Dr Janet Mifsud from the Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics of the University of Malta, is following a Fulbright Scholar Programme Advanced Research and University Lecturing Award at the Epilepsy Research and Education Programme of the University of Minnesota, in cooperation with Prof. Jim Cloyd, director of the programme.
The conjoint research between the two universities concerns novel developments in drugs used in epilepsy. The research being undertaken forms part of a major research programme of the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke investigating how knowledge on the effect of genetics in drugs are managed by different individuals (pharmacogenomics). This will ultimately result in a significant contribution to the development of new, better-targeted anti-epileptic drugs.
Epilepsy affects one per cent of the worldwide population and an estimated 3,000 persons in Malta. Studies leading to discovery of mutations in genes predisposing to epilepsy could help in new breakthroughs in drug discovery for epilepsy with the support of the pharmaceutical industry.
The three-month research programme is also being used to promote exchanges in the various research skills and facilities needed in this area, such as novel techniques in the identification of genotype receptor, transporter and drug metabolism genes in epilepsy, which will be further developed at the research facilities in the University of Malta on Dr Mifsud’s return, thus promoting the University of Malta’s role as a centre of excellence in this area. The research has identified a focused potential for future conjoint collaboration between the two universities and will be used in long-term conjoint research, to characterise and model population pharmacokinetics in the different sectors of society (pharmacometrics) – of specific relevance to Malta, where according to EU statistics, a large increase in the elderly population is expected. The data from this research will also aid in the audit management of epilepsy and improve plans for the future health service provision for this condition in Malta.
Dr Mifsud has also been invited to collaborate with the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota to explore further research possibilities with the Schulze Centre for Novel Therapeutics which is considered among the best research centres in the US on pharmacogenetics.