Top international vaccine researcher Professor Rino Rappuoli inaugurated the laboratories of a local start-up, The Bio Arte Limited, based at the Life Sciences Park in San Gwann, during a virtual event today.
Prof. Rappuoli, chief scientist and head of external R&D (research and development) at
GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), who discovered monoclonal antibodies and is behind no fewer than
five vaccines to prevent the most common serogroups of the fatal meningococcal
meningitis, also delivered a keynote address on the invitation of Dr Manuele Biazzo,
Scientific Director of The Bio Arte Limited.
The theme of the address was ‘The challenge of developing a vaccine for COVID-19 and my studies on the development of monoclonal antibodies’.
Addressing the launch event, held at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in St Julian’s, Dr Biazzo said:
“We are very proud that a scientific leader has accepted our invitation to inaugurate our
laboratories and is aware of the research we are conducting. We are doing our best to
develop research from Malta and to attract attention to the best research worldwide. This is
the first step to show we can make a difference thanks to the quality of our research and
thanks to the partners who accepted to work with us in these endeavours.”
Dr Biazzo announced that The Bio Arte has recently being recognised as an Educational
Institute for Sustainable Industrial Biotechnology and the first teaching module is focusing
on the Therapeutical Approach of the Human Microbiota. “This is a clear example of how
research can be linked to diagnostics and how the results of the work in our laboratories will not remain there but will be shared with the global medical community.
“In this way, Malta will be the hub for these particular research topics and we are very
happy to have started in this fantastic way today, the 20 November, in the presence of one
of the most respected scientists in the field of microbiology.”
Dr Biazzo expressed satisfaction at the positive response from all the institutions invited to
attend with even those unable to attend expressing an interest to get a copy of the video
and notes from the keynote address. “There was a healthy interest and I hope this interest
will continue also in terms of support for our activities,” he said.
