Prof. Neville Vassallo (Department of Physiology and Biochemistry) has delivered a keynote lecture as part of the “Scientific Seminar Series” at the Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences (MPIMS) in Göttingen, Germany, following an invitation by Prof. Dr. Christian Griesinger, Director of the Department of NMR-based Structural Biology at the MPIMS.
Prof. Vassallo is collaborating with the Max Planck group led by Prof. Griesinger on the use of small-molecule compounds to treat protein misfolding disorders, including Parkinson’s disease and type-2 diabetes mellitus. During the seminar, Prof. Vassallo presented data showing restoration of mitochondrial homeostasis by a select group of diphenylpyrazole compounds, which may provide an important strategy for treating such disorders. The talk was followed by a debate, which gave the audience the opportunity to ask questions and engage more thoroughly with the research presented by Prof. Vassallo.
Prof. Vassallo was later given a tour of the research facilities at the Departments of Cellular Biochemistry and Super-Resolution Microscopy, with the aim of setting the foundations for a stronger collaboration of the University of Malta with the MPIMS. These would include placements for early career researchers through internships, and avenues for long-term strategic collaborations. With 13 departments, 10 emeritus groups, and 26 independent research groups that are currently scientifically active, the MPIMS is the largest institute of the Max Planck Society and a global hub for cutting-edge scientific exploration.
The research visit has been made possible through a grant awarded by Xjenza Malta to Prof. Vassallo through its Internationalisation Partnership & Awards Scheme Plus (IPAS+) programme (IPAS-2023-060).
