Abstract
The National Institute of Translational Medicine (NITM) was created in 2008 with the purpose of establishing a national network of research centers with outstanding experience in the investigation of biomarkers and new therapeutic targets and molecules in neuropsychiatric disorders, acting in the strategic area of Health and Medicines defined by the Federal Government. In the base of all activities of the NITM, translational research aims to streamline the application of findings from basic research in clinical settings and offers important possibilities for Brazil to develop its potential to generate innovation from its academic production. Surpassing its original goals, the groups of the NITM published more than 600 articles in international journals and 9 patent applications. In qualitative terms, the NITM produced important findings regarding the role of neurotrophins (particularly BNDF, Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor) and of new drugs as cannabidiol (CBD) and sodium nitroprusside (SNP) in the context of neuropsychiatric disorders. The institute also had a significant performance in the training and improvement of human resources, with the exchange of researchers among national and international research centers and the defense of many doctoral theses and master’s dissertations, in addition to fostering the transfer of scientific knowledge to the community and the productive sector and favoring the insertion of national groups in the international context of world-class research. In its current proposal, with a group formed by around 90 PhDs distributed over 8 research centers in South, Southeast and Northeast Brazil, the NITM will act in all the areas mentioned above, especially the investigation on promising molecules for the treatment of neuropsychiatric symptoms and disorders (CBD, SNP, ayahuasca, N-acetylcysteine, among others) in the effort to increase the productivity and representativeness of Brazilian research through the production of knowledge and innovation with potential to yield dividends for the country and member institutions of the NITM. (AU)
| Articles published in Agência FAPESP Newsletter about the research grant |
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