Report – First Year [2009 – 2010] - INCT_Biomedicina / UFC

The National Institute of Biomedicine of the Brazilian SemiArid (INCT_IBISAB), officially established and funded in 16/1/2009, has as general goal to pursue excellence in basic, preclinical (in vivo and in vitro), and clinical research, for development of biological markers, bio-products, as well as causal determinants (genetic and environmental) of endemic and highly prevalent diseases in the regions of the Brazilian semi-arid and Northeast. Our specific aim is to study and to develop markers and bio-products for use in preventing, diagnosis and treatment of diseases affecting the digestive and nervous systems, considered as highly prevalent in the Brazilian semi-arid. Diseases like infant diarrhea, malnutrition, cancer and gastric ulcers and their impact on weight and children's cognitive development will be targeted for research in this Institute. To achieve these goals, we conducted to date four (4) meetings of the Core Manager Committee, whose main discussed topics and agreed decisions are described below.

The inaugural meeting of the IBISAB’s Core Manager Committee was performed on 06/Mar/2009 in Fortaleza with the presence of the following members: Aldo A.M. Lima, Armenian Santos, Lucia Libanez, Dulciene Queiroz, Otoni C. Valle, Reinaldo B. Oriá, Pedro Magalhães, Gerly A.C. Brito, Francisco Gondim and Noelia L. Lima. The general coordinator, Aldo Lima introduced the Core Manager Committee and assigned the coordinators for each thematic, and summarized the main topics of the research plan. On the occasion, Prof. Pedro Magalhaes received the position of supervisor/constructor of an internet home page for the IBISAB, task that was shared with Mr. Francisco Sousa Junior, a member of the Safety Data Management team of the IBISAB. Moreover, the annual meeting agenda for the Core Manager Committee was decided, which was scheduled to the first Wednesday of the each month, in every two month period. Prof. Armenio informed details about a recent meeting that occurred in Brasilia with the presence of Prof. Luiz Antonio Barreto de Castro from the Secretary of Programs and Policies for Research and Development, of the Ministry of Science and Technology, along with representatives of the other National Institutes (INCTs), dedicated to biomedical research in the country. In this meeting, the INCTs were invited to form the network called SIBRATEC. The secretary requested a list of possible processes and/or drugs that could be developed by the INCTs, since that would be of interest to companies and industries operating in Brazil. Participants were informed that available productivity of each researcher should be incorporated in the IBISAB’s annual report. Research group demands should be outlined by each thematic coordinator in order to build a list of priorities to be further established by the steering committee. Prof. Dulciene suggested that those with greater access to scholarship funding from other agencies should withdraw, as much as possible, to prevent further use of the IBISAB budget, thus making possible the project implementation, as it was designed.

In another meeting held on April 23, 2009, the following attendees were: Aldo A.M. Lima, Armenio Santos, Lucia Libanez, Vietla Rao, Flávia Santos, Reinaldo B. Oriá, Pedro Magalhães, Gerly A.C. Brito, Ronaldo Ribeiro and Marcellus Souza. The meeting consisted of the following topics: i) Spreadsheet reports to predict budget expenditure on equipment and funding available for each core thematic, complying with 20% tax cut according to CNPq approved budget; ii) Laboratory Management for multi-users; iii) Personnel Training in the Multi-user laboratories; iv) Establishment of monthly research seminars at the School of Medicine INCT and v) News of the Ministry of Science and Technology INCT reports.

On the next meeting held on January 20, 2010, the following attendees were: Aldo A.M. Lima, Armenio Santos, Lucia Libanez and Pedro Magalhaes. The general coordinator, Aldo Lima, reported an "e-mail” received from CNPq requiring annual INCT reporting. Research productivity such as articles and patents should be listed by each thematic. Dr. Aldo Lima presented predicted expenditures by INCT-IBISAB each thematic and also balance sheets and expenditures of the first year. Dr. Aldo informed about the 14th Tropical Medicine Research Center (TMRC) Meeting held during March, 4-6th, 2010 in Fortaleza and agreed with event opening to all IBISAB thematic groups. Another discussed issue was the IBISAB available scholarship funding, and Dr. Aldo Lima suggested the release of position announcement for scholarships. Dr. Aldo Lima’s suggestion was accepted and each thematic was to receive a post-doctoral fellowship as well as one technician stipend. Positions are to be selected according to curricula analysis and technical background. It was established that Prof. Armenio Aguiar along with thematic coordinators should prepare an announcement draft to be forecast nationally, and to perform the selection process.

On the last meeting held on April 26, 2010 were present: Aldo A.M. Lima, Reinaldo B. Oriá, Pedro Magalhães, Armenio Santos, Alberto Melo and Lucia Libanez. The preliminary version of the IBISAB first report was presented, soon to be sent to the CNPq. In this report version was evident the relevant scientific production of the IBISAB-born groups. Group research development was evaluated in terms of scientific production, training of human resources, knowledge and technology transfer (markers, bio-products and patents) and education and scientific divulgation. Additionally, several changes in the IBISAB membership research team were approved, such as the inclusion of the new members Prof. Antonio Aldo Melo Filho (thematic IV) and Dra. Flávia Almeida Santos (thematic II). Thematic III coordination change was approved having now Prof. Reinaldo B. Oriá, due to the former coordinator, Prof. Carlos Maurício de Castro Costa, decease. Moreover, due to recent emigration for USA, Professor Francisco A.A. Gondim and Dr. Gisele Ramos de Oliveira were excluded from the Thematic III. Prof. Armenio Santos reported the outlined the IBISAB announcement for fellow positions, which after being approved by the steering committee will be disclosed as early as in May, 2010. Finally, the coordinator Aldo Lima launched the idea of hosting the next IBISAB symposium, including guests from abroad, tentatively scheduled for March, 17-19th, 2011.