Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/519957
Events 48 maltatoday, Sunday, 31 May 2015 New findings by Maltese Breast Cancer researchers to be presented at European research centres The Group of Breast Cancer Re- searchers at the University of Malta has come up with new findings that suggest they will facilitate the therapy of breast cancer patients. They have been invited to present their results at the International Seminar Series of workshops across European research centres. Organised by Affymetrix, a pioneer company in microarray technology and leader in genom- ics analysis, the workshops will be held in June 2015 at Erasmus Medical Centre (Rotterdam), Karolinksa Institute (Sweden), Uppsala Hospital (Sweden), Ger- man Cancer Research Centre (Berlin) and KrebsCentrum Uni- versity (Dreseden). Head of Department of Physi- ology and Biochemistry at Uni- versity of Malta Professor Chris- tian Scerri said: "One of the major breakthroughs that has been achieved by the Maltese researchers is a novel test. It will define breast cancer patients into known and new types that facili- tate the type of therapy. The test is based on a technology from Af- fymetrix." "The test uses knowledge that originates from the research programme conducted in Malta, utilising patient material from Malta (University's Department of Pathology and Department of Surgery and Mater Dei Hospital) and other resources from inter- national collaborators including Erasmus Medical Centre, Rotter- dam and Leeds Institute of Can- cer and Pathology," explained Prof. Scerri. The Breast Cancer Research Group at the Laboratory of Mo- lecular Pathology, (Department of Pathology, University of Malta) is led by Dr Godfrey Grech and Prof. Christian Scerri, and in- cludes a postdoctoral research scientist Dr Christian Saliba, four Ph.D. students and two M.Sc. students. The researchers are the recipi- ents of various funds from the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery at the University of Malta and are currently one of the partners in a Italia-Malta Programme Cohe- sion Policy 2007-2013 (Part of the European Regional Development Fund -ERDF programme) called ImaGenX (www.imagenx.eu). "Our project focuses on the study of breast cancer risk factors, molecular pathology and the clas- sification of patients according to protein markers. These mark- ers provide information on the causes and type of diseases, the selection and use of specific ther- apy, and predict the outcome of the specific therapy. This should lead us to find novel ways to treat specific groups," said Dr Godfrey Grech, who has published a high- ly accessed cancer position paper for the European Association for Predictive, Preventive and Per- sonalised Medicine. This research has also been instrumental in a number of un- dergraduate and postgraduate training programmes with two Ph.D. scholarships being donated through the efforts and raised funds of ALIVE Charity Foun- dation (http://alivecharity.com) and the Action for Breast Cancer Foundation (ABCF) (http://www. actionforbreastcancer.com/). "An innovative idea proposed by ALIVE Charity Foundation and ABCF to collect funds from the community and help the University of Malta to sustain its research mission in breast can- cer has been a historical break- through for the University's Research Trust (RIDT). Such advancements in the therapy of breast cancer in Malta testify how increasingly important re- search can be for our society now and in the future," said Wilfred Kenely, RIDT CEO. The research has been also achieved thanks to the collabo- ration of all patients and their families for generously accepting to take part in this research. An extensive restoration project on a priceless work of art has been initiated by Flimkien għal Ambjent Aħjar (FAA), with the support of Banif Bank. The four-panel altarpiece dating back to the medieval era was spotted by FAA at the Augustinian Priory in Rabat, formerly a cloister. The urgency of re- storing this important altar- piece was noted by FAA dur- ing one of its cultural visits to the Priory. This altarpiece is thought to rank among Malta's fore- most art treasures due to the fine quality of the work, in a country where so few pieces of Medieval art are to be found. The four 'tempera on wood' panels from a dis- membered retable of the Vir- gin of Graces once probably formed part of a five-panel polyptych that enjoyed a no- table cult, and for many years was the main altarpiece in the new Augustinian Church of St Mark the Evangelist. The presence of SS. Paul and Augustine may suggest that the retable was produced on commission for the Malta Augustinian Church. Painted on wood in the early 15th century by an unknown Italian or Sicilian master, the surviving panels, which probably came from a larger polyptych, feature St Augustine, St Paul, St Mark and the Madonna and the Christ child on the central panel. The work is highly decorative in style, boasting a tooled gold background. A close parallel may be drawn to the triptych of Santa Mar- ia SS. Benedict and Calogero in the Abbey Church of S. Maria Latina at Agira, com- missioned in 1430 in Sicily. The panels are unfortu- nately in a poor state of con- servation and FAA's timely involvement will help ensure that the panels do not de- teriorate even further. The project is led by Erika Falzon, a highly qualified conserva- tor-restorer who has studied in Paris, Rome, Florence and Valencia, together with a multi-disciplinary team made up of an art historian, con- servation scientists and wood specialists. Diagnostic tests on the pan- els are currently underway and the results of the inves- tigation will confirm the ex- tent of work that is required. The restoration is expected to take approximately three years to complete, after which the works will be displayed to the public. Banif Bank's Executive Committee recently visited the Priory where they could admire the beauty of the pan- els and observe the work in progress. Over the past four years the Bank has been in- volved in a number of restora- tion projects on Renaissance paintings, in a clear com- mitment to Malta's history and heritage. On this project the Bank joins the Farsons Foundation and Hilltop Gar- dens, to form a 'consortium' of sponsors that will see this restoration exercise through. The much awaited annual national event, The Malta International Airshow, organised by the Malta Aviation Society will be back on the 26 and 27 September 2015. The first five countries to confirm their participation in this year's 23rd edition of the internation- ally acclaimed event are Belgium, Greece, Italy, Romania and Swit- zerland. The Belgian Air Force F-16 Fight- ing Falcon will be back after an ab- sence of five years with an impres- sive show of power. The Hellenic participation comes in the form of two Mirage 2000 jet aircraft on static display. This will be the first time Greece will be sending this type of aircraft and only the sec- ond time for Greece to participate at Malta's event. The Italian Air Force will be present with two helicopter flying displays. For the first time ever in Malta an AW-149 from the Italian Air Force's 'Reparto Sperimentale Volo' while the Italian Military Mission in Malta will also partici- pate this year's event with its' AB- 212 helicopter based in Luqa. For the first time ever, Romania will be participating in the Malta International Airshow featuring a C-27J Spartan from the Romanian Air Force. This will be a first-ever visit of this type of aircraft at the airshow. One of the highlights for this year's edition of the Malta Inter- national Airshow will be the Swiss Air Force PC-7 team. Precision is the trademark of this team. Those who will be lucky enough to see this team in action will note the amaz- ing skills of the pilots. The Swiss Air Force PC-7 team has already been in Malta in 2006 and 2011 but this will be the first time they will be using smoke in their display. Joe Ciliberti, President of the Malta Aviation Society said that this year's airshow will be one to remember. "Attendance to the airshow keeps increasing and this gives us the energy to keep going and give our best to get different aircraft at our show, which is the result of inten- sive work all year round. We are also witnessing an increasing in- terest in aviation, resulting in more members and volunteers. This is in line with the Society's aim of 'fostering interest in aviation' It is also a pleasure to note that a good number of young people em- ployed within the aviation industry first came in touch with the sec- tor through the airshow," Ciliberti said. The Malta International Airshow also provides various business or marketing opportunities to related and non related companies. Ex- amples include onsite and online advertising and sales, sponsor- ships and marketing opportunities through the official programme. The Malta Aviation Society is open to any other suggestions and can be contacted on marketing@maltair- show.com The Malta Aviation Society pro- vides regular updates on Facebook ('Malta International Airshow'), Twitter ('Malta Airshow') and website www.maltairshow.com through which all details are being communicated. For general queries contact info@maltairshow.com Medieval Altarpiece being restored with the support of Banif Bank First confirmations for the 2015 Malta International Airshow Swiss Air Force – PC-7 Team. Photo by Alan Cordina Altarpiece art treasure