The Thalassaemia and Molecular Genetics Clinic, at Mater Dei Hospital, and the Laboratory of Molecular Genetics, Centre for Molecular Medicine and Biobanking shall be organising 'Thalassaemia Day' an event characterised by a series of presentations. The keynote speaker is Professor Sjaak Philipsen from the Erasmus Medical Centre, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
The event will be held on Friday 18 May from 16:00 to 19:00 in the South Auditorium, Mater Dei Hospital, Faculty of Health Sciences.
Thalassaemia is an inherited disorder of the blood. It decreases the amount of haemoglobin the body can make, resulting in anaemia. It can be life threatening if left untreated. One particular treatment is multiple blood transfusions. However, this is not without complications, and in fact can lead to iron overload (increased iron levels) in multiple organs of the human body with unpleasant side effects, posing a great challenge to the Health Care team. International research has paved the way for major advancements in the search for cure of thalassaemia and related haemoglobin disorders.
The Maltese group, led by Professor Alex E. Felice, too has been very active with the students who are carrying out the research as part of their M.Sc. and Ph.D. studies; some of this research is supported by Maltese Government Scholarship Schemes. This year's theme for the seminar is 'Thalassaemia past, present and future: Documenting country’s progress and patients’ needs globally'.
The Maltese group, led by Professor Alex E. Felice, too has been very active with the students who are carrying out the research as part of their M.Sc. and Ph.D. studies; some of this research is supported by Maltese Government Scholarship Schemes. This year's theme for the seminar is 'Thalassaemia past, present and future: Documenting country’s progress and patients’ needs globally'.
The event to mark Thalassaemia Day will also include a number of speakers who will be presenting their latest findings in this challenging field, ranging from clinical medicine and patient management to state of the art next generation DNA Sequencing technologies, and wound healing factors.
All those interested to attend can send an email to Dr Joseph Borg.
All those interested to attend can send an email to Dr Joseph Borg.
Scientific Programme
15:30 Registration – FHS South Auditorium Block A Level 1
16:00 - 16:10
Opening Address, John Rizzo Naudi, Professor and Chairman Emeritus, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Malta
Opening Address, John Rizzo Naudi, Professor and Chairman Emeritus, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Malta
Hon. Evarist Bartolo, Ministry for Education and Employment, Malta
Co-Charipersons: Professors Alex E. Felice and Godfrey La Ferla
16:10 - 16:25
Christian A. Scerri, Professor and Consultant Geneticist, Thalassaemia Clinic, Centre for Molecular Medicine and Biobanking, Msida, Malta
Thalassaemia past, present and future: Documenting country’s progress and patients’ needs
Christian A. Scerri, Professor and Consultant Geneticist, Thalassaemia Clinic, Centre for Molecular Medicine and Biobanking, Msida, Malta
Thalassaemia past, present and future: Documenting country’s progress and patients’ needs
16:25 - 16:40
Charmaine Vella, Applied Biomedical Scientist and M.Sc candidate, Transfusion, Department of Pathology, Mater Dei Hospital, Msida, Malta
Charmaine Vella, Applied Biomedical Scientist and M.Sc candidate, Transfusion, Department of Pathology, Mater Dei Hospital, Msida, Malta
Preliminary Analysis of a Prospective Clinical Thalassaemia Cohort: Genetics, Transfusion and Inflammation
16:40 - 16:55
Ruth Galdies, Senior Scientist and Alexander Camilleri MD and M.Sc candidate, Laboratory of Molecular Genetics, Centre for Molecular Medicine and Biobanking, Msida, Malta
Ruth Galdies, Senior Scientist and Alexander Camilleri MD and M.Sc candidate, Laboratory of Molecular Genetics, Centre for Molecular Medicine and Biobanking, Msida, Malta
An Update of Thalassaemia Testing in Malta and The developmental control of foetal globin genes
17:00 - 17:15
Coffee break
Coffee break
Keynote lecture
17:15 - 18:00
Sjaak Phililpsen, Professor, Cell Biology and Genetics, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
(Epi)genetic regulation of hemoglobin expression
Co-Chairpersons: Professors Alex E. Felice and Godfrey La Ferla
18:00 - 18:15
Alexander Gatt, Consultant Haematologist, Mater Dei Hospital, and Head Department of Pathology, University of Malta, Msida, Malta
A look back at Haemophilia Care in Malta
18:50 - 18:30
Patricia Brincat, Senior Applied Biomedical Scientist, Haematology, Department of Pathology, Mater Dei Hospital, Msida, Malta
The morphological aspects of haemoglobinopathies
18:30 - 18:45
Elisa Seria, Post Doc, Centre for Molecular Medicine and Biobanking, Msida, Malta
'A new platelet-derived growth factors formula to treat the chronic wound in Beta-Thalassemia patients.'
18:45 - 19:15
Drinks and refreshments at the FHS Auditorium Foyer
Drinks and refreshments at the FHS Auditorium Foyer
