Equipment is essential for breast cancer research but more researchers and funds are needed too, the head of the Physiology and Biochemistry Department said.
“We are aiming at 100 per cent survival, for which we need facilities, researchers and funds. We have the facilities but we need more people to come forward as researchers.
“While we need more senior researchers, we always need funds. Fortunately, three years ago, for the first time in Malta, research started being funded by charities,” Christian Scerri said at an event called ‘Surviving and thriving with breast cancer’, organised by the NGO Malta Cafe Scientifique and the Research Trust of the University of Malta.
He was referring to the funds raised by the Action for Breast Cancer Foundation and Alive cyclists.
“My message is donate, donate, donate... and sponsor.”
His call was reiterated by President Marie- Louise Coleiro Preca, who called on society to show appreciation and support researchers through funds.
Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women and the main cause of death in women aged between 40 and 59. It is estimated that one of every 10 women will develop breast cancer.
Prof. Scerri said the good news was that cancer survival had doubled since the 1970s.
The strategy to “conquer” cancer, he said, included mitigating risk factors, identifying the risks and diagnosing cancer early.
In line with this, the research group is carrying out an environmental and lifestyle risk-assessment study on breast cancer among 1,800 subjects, which include 600 people with cancer from Malta, Palermo and Syracuse as part of IMaGenX, a cross-border network of healthcare providers and researchers (Italia-Malta Programme – Cohesion Policy 2007-2013).
To identify people at risk of breast cancer, the group is also undergoing a familial and genetic study, in order to ascertain the genetic make-up of the Maltese population, which is unique and may not be comparable to that of Italy and North Africa, for example, Prof. Scerri said.
This could help Malta produce a more focused gene panel against which one can hold tests, making it more financially viable.