Air Malta supports the University of Malta Research, Innovation and Development Trust

This July, Air Malta is supporting the Research, Innovation and Development Trust of the University of Malta, with cabin crew soliciting donations from passengers on selected flights.

This initiative is also supported by Sky Gourmet, the airline’s supplier of in-flight catering.

The University of Malta is among the oldest seats of learning in the world. Today it is fast becoming a research centre of excellence, not least in medicine. RIDT itself was established six years ago, and given the challenging task of changing the culture of research funding and its access to supplementary finance.

To date, over €2million have been raised. This is testimony not only to the support of large organisations and corporate entities but also, significantly, to the generosity of society as a whole.

RIDT is currently funding a number of Ph.D. research scholarships in such important areas as breast cancer, children’s cancer, renal disease, and the genetics of osteoporosis.

Further evidence of the Trust’s work is the new ophthalmic research it is funding in conjunc- tion with the Malta Community Chest (operating under the auspices of the President of Malta).

The ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) Foundation of Malta, spearheaded by patient-turnedcampaigner Bjorn Formosa, has recently made available a threeyear grant for further research into this motor neurone disease.

Finally, another community project has taken the novel step of setting up a mobile dental clinic. As this overview of funding initiatives suggests, there can be little doubt that continuing investment in scientific and medical research is the way to a healthy, sustainable and brighter future for all. Support from Air Malta’s passengers can help make that better future a reality. Contributions (in any currency) can be made in special envelopes provided by Air Malta cabin crew.

Regular donations can also be made online, at www.ridt.eu or by a cheque, payable to the Trust, posted to the following address: RIDT, University of Malta, Valletta Campus, St Paul’s Street, Valletta, Malta.

This campaign forms part of Air Malta’s Corporate Social Responsibility initiative – a scheme designed to support organisations working hard for Malta. As the national carrier, Air Malta is the only airline operating to and from Malta and supporting the local community. It does so in all possible ways and every year carries an increasing number of medical patients, including stretcher and incubator cases for treatment abroad. No other airline serving Malta provides such continued support to voluntary and nongovernmental organisations as Air Malta.