About. |
Theme
The third edition of the Malta ALS/MND SUMMIT will focus on Risk Factors triggering Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) in Island Populations, with particular focus on Malta and Sicily. What are the similarities, differences, challenges and opportunities for ALS? Organisation The meeting is organised by the University of Malta ALS/MND Research Laboratory. Target audience ALS or MND patients and family members, clinicians, researchers, medical students, biomedical students and the general public. Location The meeting will take place in Lecture Theatre BM402 on the Third Floor of the Biomedical Sciences Building, University of Malta Campus. The Biomedical Sciences Building is situated near car park 3 - from here follow the signs. |
Programme. |
9.00 Welcome/Introduction
9.15 Brain-Computer Interfaces for ALS 9.45 Genetic Risk Factors for ALS in Malta 10.30 Coffee/Tea Break 11.00 How do we use flies to model ALS? 11.15 From Omics to Mechanisms and Drug Target Discovery for ALS 11.30 Towards an Animal Model of a Maltese Major ALS gene 11.45 The First Juvenile ALS case in Malta 12.00 Keynote Lecture: Epidemiological, Clinical and Genetic Landscape of ALS in Sicily 13.00 Closing Remarks |
Reserve your place today!
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What is ALS/MND?
Motor Neuron Disease or MND is a group of conditions characterised by degeneration and death of nerves that control the muscles. MND subtypes can include Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), Progressive Muscular Atrophy (PMA), Progressive Bulbar Palsy (PBP) and Primary Lateral Sclerosis (PLS). Symptoms include muscle weakness and wasting.
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Why research ALS/MND?
There is no effective treatment for ALS/MND. Research is crucial for understanding the causes of ALS/MND. This is the first crucial step of the path leading to treatment discovery. The ALS/MND Research Laboratory at the University of Malta has been researching this condition for more than 12 years. Work by Maltese scientists in collaboration with their European partners is leading to new knowledge on this devastating disease.
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What is a BioBank?
The University of Malta hosts the ALS/MND Biobank, which is a collection of biological samples including DNA collected from Maltese ALS/MND patients subject to consent. This unique collection is a valuable resource because it allows researchers to keep investigating the disease. This allows scientists to better understand its causes by discovering causative genetic factors.
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Key Speakers. |
Prof. Vincenzo La Bella
Neurologist, Professor of Neurology and Head of the ALS Clinical Research Center, University of Palermo, Italy |
Dr Rossella Spataro
Neurologist and Clinical Researcher on Brain-Computer Interface, University of Palermo, Italy |
Prof. Ruben J Cauchi
Neurogeneticist and Lead Researcher at the University of Malta ALS/MND Research Laboratory |
RSVP. |
Register before March 11, 2022 to attend.
See you there! |