Direct from the COVID-19 crisis: research and innovation sparks in Brazil

Abstract

Background The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has spread throughout more than 160 countries, infecting millions of people worldwide. To address this health emergency, countries have organized the flow of production and innovation to reduce the impact on health. This article shows the response of the Brazilian scientific community to meet the urgent needs of the public unified health system [SUS], aiming to guarantee universal access to an estimated population of 211 million. By December 2020, Brazil had recorded more than six million cases and approximately 175,000 deaths. Methods We collected data on research, development and innovation projects carried out by 114 public universities (plus Oswaldo Cruz Foundation [Fiocruz] and Butantan Institute), as reported on their websites. Additionally, we examined the studies on COVID-19 approved by the National Comission for Research Ethics, as well as those reported on the Ministry of Education website as of May 15, 2020. Results The 789 identified projects were classified according to research categories as follows: development and innovation (n = 280), other types of projects (n = 226), epidemiologic research (n = 211), and basic research on disease mechanisms (n = 72). Most proposals focused on the development and innovation of personal protective equipment, medical devices, diagnostic tests, medicines and vaccines, which were rapidly identified as research priorities by the scientific community. Some promising results have been observed from phase III vaccine trials, one of which is conducted in partnership with Oxford University and another of which is performed with Sinovac Biotech. Both trials involve thousands of volunteers in their Brazilian arms and include technology transfer agreements with Fiocruz and the Butantan Institute, respectively. These vaccines proved to be safe and effective and were immediately licensed for emergency use. The provision of doses for the public health system, and vaccination, started on January 17, 2021. Conclusions The mobilized Brazilian scientific community has generated comprehensive research, development and innovation proposals to meet the most urgent needs. It is important to emphasize that this response was only possible due to decades of investment in research, development and innovation in Brazil. We need to reinforce and protect the Brazilian science, technology and innovation system from austerity policies that disregard health and knowledge as crucial investments for Brazilian society, in line with the constitutional right of universal health access and universal health coverage.

Sunlight and SARS-CoV-2: A Case of Clinical Insignificancy

“…Recent experiences and evidence seem to cast doubt on the proposed theory. For instance, Brazil is located at a similar latitude and has a tropical climate quite similar to Indonesia (used as an example of positive effects in the higher duration of direct exposure to sunlight)., where is experiencing a serious crisis of COVID-19 cases and deaths [4]. Moreover, although some of the results are statistically significant in favor of a positive effect, the most important features in clinical decisionmaking and the implementation of a treatment method are clinical significance and clinical applicability, both of which do not seem to exist in this case [5].…”

Ciência e SUS no cotidiano: reflexões sobre a cobertura midiática durante a pandemia da COVID-19 no Brasil

“…Como exemplo dessa exposição da ciência na mídia, temos estudos que analisaram como a mobilização da comunidade científica brasileira para atender às necessidades mais urgentes da COVID-19, resultou em projetos de PD&I 19,20 . As iniciativas, que em geral não contavam com SciELO Preprints -Este documento é um preprint e sua situação atual está disponível em: https://doi.org/10.1590/SciELOPreprints.2309…”

“…Powered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org) financiamentos novos, tiveram efeitos práticos na mitigação dos efeitos da pandemia e alguma repercussão midiática 21,22 . É importante enfatizar que a resposta das universidades só foi possível devido a décadas de investimento na criação de um verdadeiro patrimônio nacional, representado pelas universidades públicas e institutos de pesquisa como a Fiocruz e o Butantã, com equipes compostas por funcionários públicos qualificados 19 . Mesmo com verbas para pesquisa em franco declínio após 2015, a capacidade instalada foi posta em marcha, numa velocidade surpreendente, registrando-se quase 800 projetos de PD&I até 15 de maio de 2020.…”

“…Mesmo com verbas para pesquisa em franco declínio após 2015, a capacidade instalada foi posta em marcha, numa velocidade surpreendente, registrando-se quase 800 projetos de PD&I até 15 de maio de 2020. Os autores reforçam a necessidade de proteger o sistema brasileiro de ciência, tecnologia e inovação de políticas de austeridade, que minimizam a importância da saúde e o conhecimento como investimentos fundamentais para a sociedade brasileira 19 .…”

Brazilian Universities – Problems, COVID-19 & Efforts

“…The interaction of universities, industries and governments is essential. In the absence of this linkage in Brazil, it is virtually impossible to perform translational research, that is, to take the results from the bench to the bedside, and from there to the healthcare system (Rosa, da Silva, Pacheco, C. et al, 2021 In Brazil, fewer than a quarter of all students dedicated three hours or more a day to school activities in September, a study by several nongovernmental organizations showed. Almost 5 percent of students in primary school and more than 10 percent of high school students reported in January that they had dropped out of school (Human Rights Watch, 2021).…”