The three-year SEED project (Study of Early Events in Development) aims to transform knowledge and care surrounding the first trimester of pregnancy in Malta.
The project is a collaboration between the Faculty of Health Sciences and the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Malta, together with partners at Mater Dei Hospital. It will establish Malta’s first modern database focused on the early stages of pregnancy, combining hospital data with the lived experiences of women and healthcare professionals.
The research aims to provide a more comprehensive understanding of the first trimester and support more informed, evidence-based and patient-centred care.
Dr. Lara Sammut, the principal researcher of the project, emphasized the need for this study within the local health sector. She stated that, “SEED was born from the need to better understand what is happening at the beginning of pregnancy in Malta—a stage where there is much uncertainty but little clear evidence. Thus, it is crucial that we build this evidence so that we can make more informed decisions and improve care at the start of pregnancy.”
This project is a living example of how national evidence will help design policy that responds to today’s real needs, focusing not just on numbers but on the entire human experience. This investment demonstrates the Government’s continuous commitment to offering support to families in vulnerable moments and to the professionals working in complex environments, while strengthening patient-centred care in our country.
