Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1410377
NEWS 6 maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 15 SEPTEMBER 2021 THE Research, Innovation and Development Trust (RIDT) at the University of Malta has sealed an agreement with international- ly renowned producer of gluten free products, Dr. Schaer, based in Italy's South Tyrol region, since 1981. The agreement will see the financing of a study to determine the frequency of coeliac disease in the adult Maltese population, us- ing a point of care testing kit. Ad- ditionally, the study will also focus on faecal microbiota composition in newly-diagnosed coeliac pa- tients. The three-year long study will recruit a randomised cohort of healthy adult individuals between the ages of 18 and 50 years, who will be screened for coeliac disease and asked to answer a validated questionnaire related to gastroin- testinal symptoms. Testing for coeliac disease will initially be done through a point of care testing kit. This has the ad- vantage that an immediate result can be given to the patient. If this test will be positive, then further testing will be performed, which will include an endoscopic pro- cedure and stool testing to assess the microbiota. The latter will be done in conjunction with the Uni- versity of Kiel, Germany Gastroenterologist Dr Pierre El- lul, from the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery will be supervising the project that will form part of a PhD study by gastroenterologist Dr Martina Sciberras. Dr. Schaer will be donating €41,000 towards the project through the RIDT, which funds will cover the cost of the testing kits and related expenses. "We first started talking to Dr. Schaer around a year ago, in the middle of the first wave of the Covid-19 pandemic. It is very encouraging to note that even in such difficult circumstances we managed to establish such an im- portant collaboration which will no doubt shed more light on the situation of Coeliac disease in the Maltese population" said Mr Wil- fred Kenely, CEO of the RIDT. When asked about this collabo- ration, Mr Hansjörg Prast, CMO from Dr. Schaer emphasised his company's focus on research and innovation. "We strongly believe that in order to keep developing new solutions that address spe- cific nutritional challenges, we need to keep investing in research and innovation., and we need to be close to the consumer and the scientific world according to one of our values, proximity. This population study, combined with market intelligence data, provides important information about coeliac disease and gluten free diet which will also help the scientific world to understand the disease better." The RIDT was established in 2011 and it is intended to attract funds from private and corporate bodies to be used to maximise and exploit the research portfolio at the University of Mal- ta, and to foster the commercial exploitation of research. Dr Schaer finances University of Malta national coeliac disease research project CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Chlach was also accused of breach- ing a probation order. Muscat had taken to social media af- ter the assault, posting pictures of her bruised face and injuries. The court was told that Chlach had punched Muscat in the face, causing grievous injuries. "The victim came before me and had a wound across her nose," said Inspector Eman Hayman. "The argument was over Terry's phone, Gareth wanted to use it pri- vately. He threw it to the ground and when Terry went to pick it up, she was punched on the nose by the ac- cused." The victim had spent the past three months living in fear with the accused, who the court was told, has an acute drug problem, added the inspector. The accused denied the charges. His lawyer, George Anton Buttigieg re- quested bail, but this was ultimately denied by the court, which noted that the charges dealt with domestic vio- lence and that there was a real fear of the accused approaching the sole wit- ness, Muscat. The defence requested that the ac- cused be held in the forensic unit or vulnerable persons section to avoid him getting into contact with cer- tain individuals in prison who would cause him harm. "I'm going to leave prison hanged," cried Chlach after bail was denied. "Prison does this to me. It will be on your conscience, Inspector." Shaking his head, he said "I will hang myself in there." The Court ordered that he be examined by a doctor. Outside the courtroom, the drama continued to unfold with the accused crying and screaming that he did not want to go to prison. At one point, he got up and headbutted the wooden door, causing a gash on his head. "There are a lot of enemies of mine at prison, if I go there, they will kill me" he told officers outside the court- room, whilst being treated for the head wound. He was taken away for further medical treatment and even- tual preventive custody. Terry Muscat live-streamed her injuries while waiting inside Mater Dei's A&E after assault