Prime Minister Joseph Muscat and Education Minister Evarist Bartolo inaugurated the new AAT Research group offices at the Malta Life Sciences Park, near Mater Dei Hospital, this morning.
Group founder and CEO Dr Adrian Attard Trevisan gave details about the group of companies' researches, designs, development and manufacturing of quality medical solutions.
He said that his company grew from a small one-room base in Mosta, and have now moved to "splendid" new premises here at the Malta Life Sciences Park.
"My entrepreneurial spirit was strongly guided by a personal experience when I was still a student in Brittany. I stayed with a family and their son had Asperger's. I would spend time observing him, his actions and attitude. I did not treat him as if he were a laboratory experiment, I watched him carefully to see where and how I could help my young friend. I knew I could help him, and that is when I began applying my knowledge as a neuroscientist to find a solution for my friend's son".
"Finding that solution not only led to the development of Mente, a medical system for children on the Autism spectrum, but it was the seed that grew into the AAT Research Group".
"Mente uses neurofeedback technology to help relax the minds of children with autism, enabling them to focus better and engage positively with their environment. It is comprised of a portable headband and software, its patented technology creates personalised binaural beats which suppress the excessive delta frequencies that are present in children with autism, using the auditory pathways in the brain," a description of Mente read.
The CEO stressed that his company has come a long way since the first prototype was designed. "We are actively involved in a number of research project with partners around the world, including the Carrick institute in the USA and Cambridge University in the UK, who will jointly be carrying out a major clinical trial".
He said that AAT Research is also working on new systems to help those suffering from epilepsy as well as depression, anxiety and insomnia".
He said that the Malta Council for Science and Technology has supported their research activities from the outset.
Dr Muscat said, of the Life Sciences Park – “we are not far off from all the space in this park being allocated”.
He said that in the biomedical field, standing hill is not an option. "It is either forward or backwards, and I opt to move forward”.