The University of Malta hosts EMBL’s Advanced Mobile Laboratory for research and training
EMBL’s Advanced Mobile Laboratory (AML) is stationed at the University of Malta for one month, to provide advanced technology, expertise, and training to Malta’s scientific community.
EMBL’s Advanced Mobile Laboratory (AML) was a key component of the TREC expedition. As part of the pan-European expedition exploring coastal ecosystems along the continent’s coastline, the mobile laboratory brought cutting-edge technology and methodology to the field. Following the completion of TREC’s sampling phase, the AML is currently operating in its full mobile service capacity as part of the EMBL Mobile Laboratories, an interdisciplinary core facility supporting European researchers with advanced technologies, expertise, and training directly at their institutes. The first users of this unique service provided by EMBL are researchers at the University of Malta (UM).
An official launch event was held on 24 March 2025 at the University of Malta, in which the Minister for Education, Sport, Youth, Research and Innovation Hon Clifton Grima, the Parliamentary Secretary for Youths, Research and Innovation Hon Keith Azzopardi Tanti, UM Rector Professor Alfred J Vella, and EMBL’s Interim Director General Elect Peer Bork participated.
Minister Clifton Grima and Hon Keith Azzopardi Tanti described this project as another step for Malta to keep strengthening its presence in the European scientific scene. They remarked that the collaboration with EMBL confirms the commitment of the Maltese government to building a resilient scientific community capable of contributing globally.
“This collaboration is an achievement that underscores the University’s strategic vision to continue to elevate our research endeavours in life sciences, thereby enhancing our global presence, but more importantly, our impact on humanity,” said UM Rector Professor Alfred J Vella. “We are happy to be hosting the AML and are looking forward to more cutting-edge scientific exploration.”
“Having EMBL’s Advanced Mobile Lab here in Malta is an incredibly exciting milestone for our scientific community,” said Melissa Formosa, Associate Professor at the University of Malta and EMBL Council Delegate. “This state-of-the-art facility brings world-class research tools and expertise directly to our doorstep, opening new avenues for collaboration, training, and discovery. This visit is not just an opportunity – it’s a testament to Malta’s growing role in international research, and we look forward to the groundbreaking discoveries and lasting partnerships that will emerge from this collaboration.”
Malta has been one of EMBL’s 29 member states since 2016, and in 2022, EMBL and the University of Malta signed a memorandum of understanding to further stimulate mutually beneficial scientific and academic exchange across multiple research areas related to infection biology, human ecosystems, planetary biology, and data sciences, all pillars of EMBL’s current research programme.
“By bringing the Advanced Mobile Laboratory to Malta, we are able to connect strongly with Maltese scientists on a number of topics. These range from shining light on cellular processes to more deeply understanding coastal ecosystems. It’s a delight to see the uptake of EMBL’s mobile service offerings by our partners in Malta, and I’m excited to see how EMBL’s cutting-edge technologies can help drive knowledge in these specific areas,” said Peer Bork, EMBL Interim Director General Elect, and co-chair of EMBL’s Planetary Biology Transversal Theme.
The AML arrived in Malta on 17 March, and on 18 March was visited by the President of Malta, H.E. Myriam Spiteri Debono, who emphasised the importance of advanced scientific research and innovation for ultimately strengthening Malta’s position as a hub for collaboration.
The Mobile Laboratories team will work with the University of Malta until 11 April 2025. During this time, the EMBL specialists in cutting-edge light microscopy, sample preparation for (cryo-)electron microscopy, and flow cytometry will collaborate with local scientists and support their research projects.
The topics include cancer research, analyses of plant adaptations in coastal environments of the Maltese islands, the analysis of microbial strains and biofilms, and the study of wound healing in the zebrafish model organism. The Mobile Laboratories team will also provide training courses to University students, including lectures and hands-on demonstrations.
“The welcome from the Maltese community has been really overwhelming, and we look forward to supporting the many projects they have proposed to us during our stay,” said Niko Leisch, Head of EMBL’s Mobile Laboratory Services. “I truly believe that with the Mobile Laboratories, we have the opportunity to contribute to excellent science across our member states.”
