Capes invests in studies and research to face Covid-19

2,600 scholarships will be distributed over four years in actions and strategies to combat epidemics.

Nov 13, São Paulo: Brazil has been working to combat the coronavirus in several areas of activity. In addition to health, investments are being made in science, technology and innovation and also in technological and academic research.

The Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (Capes) has a Program to Combat Epidemics. "It is a set of actions to support research and training of human resources projects to face Covid-19 and, at the same time, study themes related to endemics and epidemics", emphasizes the president of Capes, Benedito Aguiar.

Also, read- Brazil decided to stop Coronavac clinical trials was technical

The program has two dimensions: Immediate Emergency Strategic Actions and Induced Strategic Emergency Actions in Specific Areas. Capes' president explained that the program, launched in April 2020, will have an investment of R $ 200 million over four years.

“2,600 scholarships will be distributed in different areas of knowledge. And this program is structured in two dimensions: one of the immediate strategic actions through which we allocate scholarships directly to graduate programs, those programs that already worked directly or indirectly, in areas related to Covid-19. And then we launched three calls for tenders specific to the current context ", explains Aguiar.

Publications

Capes' initiative leaves Brazil among the countries with the most publications on the topic. There are 4,029 studies, occupying the 11th place on the world list. According to Capes, the leading publications on the subject are the United States, with 34,129, China (15,990) and the United Kingdom (14,724). Among the Brazilian institutions, the first place is the University of São Paulo (USP), with 729, followed by the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz), which accounts for 261, and the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), 237.

Also, read- Brazil decided to stop Coronavac clinical trials was technical

Public Notices

The preparation of the three calls for proposals involved about 1,300 researchers from all over the country in 42 different institutions of higher education and research institute. “We had a very large mobilization by the scientific community to meet the demands placed above all in these three notices”, says Benedito Aguiar.

"Our assessment so far is that we are making great progress in the scientific and technological development of preventing and combating Covid-19, with the very large participation of our researchers spread across the country," he adds.

Also, read- Brazil decided to stop Coronavac clinical trials was technical

Notice 1 - on epidemics

The objective is to support research and training projects for highly qualified human resources, in post-graduate programs, aimed at facing Covid-19 and on topics related to typical endemics and epidemics in the country.

“The first call for proposals was aimed at general studies, epidemiological maps, the main vectors related to the epidemic involving areas of knowledge not only of health but also of bioengineering, of bioinformatics. A multidisciplinary notice ”, signals Aguiar.

Notice 2 - drugs and immunology

It supports scientific and technological research projects and the formation of highly qualified human resources, focused exclusively on combating Covid-19, with a focus on the study of drugs, vaccines, immunological products and related topics.

Also, read- Brazil decided to stop Coronavac clinical trials was technical

Notice 3 - Telemedicine and medical data analysis

With the objective of promoting scientific and technological development and innovations, the third call for proposals is focused on procedures and technological innovations in telemedicine and analysis of medical data that help confront Covid-19 and related topics.

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