Clinical medicine

The scientific focus of the IMPS relates to basic studies in the field of neuropsychobiology and behavioral medicine on learning and memory processes and information processing in the brain, especially in the areas of pain, addiction, psychotraumatology and across the lifespan (longitudinal cohort studies). At the institute, we also work with digital survey methods such as smartphone and tablet-based apps and virtual reality and are concerned with the evaluation of large longitudinal data sets from cohort studies.

I am currently working on the immunologic features of human podocytes, as well as role of Klotho and NPP1 proteins in the course of diabetic nephropathy. Previously, I studied genetics and immunology of sarcoidosis and tuberculosis. I work with cell lines, I perform quantitative analyses of gene and protein expression. I also implement techniques like immunofluorescence and immunohistochemistry, and analyse glycolitic parametres of podocytes by measurement of extracellular acidification.

https://www.um.edu.mt/platforms/mnn

The work of EA4685 concerns the control of the nervous system over the physiology of organs, mainly sensory organs, neuronal plasticity and the interactions of cells of the nervous system (neurons and glial cells) with other cells. These aspects are addressed by biology, biotechnology, physiology and pathophysiology.
Most of our work concerns the relationships between the skin and the nervous system for the understanding of pruritus.

- In vivo antioxidant octivity of functional foods. Development of biochemical techniques for the in vivo analysis of the true antioxidant activity of different foods when ingested.
- Study of the role of the placenta in gestacional diabetes and/or obesity, and the oxidative, notrosative and inflammatory damage to which it is subject in these circustances.
- Mechanism of action of oxidative and Inflammatory damage induced by nutrition in childhood obesity and other chronic inflammatory conditions
- Cerebral Neuroimaging
- Neuroimaging processing

OXIDATIVE DAMAGE AND INFLAMMATION
OXIDATIVE DAMAGE AND PSORIASIS
OXIDATIVE STRESS, PHYSICAL EXERCISE AND DOWN SYNDROME
OXIDATIVE STRESS, PHYSICAL EXERCISE AND METABOLIC SYNDROME

• APPROACH TO PRECISION CARDIOVASCULAR MEDICINE.
• APPLICATION OF TRANSCRIPTOMICS IN THE DIAGNOSTIC-THERAPEUTIC APPROACH TO FAMILIAL DILATED CARDIOMYOPATHY
• MOLECULAR APPROACH TO FAMILIAL DYSLIPIDEMIAS.
• FHh and SDR. HYPERKYLCHRONEMIA
• DIAGNOSTIC-THERAPEUTIC MARKERS IN MUSCLE CELL CULTURES IN FAMILIAL DILATED MYOPATHY AND DYSLIPIDEMIAS

- Vascular pathophysiology
- Heart failure and cardiotoxicity of chemotherapy
- Mathematical models of cardiac pathology
- Pulmonary hypertension: Biomarkers and new treatments
- Thromboembolic disease
- Biomarkers

The main topic of this research group is awareness of importance of oral health care in general population. Current research lines include dental trauma knowledge (school teachers, students, parents), dental caries prevention knowledge (students, Women during pregnancy, parents), prevention of oral diseases (pediatrics, parents).