Full-Time Lecturer

Dr. Janet Mifsud

Personal Information
Educational Activities
Research in Progress
Presentations
Publications
Other Academic Activities
Memberships

E-mail

janet.mifsud@um.edu.mt

Telephone

(+356) 2340-2910, (+356) 2340-2845

Office

Pharmacy Building, Ground Floor, Room 140

Biography

 Personal Information [ Top Of Page ]

Dr. Janet Mifsud joined the University of Malta in 1990 and pursued her doctoral PhD degree at Queen’s University of Belfast, N. Ireland. Her doctoral research focused on the pharmacokinetic processes involved in the determination of the duration and magnitude of pharmacological effects of chiral drugs specifically pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics of antiepileptic drugs used in absence seizures using EEG modelling in animal models.

Her post graduate work also investigated the use of chiral drugs and this lead to a collaborative work with the local Government Pharmaceutical Service on the importance of stereoisomeric pharmacovigilance and pharmacotoxicology in hospital formularies and the regulatory implications in national health services. This work was published in an EU publication, European Medicines Research (Frachia Ed IOS Press 1994 p 331-343).

Her research primarily considers various aspects of the incidence and treatment of epilepsy in Malta in specific populations and the newer antiepileptic drugs, and it has now expanded to the treatment of other neurological disorders such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s, especially within a small population setting such as Malta.

These studies are pursued locally in conjunction with the Department of Paediatrics and Department of Medicine at St Luke’s Hospital and the University of Malta. The incidence and treatment of absence seizures in Malta have also been investigated and further collaborative work with the consultant neurologists now considers the use and pharmacokinetics of antiepileptic drugs in pregnant women and children. In conjunction with the ILAE subcommission for the Search of Epilepsy genes we are now carrying out studies on pharmacogenomics in epilepsy.

She has read papers at numerous international scientific conferences especially in relation to pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic modelling and the pharmacological treatment of epilepsy. In fact the department has been successful attracting $22,000 dollars from UNESCO and Lm 500 from the Pektur funding agency of the National commission for persons with disability to support this research. She has collaborated with University of Hamburg to submit an add on call under FP5 for funding in research ‘Disabikids’ as well as a joint project under Socrates Leonardo and youth ‘Wayfinder’, coordinated by University of Lund Sweden. The department is also partners in the EYIE Epilepsy Youth in Europe project, which has EU funding.

In November 2001 the Malta Caritas Epilepsy Association, to which she am adviser, organized a very successful one-day conference in Malta called Epilepsy-Experiences in Malta that attracted over 250 participants. She was chairperson for that conference which was also addressed by the HE President of Malta, and the President of International Bureau Against Epilepsy, Mr Philip Lee. She is also a member of the committee on the European White paper on Epilepsy: Call to Action, co-ordinated by EUCARE.

In June 2002 the Department of Clinical Pharmacology also co-ordinated an expression of interest proposal (EOI) together with Eurepa called EUANEXEPIL with over 60 European partners. We are also participating two other EOIs submitted by University of Lund and University of Saarbrucken. She is now also certified trainer for the Eurepa European Epilepsy Academy Network, of the International League against Epilepsy, after having successfully completed a course in Bielefeld, Germany, in January 2002

The department has also acted as external advisers for the development of pharmacology computer learning packages developed by the UK P’Calogy network and contributed to the content of the Cal packages developed by the European Pharmacology Network Epharnet, co-ordinated by Dr Ian Hughes from University of Leeds. The department also now forms part of the GALENOS network, coordinated by the University of Saarbrucken Germany, that promotes a postgraduate degree in pharmaceutical sciences across 34 universities.

She has also been interviewed in the local press and radio and TV audio-visual media on the treatment of neurological disorders.

She is on several International Committees such as the Scientific Committee of the Mediterranean Epilepsy Society, International League against Epilepsy, a member of the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Sciences and the UNESCO Forum of Women of the Mediterranean. Following close scientific collaboration on the use of computer applications in the pharmaceutical development, she has also organised International Schools in Pharmacokinetics in conjunction with the University of Minnesota and the University of Pisa. She has also been invite to chair sessions in several international Epilepsy Conferences.

Over the last years, she has acted as a consultant on EU affairs to several key institutions in Malta. She advised the Chairman, Drug and Therapeutics Committee, St Luke’s Hospital and the Director, Pharmaceutical Services on the proper technical procedures to be adopted in order to improve the quality of medicinal purchased by state facilities. She has also written reports for Malta University Services on the setting up of a pharmaceutical industry in Malta and have consulted local pharmaceutical manufacturing industry on the registration procedures for their medicinal products for animal and human use in line with EU regulatory bodies.

Since February 2001 she is the chairperson for the EU Framework Programme for Malta. She also chairs the Gender Issues Committee for the University of Malta, and have been appointed by the Prime Minister of Malta, as member of the Public Service Commission, a constitutional body, which oversees all activities associated with the Public Service in Malta. She has also been interviewed in the local press and radio and TV audio-visual media as an expert in the field of the treatment of neurological disorders.

She has also been appointed expert evaluator for proposals submitted under the Quality of Life key action (Neurosciences and Therapeutic strategies Actions) in July and December 2000 in Brussels March 2001. July 2001 and March 2002. She was recently appointed evaluator for expressions of interest call for FP6 in June 2002.

Since February 2001 she was appointed the chairperson for the EU Framework Programme for Malta. This involved over an estimated 700 hours of work in 2001, with over 50 face to face meetings, 5 overseas travel meetings, preparation of several reports, over 20,000 emails sent or received, as well as the organisation of over 30 briefing sessions including:

• Trainnet meeting March 2002
• Presentation of FP activities to Social Affairs Committee, Parliament of Malta
• University Graduate Potential Seminar Talk, March 2002, University of Malta
• Launch of FP6 in Malta 1st March 2002
• Briefing session for SMEs April 2002
• Briefing sessions for NCPs November 2001 and February 2002
• Science and society training course for journalists in conjunction with the Tumas Fenech Foundation April 2002
• Global Management course, Mediterranean Academy of Diplomatic studies Malta, May 2002

Presenter and producer, Check Up, PBS Ltd Health Education Radio programme. January 2001-May 2001
 

Educational Activities [ Top Of Page ]

Research in Progress [ Top Of Page ]

Presentations [ Top Of Page ]

Scientific Committee and invited participant. Mediterranean Epilepsy Meeting. Montpellier, France. 4th to 6th September 1997.

Participant. The real impact of the newer antiepileptic drugs. 28-31 January 1998, Genoa, Italy.

Course co-ordinator: Pharmacokinetic School for the pharmaceutical and biomedical Scientist. Organised in collaboration with the University of Minnesota and University of Pisa. 6th to 15th September 1998.

Invited Participant. Women in Science Conference. European Union, DG XII, Brussels 28th to 29th April 1998.

Invited lecturer. Pharmacokinetics UK meeting. Manchester, October 1998

Scientific Committee: Forum des femmes de la Méditerranée, 29-31st January 1999. Torino 30-31st January 1999.

Participant. Fifth Congress of the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Sciences (EUFEBS), Jerusalem, Israel, April 25-30, 1999

Invited participant. Women in Science Conference: Networking the Networks. European Union, DG XII, Brussels 7th to 10th July 1999.

Invited Participant. 23rd International Epilepsy Congress, Prague, Czech Republic, September 1999

Invited participant. Women in Science Conference: the Etan Report. European Union, DG Research, Brussels. 4th to 5th April 2000.

Invited Participant. Epilepsy and Society. 19th to 21st May 2000. Athens, Greece.

Invited Participant. EU Information Society Technology Workprogamme . Programme consultation meeting. Ambient intelligence for a socially inclusive society. 16th May. Brussels 2000.

Expert Evaluator. FP5 ‘Quality of Life’. Accompanying measures, Brussels, July 2000

Invited speaker. Antihypertension and the pharmacist. Mediterranean Medical Congress, September 2000.

Chairperson, European Epileptiology Conference, Florence, Italy, October 2000.

Invited Participant. European Federation of Pharmaceutical Sciences Meeting. Budapest, September 2000.

Invited Speaker. European Women’s Management Development Conference. Malta, November 2000.

Expert Evaluator. FP5 ‘Quality of Life’. Therapeutic strategies, Brussels, December 2000

Invited Participant. British Pharmacological Society Meeting. Cardiff, UK December 2000

Maltese Representative. Gender and Science meeting, DG Research Brussels, November 2001.

Participant. Eurepa Train the Trainers workshop. European Epilepsy academy, Bielefeld, Germany, January 2002.

GALENOS workshop; University of Saarbrucken Germany, February 2002.
 

Chairperson for Sessions on Interdisciplinary task in Epilepsy and White Paper on Epilepsy: Call to Action. Epilepsy and Society meeting. Loret de Mer, Spain, May 2002

Publications [ Top Of Page ]

Millership J.S., Collier P.S., Mifsud J., The metabolism of ethosuximide, European J of Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics, v 18 no 4 p349-353, 1993.

Millership J.S., Collier P.S., Mifsud J. Chiral aspects of metabolism of ethosuximide. Chirality vol 7. p 173-180, 1995

Mifsud J., Marshall K., Cassar E., Integration of population kinetic software in clinical practice: an assessment. Therapeutic Drug Monitoring, 1997; 19 (3).

Millership J.S., Collier P.S., Mifsud J., Pentylenetetrazol (PTZ) infusion model for the determination of the stereoselective effects of antiabsence antiepileptic drugs. ISSX 1997; 106.

Mifsud J., Collier P.S., Millership J.S., Animal models in the determination of stereoselective protective effects of chiral antiepileptic drugs. Archives of Pharmacology, 358 (S1) R33.

Mifsud J., Mizzi M., Assessment of population kinetic software in clinical population outpatient setting. Archives of Pharmacology, 358 (S2) R457.

Mifsud J., invited Editorial. Pharmaceuticals and Health Care providers: meaningful links in a Mediterranean Context. Pharmaceutical Technology Europe, 11, 3, p4. March 1999

Mifsud J., Collier, P.S., Millership J.S., Pentylenetetrazol (PTZ) infusion model for the determination of the stereoselective protective effects of antiabsence antiepileptic drugs. European Journal of Pharmaceutical sciences, 8(2), ix. 1999.

Mifsud J., Buttigieg A., Debono A.G., Micallef R.E., Therapeutic management with the newer antiepileptic drugs in Malta. Epilepsia, 40, 2, 96, 1999.

Mifsud J., The implications to health care of the advancements in information and communication technologies. Programme consultation meeting no 8. Ambient intelligence for a socially inclusive information society with employment for all. EU May 2000. p 72-79

Mifsud J., Cauchi N., Tanti Burlo E., Soler D., Concerns, coping behaviour and sense of coherence in parents of children with epilepsy. Epilepsia vol 41, p 152

Sghendo L., Mifsud J., Millership J.S., Collier P.S., A novel GC/MS for the quantification of ethosuximide enantiomers in biological samples. Eur J Pharmaceutical Sciences 11 (2000) S72.

Gafa M., Mifsud J., Micallef M., Modification in Immunological levels in patients on new antiepileptic drugs Epilepsia , vol 42, S2 p 40 2001

Mifsud J., Cauchi N., Tanti Burlo E., Soler D., Antiepileptic drug treatment and sense of coherence in children with epilepsy. Epilepsia vol 42 S2 p 86, 2001

Gafa M., Mifsud J., Micallef M., Determination of Immunological levels in patients with Epilepsy. Fundamental and Clinical Pharmacology, vol 15 S1 P26 July 2001

Mifsud J., Millership J.S., Collier P.S., Morrow R., Hamilton J.T.G., McRoberts B., Quantification of urinary excretion of ethosuximide enantiomers and their major metabolites in the rat. Biopharmaceutics and Drug Disposition 22, 129-136 (2001)

Mifsud J., Collier P., Millership J.S., The pharmacokinetics of ethosuximde enantiomers in the rat Biopharmaceutics and Drug Disposition 22, 83-89 (2001)

Sghendo L., Mifsud J., Ellul-Micallef R., Portelli J., Millership J., A sensitive gas chromatographic/ mass spectrometric method for the resolution and quantification of ethosuximide enantiomers in biological fluids. Journal of Chromatography B 772 (2002) 307-315.

Mifsud J., Kavangh M., Science and Society: towards a new partnership. Proceedings of CASTME meeting: Linking Science Mathematics and Technology Education and their social relevance; 10-13 April 2002 p 24.

Mifsud J., Cauchi N., Tanti Burlo E., Soler D., The indolence of pharmacological therapy on coping strategies: a health care team approach for children with epilepsy p13A 2nd Spring Conference on Clinical Pharmacy - Pharmacy Practice to meet patients needs 2-5 May 2001 Malta

Gafa M., Mifsud J., Micallef M., Debono A.G., Ellul-Micallef R., A Determination of Immunological levels in patients with epilepsy. 3rd meeting of the Federation of the European Pharmacological Sciences, Ephar, July 6th-9th 2001 Lyon France.

Gafa M., Mifsud J., Micallef M., Debono A.G., Ellul-Micallef R., A Determination of Immunological levels in patients with epilepsy. Pharmacology and Toxicology vol 89 S1 2001. 5th Congress of the European Association of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics 12-15 September 2001 Denmark.

Gafa M., Mifsud J., Ellul-Micallef R., Micallef M., Galea Debono A., Determination of Immunological levels in patients treated for neurological disorders 7th Mediterranean Epilepsy Conference, Athens Greece, 22-25 November 2001 p05 p 77.

Mifsud J., Dimech M., Debattista A., Cachia G., Caritas (Malta) Epilepsy Association: On The Side Of People In Need. Abstract in Proceedings. 8th Epilepsy and Society meeting, Spain, May 2002

Other Academic Activities (Conferences, Seminars, Workshops)
[ Top Of Page ]

Mifsud J. Volatile substance abuse - inhalants. Invited oral presentation. Conference on Alcohol and other drugs. 1-2 March 1996 Malta

Participant and nominated for Nominated for Jean Hirtz Award. 6th European Congress of Biopharmaceutics and Pharmacokinetics, Athens, Greece. 22-24 April 1996..

Participant. 2nd European Congress on Epileptiology The Hague, Netherlands, 1- 5th September 1996

Participant Pharmacokinetics UK Workshop, Russ Hill, London 6-8th November 1996.

Invited Participant. Current perspectives in research on drug and alcohol abuse in Malta. 3 May 1996.

Participant. Symposium on Life Science and Biotechnology. Malta Council of Science and Technology. 23-24 February 1996.

Participant. Edward de Bono Seminar in Creative Thinking. 29-31 July 1996, and Grade A in General Thinking Skills Examination

Gender Issues in the curriculum - a game of chess - presentation at Committee for gender issues workshop 11 December 1996.

Participant at Women in Science. Science Week, Malta Council of Science and Technology. University of Malta campus, January 1996

Reporteur. Forum for Science Teachers. Chamber of Scientists. University of Malta. 6-18 September 1996

Management and Treatment of Epilepsy. Continuing education program with workshops, organised by the Malta College of Pharmacy Practice, and held at the Department of Pharmacy, University of Malta. (November 1996)

Memberships [ Top Of Page ]

• UKCPA, United Kingdom Clinical Pharmacy Association

• UKCPS, United Kingdom Clinical Pharmacokinetics Society

• AAPS,  Association of American Pharmaceutical Scientists

• IATDMCT, International Association of Therapeutic Drug Monitoring and Clinical Toxicology

• Chromatographic Society, UK

• Epilepsy Foundation of America, USA

• Society for Medicines Research, UK

• International Society for the Study of Xenobiotics (ISSX)

• American College of Clinical Pharmacology 

• Malta Chamber of Pharmacists - Education Sub Committee

• Malta Chamber of Scientists

• Malta College of Pharmacy Practice

• Founder Epilepsy Support Group, Malta

• Secretary, Epilepsy Society of Malta (affiliated to International League Against Epilepsy)