Curtin University (Peth, Australia) and Cruzeiro do Sul University (Sao Paulo, Brazil): promoting collaborative research activities

• Grant number: 17/02236-2
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Visiting Researcher Grant - International
• Start date: June 11, 2017
• End date: July 10, 2017
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Physiology - Physiology of Organs and Systems
• Principal Investigator: Sandro Massao Hirabara
• Grantee: Sandro Massao Hirabara
• Visiting researcher: Philip Newsholme
• Visiting researcher institution: Curtin University, Australia
• Host Institution: Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde. Universidade Cruzeiro do Sul (UNICSUL). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The Prof. Dr. Philip Newsholme's visit will be important to discuss, direct, and strengthen actions for promoting collaborative academic-scientific activities among the research institutions of this proposal, as well as for contributing to the learning and establishment of new methodologies between Curtin University (Perth, Australia) and Brazilin research institutions from the Sao Paulo State: Institute of Physical Activity Sciences (ICAFE), Cruzeiro do Sul University (Sao Paulo, Brazil); Institute of Biomedical Sciences (ICB) and Pharmaceutical Sciences Faculty (FCF), University of Sao Paulo (USP, Sao Paulo, Brazil); and Dante Pazzanese Institute of Cardiology (IDPC, Sao Paulo, Brazil). Prof. Newsholme is Professor and Head of the School of Biomedical Sciences, Curtin University (Perth, Australia), having broad experience in the following areas: Biochemistry, Immunology, and Endocrinology, with emphasis in: a) Regulation in insulin secretion; b) Insulin action; c) Oxidative stress and diabetes; d) Amino acid metabolism; and e) Lipids and health. Brazilian researchers have been publishing scientific papers with Prof. Newsholme since 1986, what will facilitate the interaction and discussion of new projects and appointments. In addition to the discussion of the actual research projects, strategies for financial source, manuscript publication, research event organization, and student and professor exchanges will be analyzed and discussed. Results from our research groups concerning the effect of different metabolites (amino acids and fatty acids) and physical exercise will be explored. Our groups has been performed studies for the functional analysis in several cellular types, including skeletal muscle cells, leukocytes, adipocytes, hepatocytes, cardiac cells, and pancreatic beta cells, under physiological and pathological conditions. Results obtained by research groups will be presented and discussed, aiming to direct strategies to improve the impact and the conclusion of the of the projects. Elaboration of new collaborative projects will be also the focus of the Visiting Prof. Newsholme. The main academic-scientific activities during the Prof. Newsholme's visit include: a) Presentation and discussion of actual research projects from the different research groups; b) Participation in the post-graduate discipline "Seminars in the integrative health-disease process"; c) Opening Lecture at the "XXI Scientific Initiation Meeting" and "X Teaching Initiation Meeting" at Cruzeiro do Sul University; d) Discussion of strategies for the promotion of student and professor exchanges between Brazilian institutions and Curtin University; E) Elaboration of the review article: "Cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in the regulation of metabolism and inflammation in obesity and diabetes". (AU)