Research Lines

Researchers: Denise Utsch Gonçalves, Dirceu Bartolomeu Greco, Manoel Otávio da Costa Rocha, Unaí Tupinambás

Summary: In this research line we propose the study of the parameters associated with ethics and medical education regarding the health care, teaching and researches involving human subjects. Bioethics is the ethics applied to life and it covers topics ranging from a simple interpersonal relationship to the factors affecting the survival of the planet and human race. In medicine, regarding the numerous events and facts that threaten life and human dignity, it is increasingly evident that a technical training with isolated disciplines and without communication between them will not solve the dilemmas that are presented to all human beings. Thus, reflections on human sciences, health and bioethics are necessary for an integral formation of the people, searching for critical, sensitive and creative professionals. Such perspectives are necessary in all areas of knowledge and become indispensable when it comes to medical training.

Researchers: Antônio Lúcio Teixeira Júnior, Antônio Luiz Pinho Ribeiro, Fernando Antônio Botoni, José Roberto Lambertucci, Manoel Otávio da Costa Rocha, Maria do Carmo Pereira Nunes, Ricardo Toshio Fujiwara.

Summary: Tropical cardiology is the study of cardiovascular diseases that occur in tropical developing countries, encompassing typical infectious and endemic diseases with impact on the cardiovascular system, as well as characteristic aspects of epidemiology and clinical of these diseases. In this research line we propose the study of rheumatic valve diseases, infective endocarditis, cardiovascular manifestations of schistosomiasis, and others; as well as the use of telehealth tools for the assistance of populations living in remote areas, besides of the organization of cardiac health care centers in developing countries.

Researchers: Enio Roberto Pietra Pedroso, José Roberto Lambertucci, Manoel Otávio da Costa Rocha, Mauro Martins Teixeira, Ricardo Amorim Corrêa, Silvana Spíndola, Vandack Alencar Nobre Júnior.

Summary: In this research line we propose the systematic study of the pathogenesis, pathophysiology, clinical manifestations, diagnosis and treatment of infectious diseases prevalent in our country. This line also involves the evaluation of diagnostic biomarkers, as well as the treatment and post-therapeutic follow-up of patients affected by infectious and tropical diseases.

Researchers: Antônio Lúcio Teixeira Júnior, Antônio Luiz Pinho Ribeiro, Fabiana Simão Machado, Fernando Antônio Botoni, Juliana de Assis Silva Gomes Estanislau, Manoel Otávio da Costa Rocha, Maria do Carmo Pereira Nunes, Ricardo Toshio Fujiwara.

Summary: Chagas disease is an important public health problem in Latin America, being closely associated with social and economic impacts in developing countries. In this research line we propose the systematic and prospective cross-sectional study on Chagas disease, in order to evaluate determinants of morbidity, prognosis and treatment influence, actively contributing to the definition of various pathophysiological, clinical, diagnostic and therapeutic aspects of this important disease.

Researchers: Antônio Luiz Pinho Ribeiro, José Roberto Lambertucci, Manoel Otávio da Costa Rocha, Mariângela Carneiro, Regina Lunardi Rocha, Renato Camargos Couto.

Summary: In this research line we propose the development of projects for the evaluation of risk factors related to the establishment of the prognosis of different diseases of our environment, such as schistosomiasis, Chagas disease, leprosy, leishmaniasis, among others; as well as the evaluation of intervention programs in the health care area, in clinical trials and factors related to the process of urbanization of infectious diseases previously considered zoonotic.

Researchers: Antônio Luiz Pinho Ribeiro, José Roberto Lambertucci, Manoel Otávio da Costa Rocha, Mariângela Carneiro, Regina Lunardi Rocha, Renato Camargos Couto.

Summary: This research line proposes the development of projects that address issues relevant to the quality of health care, both in hospitals and outpatient, in the context of needs of developing countries, interfaced with health policy, epidemiology and science of implementation. Studies in this line include the epidemiology, clinical presentation, diagnosis and prevention of nosocomial infections and the rational use of antibiotics employing biomarkers to guide antimicrobial therapy and other strategies.

Researchers: Antônio Lúcio Teixeira Júnior, José Roberto Lambertucci, Mariângela Carneiro.

Summary: In this research line we propose to study the aspects of clinical presentation, diagnosis and treatment of schistosomiasis in its different clinical forms. As an example, the study of serum biomarkers of patients presenting hepato-splenic disease, which are employed for the definition of morbidity levels and for planning intervention strategies for diagnosis and individual follow-up of the affected patients.

Researchers: Antônio Lúcio Teixeira Júnior, Antônio Luiz Pinho Ribeiro, Daniel Menezes Souza, Eduardo Antonio Ferraz Coelho, Fabiana Simão Machado, Fernando Antônio Botoni, José Roberto Lambertucci, Juliana de Assis Gomes Estanislau, Manoel Otávio Costa Rocha, Mariana Costa Duarte, Mauro Martins Teixeira, Regina Lunardi Rocha, Ricardo Toshio Fujiwara, Vandack Alencar Nobre Júnior.

Summary: In this research line we propose the systematic study of the immunopathogenesis in infectious and parasitic diseases of interest in regional and national public health. From studies with patients and/or experimental models for infectious and parasitic diseases, this line aims to understand the immune mechanisms involved in the response to infections, and to identify potential biomarkers to be employed in the diagnosis and/or prognosis of diseases, as well as new targets to be used as vaccine candidates and/or to improve the diseases diagnostic conditions, such as visceral and cutaneous leishmaniasis, Chagas disease, among others.

Researchers: Antônio Lúcio Teixeira Júnior, Denise Utsch Gonçalves, Dirceu Bartolomeu Greco, Enio Roberto Pietra Pedroso, José Roberto Lambertucci, Manoel Otávio da Costa Rocha, Mauro Martins Teixeira, Unaí Tupinambás.

Summary: This research line proposes to study the infections caused by virus, such as HIV and HTLV-I/II and their various aspects such as epidemiology, natural history, pathogenesis, diagnosis, treatment and prophylaxis of diseases caused by these infectious agents. We have a cohort of more than three thousand HIV-infected patients and 500 individuals infected with HTLV-I/II that are accompanied since 1997 and which perform tests of lymphocytes immunophenotyping and viral load with frequency, among other activities under the supervision of the advisors researchers. There is also attention to other endemic and epidemic conditions, such as viral hepatitis and arboviruses transmitted by Aedes aegypti, like Dengue and Zika virus.

Researchers: Daniel Menezes Souza, Denise Utsch Gonçalves, Eduardo Antonio Ferraz Coelho, José Roberto Lambertucci, Manoel Otávio da Costa Rocha, Mariana Costa Duarte, Mariângela Carneiro, Regina Lunardi Rocha, Ricardo Toshio Fujiwara.

Summary: In this line we propose the clinical and experimental investigation of the pathogenic, anatomical and pathological, propaedeutic, therapeutic and prophylactic characteristics of cutaneous and visceral leishmaniasis. The Program researchers are involved in clinical trials in animal models and in humans for the assessment of the efficacy and safety of pharmacotherapy against the disease, aiming to develop new active but less toxic drugs. Also, it aims to investigate the immunological aspects related to new forms of laboratory diagnosis and of disease prevention with the development of vaccines against canine and human leishmaniasis.

Researchers: Antônio Lúcio Teixeira Júnior, Antônio Luiz Pinho Ribeiro, Enio Roberto Pietra Pedroso, Fernando Antônio Botoni, Mauro Martins Teixeira, Renato Carmargos Couto, Vandack Alencar Nobre Júnior.

Summary: In this research line we propose to perform the systematic study of clinical, evolution and forms of treatment of serious infectious processes that require intensive health care. The researchers also conduct studies in the intensive care area, with emphasis on problems associated with multiresistant bacteria, infections related to health care and infections in immunosuppressed patients. The use of antimicrobials, the respiratory dysfunctions observed in immunosuppressed patients and the cardiovascular conditions found in the intensive care units are also studied. Finally, there is interest in aspects related to the diagnosis through the use of biomarkers, as well as in the use of these molecules as tools for understanding the therapeutic response, besides the evaluation of the innate immune response in critically ill patients.

Researchers: Antônio Lúcio Teixeira Júnior, Denise Utsch Gonçalves, José Roberto Lambertucci, Juliana de Assis Gomes Estanislau, Manoel Otávio da Costa Rocha, Silvana Spíndola.

Summary: In this research line, it is proposed the study of infections caused by the main types of mycobacteria of interest in the human pathology, including an approach of clinical, laboratory diagnosis and treatment aspects of the diseases caused by them. Projects developed in this line aim to evaluate factors related to the control of diseases caused by these microorganisms, trying to understand the principles of pathogenicity, the pathophysiology, clinical and laboratory diagnosis, therapy, prevention and treatment; besides the bacterial strategies of evasion and survival in the mammalian hosts, and their pathogenicity mechanisms. There are also projects searching for perspectives to the control of diseases caused by such agents.

Researchers: Antônio Lucio Teixeira Júnior, Daniel Vitor de Vasconcelos Santos, Denise Utsch Gonçalves, Ricardo Toshio Fujiwara.

Summary: This research line proposes the study of the clinical and immunological aspects of eye diseases of infectious nature, especially the ocular toxoplasmosis and leprosy. Projects are developed to perform systematic studies of standardization of procedures and for reference health care of patients with eye diseases of infectious etiology, with emphasis on the pathogenesis, clinical manifestations, treatment and prevention of such diseases.

Researchers: Ênio Pietra Pedroso, Manoel Otávio da Costa Rocha.

Summary: This research line proposes the study of aspects related with the clinical presentation, pathophysiology, clinical and laboratory diagnosis, therapy, prevention and treatment of paracoccidioidomycosis and other systemic mycoses found in our environment.

Researchers: Antônio Luiz Pinho Ribeiro, Daniel Vitor de Vasconcelos Santos, Manoel Otávio da Costa Rocha.

Summary: In this research line we propose the development of projects aiming the use of communication tools of technological resources available in Brazil, through telemedicine and global healthcare, which have an enormous benefit potential for populations living in remote locations and devoid of resources. The use of these tools, such as distance education, tele-assistance and teleconference, would make it possible to offer a better quality of life for patients without such assistance, mainly those living in remote areas, thus allowing a higher cooperation and integration among the research groups, as well as the increase of collaborative activities between the different actors involved, fact considered essential in a country with continental dimensions like Brazil.