ERDF 081: Enhancing Health Biotechnology Facilities at the University

This project enhanced the Health Biotechnology facility that will improve Malta’s research and development potential in the fields of genetics, cellular physiology and pharmacogenomics through: (1) The rapid identification of genetic mutations; (2) The rapid identification of cellular mechanism to identify potential therapeutic targets for the disorders mentioned; (3) provide the tools for National Health projects.

"A Health Biotechnology Unit would support and augment the: research activities in the field of biotechnology academic level of both undergraduate and postgraduate students prospects of further R&D funding  attraction of post doctoral fellows in the biotechnological and bioinformatics fields.  Malta’s attractiveness for FDI in the aforementioned fields and thus contribute to improved academic-business linkage Training of students in the courses of Medicine and Surgery, Pharmacy, Pharmacology, Biology and Medical Laboratory Sciences apart from interdisciplinary teaching with students in the Engineering, Medical Physics, Statistics and ICT fields.

The project will result in the setting up of a fully functional Biotech for Health Unit (BHU) equipped with instrumentation utilising state-of-the-art technologies in the field of molecular genetics, genomics, proteomics, pharmacogenomics, cellular physiology and bio-informatics, operated to good practice standards, available to both students and researchers and promoting collaborative industry-academia research projects.

STUDENTS AND RESEARCHERS:1. Will offer excellent teaching and research prospects to undergraduate and postgraduate students.2. Promote research activities in the sectors mentioned attract external research fundsINDUSTRY:3. Encourage companies to set up research and development centres in the mentioned areas. 4. Contribute to Economic Growth and Job Creation5. Collaborate with industry including Pharmaceutical and Smart-City tenants.