network.The Programme for Malta Neuroscience Network, un-der the aegis of the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, is ajoint initiative among the Faculty of Medicine and Sur-gery, Faculty of Engineering, Faculty of Health Sciences,Faculty of Information & Communication Technology,Faculty of Media & Knowledge Sciences, Faculty of Sci-ence, the Faculty for Social Wellbeing and the Centrefor Biomedical Cybernetics and the Centre for Molecu-lar Medicine and Biobanking.1. The aims of the Program are:(a) To encourage and facilitate interdisciplinaryresearch that brings together academic mem-bers from all the Faculties of the University ofMalta with an interest in in the rapidly grow-ing field of Neuroscience.(b) To promote interdisciplinary dialogue amongall the disciplines involved with Neuroscience.(c) To foster research and training in neuroscienceat University of Malta.(d) To hold regular meetings, seminars and con-ferences (Neuroscience day @ University ofMalta) in which to present research ideas, dis-cuss work in progress and generally promotethe sharing and dissemination knowledge.(e) To sponsor and coordinate seminars by leadingneuroscientists from home and abroad.(f) To create and maintain an electronic portal forthe publications, discussion and disseminationof research.(g) To offer study-units in Neuroscience that maybe included in both undergraduate and post-graduate programmes.(h) To collaborate with local and overseascentres/Universities, programmes and indi-viduals with similar purpose and scope.(i) To raise public awareness in Neuroscience,brain disorders and mental health and otherrelated areas through public talks, eveningcourses, Annual Brain Awareness Week, BrainResearch Fundraising in conjunction withRIDT and different NGOs and scientific as-sociations.2. The Programme has the following structure:(a) A coordinator appointed by Council (Prof Gi-useppe Di Giovanni) and a Board appoin-ted by Senate on the recommendation of theFaculty Boards of Faculty of Medicine andSurgery, Faculty of Engineering, Faculty ofHealth Sciences, Faculty of Information &Communication Technology, Faculty of Me-dia & Knowledge Sciences, Faculty of Science,the Faculty for Social Wellbeing, the Board ofthe Centre for Biomedical Cybernetics and theCentre for Molecular Medicine and Biobank-ing.(b) The Board consists of the Coordinator andeighteen other members, two each from theFaculty Medicine and Surgery, Faculty of En-gineering, Faculty of Health Sciences, Facultyof Information & Communication Technology,Faculty of Media & Knowledge Sciences, Fac-ulty of Science and the Faculty for Social Well-being and from the Centre for Biomedical Cy-bernetics. Chairpersonship of the board shallbe held jointly, with the joint chairpersons be-ing chosen by and from among the members.(c) The appointment of the Coordinator and themembers of the Board is for one year, whichcan be renewed.3. The MNN Programme will operate as a costwww.xjenza.org80centre with the ability to raise its own funds, sub-ject to the University’s financial regulations. Anedited extract from this interview with Prof Di Gio-vanni is published in July issue of the magazineThink.Malta Neuroscience Network Programme (MNN) GOVERNACECOORDINATOR:PROFESSOR GIUSEPPE DI GIOVANNI,Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, Department of Physiology and Biochemistry.BOARDFACULTY OF MEDICINE AND SURGERYDr Norbert R VellaDr David CassarFACULTY OF ENGINEERINGDr Tracey CamilleriProf Simon FabriFACULTY OF HEALTH SCIENCESProf Angela A. Xuereb AnastasiProf Helen GrechFACULTY OF INFORMATION & COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGYDr George AzzopardiDr Lalit GargFACULTY OF MEDIA & KNOWLEDGE SCIENCESDr Noellie BrockdorffProf Ian ThorntonFACULTY OF SCIENCEProf Charles SammutProf Camilleri LiberatoFACULTY FOR SOCIAL WELLBEINGProf Carmel CefaiDr Kristina VellaCENTRE FOR BIOMEDICAL CYBERNETICSProf Kenneth CamilleriDr Owen FalzonCENTRE FOR MOLECULAR MEDICINE AND BIOBANKINGProf Richard MuscatProf Mario Valentinowww.xjenza.org

Interview with the Coordinator Prof. Giuseppe Di Giovanni, University of Malta, Department of Physiology and Biochemistry

https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/bitstream/handle/123456789/8287/The%20New%20Malta%20Neuroscience%20Network%20Programme.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y

Interview with the Coordinator Prof. Giuseppe Di Giovanni, University of Malta, Department of Physiology and Biochemistry

Abstract

Similar works

Full text

Available Versions

OAR@UM