Beating Hearts Malta support local research in cardiovascular disease

Local NGO Beating Hearts Malta (BHM) presented a donation of €25,000 to the Research Trust (RIDT) of the University of Malta, which will finance a PhD scholarship in cardiovascular disease. The study will focus on congenital and inherited cardiac disorders.

The presentation of the donation to Prof. Alfred J. Vella, rector of the University and chairperson of the RIDT was held in the presence of members of the committee of Beating Hearts Malta, the RIDT and the Doctoral School of the University.

In a comment to the media, Dr Maryanne Caruana, consultant cardiologist at Mater Dei Hospital, senior lecturer at the University of Malta and trustee of Beating Hearts Malta, expressed her gratitude to all those who supported BHM during the years. She said: “Cardiovascular disease remains the biggest killer in European countries. Research is the ‘behind the scenes’ of our practice as doctors, giving us the necessary evidence to back up the treatment and advise our patients during our day-to-day work.

However, effective research costs time and money. Thanks to the support of many, BHM is now able to invest in high-quality local cardiovascular research with the aim to improve the quality of care delivered to cardiac patients in Malta and beyond.”

BHM was founded in December 2011. Its main objective at the outset was to provide support and encouragement for all adults and children with congenital heart disease (CHD) as well as their partners and families and to promote awareness and educate social care professionals, employers, insurers and the general public about the existence and the needs of people with CHD. Over the years, the NGO has purchased specialised medical equipment for the diagnosis and treatment of patients with congenital and acquired heart disease receiving care at Mater Dei Hospital. As of 2019, BHM started supporting the continued professional development of doctors, nurses and allied health professionals working in cardiology and cardiac surgery through yearly bursaries.

Wilfred Kenely, CEO of RIDT thanked the NGO for their generous support towards this scholarship. “In today’s world, when almost everything has been disrupted due to the current health crisis, such a donation gives us so much hope that science and research will eventually give us the solutions we need.”

The RIDT was set up in 2011 to help the University of Malta expand its research portfolio in all areas of study and to date it has helped raise more than €3.5m from various sectors of the Maltese community, including corporates, NGOs and foundations, and individual donors.