News
From the laboratory to clinical practice
At the 1st São Paulo School of Translational Science, organized by the A. C. Camargo Hospital, where it will be held (April 19-30), professors from various countries will discuss, from the standpoint of translational medicine, themes such as genomics, drug development, immunology, neuroscience and cancer (photo: A.C.Camargo)
By Fábio de Castro
Agência FAPESP – For two weeks in April, 100 graduate students, doctoral students and young investigators will have the opportunity to interact with and learn from some of the leading specialists in the field of translational medicine – a branch of medical research aimed at establishing a direct connection between scientific investigation and the treatment of patients.
The course, designated the 1st São Paulo School of Translational Science, has been organized by the A. C. Camargo Hospital, where it will be held (April 19-30). At the event, approximately 40 professors from various countries will discuss, from the standpoint of translational medicine, themes such as genomics, drug development, immunology, neuroscience and cancer. Registration is open to graduate and doctoral students in Brazil and abroad. Interested parties can register online until the 7th of March.
This will be the first event supported by the Escola São Paulo de Ciência Avançada (São Paulo School of Advanced Science), a FAPESP funding mechanism introduced in October of 2009. To date, six proposals have been approved for funding, and the April event is the culmination of one such proposal, submitted on behalf of the A. C. Camargo Hospital, which is one of the FAPESP Centros de Pesquisa, Inovação e Difusão (CEPIDs, Centers for Research, Innovation and Dissemination).
The aim of the São Paulo School of Advanced Science is to create opportunities for scientists in the state of São Paulo to organize courses in collaboration with specialists from all over the world, thereby attracting young students or postdoctoral fellows from other countries and regions. The objective is to expose local students and researchers to new perspectives, thus fostering debate on topics related to advanced science.
Lecturers from more than 20 of the principal universities in the United States, Canada, France, Italy, Sweden, Portugal, Argentina and Brazil have been invited to speak at the event. Emmanuel Dias Neto, researcher at the A. C. Camargo Hospital Research Center and coordinator of the event, told FAPESP News, going on to say that “There will also be interaction between the Brazilian students and those from abroad, since we plan to select 50 participants from within Brazil and 50 from other countries.”
One of the primary objectives of the initiative is the create a forum to promote international collaboration among groups of scientists. “This interaction is fundamental to our quest for a major advance in research throughout Brazil,” said Dias Neto.
Participating students will receive grants and financial aid to cover expenses related to travel, housing and food. In addition, course attendees will garner college credits applicable at institutions recognized by the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES, Coordination of the Advancement of Higher Education), the accrediting body of the Brazilian Ministry of Education.
“In Brazil, the A. C. Camargo Hospital is the only private facility that could host this course, because CAPES has given its graduate program a rating of 7. This will make it possible for the participants to apply the credits to other graduate programs in which they are enrolled,” explained Dias Neto. The 96-hour course should be worth 10-12 college credits.
The involvement of the hospital clinical staff in the research also facilitated the organization of the course. “Since we are within a treatment facility, we cannot lose sight of the fact that basic science can lead to advances in human health. Translational science is founded on the concept of building bridges between basic science and clinical application. Therefore, we had no great difficulty in enlisting the participation of internationally renowned experts in translational science,” Dias Neto stated.
A diverse array of lecturers will address current themes. One of the lecturers will be Radoje Drmanac, of the company Complete Genomics, headquartered in the United States (in the state of California). In the first January issue of the Journal Science, Dr. Drmanac was the principal author of an article describing a novel process through which the complete human genome can be sequenced for approximately US$ 4,000. In comparison, the first sequencing of the human genome cost approximately US$ 15 billion.
According to Dias Neto, Dr. Drmanac will speak on the use of genomics as a tool for tailoring treatment to individual patients, based on their specific genetic profiles. “He will also address the project to sequence one million genomes, which has been made possible due to the reduction in the cost of the sequencing process”, said Dias Neto.
Varied themes
The topic of drug development will be addressed by a number of lecturers, including two Brazilian researchers – Renata Pasqualini and Wadih Arap – who are currently working at the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center of the University of Texas.
“Their research has led to the development of drugs to treat prostate cancer, and those drugs are now in clinical testing. They [Pasqualini and Arap] will also describe another drug that works on the same principles but is aimed at combating obesity,” said Dias Neto.
Another lecturer, Randy Seeley, of the United States National Human Genome Research Institute, will also speak on the theme of obesity, from the standpoint of its relationship to the central nervous system. According to Dias Neto, Dr. Seeley studies how the gastrointestinal tract is linked to the central nervous system and how this affects the development of diabetes and obesity.
One highlight of the event will be a lecture by Carlo Crocce, of Ohio State University, who specializes in cancer research. “Dr. Crocce is an eminent scientist who has published more than 800 articles. He will speak on the structural genomic alterations involved in leukemia, as well as on the small molecules known as microRNAs, which play a fundamental role in the control of various diseases,” said Dias Neto.
At least one full afternoon will be dedicated to a discussion of structural genomic alterations. “Several researchers will address topics such as the control of metastasis, cell proliferation, cell adhesion and tumor antigens. These are important themes for cancer diagnosis, as well as for the eventual development of new cancer treatments,” Dias Neto stated.
Although cancer-related research is the primary focus of the A. C. Camargo Hospital, the 1st São Paulo School of Translational Science will cover a wide range of themes. For example, two full days will be devoted to the discussion of topics related to neuroscience. According to Dias Neto, neuroscience is an important field, and there are many research groups in Brazil that are producing quality research in this area.
Dias Neto explained, “Our starting point is the ever more widely accepted concept that the individual is a complex system of interactions. Therefore, a given molecule often has more than one effect. A prime example is the prion, which regulates processes related to cancer, as well as processes related to neurological disorders.”
Further information regarding the 1st São Paulo School of Translational Science, together with the list of lecturers and the registration form, can be found at www.schoolscienceaccamargo.org.br.
Media Contacts
Fernando Cunha, FAPESP (www.fapesp.br) (+55) 11 3838-4151
São Paulo Research Foundation – FAPESP – is an independent public foundation with the mission to foster research and the scientific and technological development of the State of São Paulo, Brazil. This is achieved through the support of research projects carried out in higher education and research institutions, in all fields of knowledge.