The Memorandum of Understanding, signed on 15 June, will enable outstanding medical professionals from Malta to apply for funding to carry out research in diabetes and endocrinology together with academics from our world-leading Department of Oncology and Metabolism and to be awarded higher postgraduate degrees by our University.
The cooperative research work between Maltese and Sheffield researchers will boost the discovery of new ideas and methods that will both enable our University’s medical experts to produce high-quality research findings and have a long-term positive impact on Malta’s provision of patient care and development of its health strategies.
Dr Miguel Debono, Honorary Senior Lecturer from the Department of Oncology and Metabolism who will be responsible for managing the collaboration, said: “This is an important, innovative agreement which, together with the full support of my colleagues Professor Richard Ross and Professor John Newell-Price, I have spearheaded to give the opportunity for Maltese professionals to enhance their career by benefiting from excellent research, clinical and educational opportunities in Diabetes and Endocrinology provided by world experts at the University of Sheffield. We are looking forward to working on this collaboration also supported by the driving force in Malta Prof Stephen Montefort, the academic Head of Medicine.”
This agreement was also signed and led by the department’s Professor Richard Ross, Head of the unit for Diabetes and Endocrinology at the Medical School and Professor of Endocrinology, and Professor Newell-Price, Chair of Endocrinology and Honorary Consultant Physician.
Professor Richard Ross said: “This partnership between The University of Sheffield and Malta’s Ministry for Education, Sport, Research and Innovation will create opportunities for specialist training and the advancement of research in diabetes and endocrinology that will not only benefit the patients in both countries but also help solidify the decades-long cooperation between Malta and the UK.”
Professor Chris Newman, Interim Vice-President for the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry & Health said: “This exciting collaboration between the University of Sheffield and Malta’s Ministry for Education, Sport, Research and Innovation is an important step for establishing future training and research opportunities for both countries. The research opportunities and the accompanying translational benefits this innovative agreement will offer will be of short-term and long-term benefit to patients.
"This work will create opportunities for deeper specialisation and the advancement of clinical trials in diabetes and endocrinology that will not only benefit the patients in both countries but also help solidify the decades-long cooperation between Malta and the UK."