Annual Report 2009

Beginning in April 2009, the process of effective structuration of the project in its totality was initiated, leading to the release of appropriations of capital and payments, from CNPq and FAPESP for the Subprograms. At the end of October, a secretariat was installed with its own office space, furnishings, and telephone line. The institutional website www.incttox.com.br, as well as the virtual environment of learning, SCIENCE NETWORK www.cienciaemrede.com.br , was launched, constituting tools of internal communication and instruments of mediation between non-specialists and the scientific community.

In response to the call for proposals by CT-INFRA-FINEP 2009, the Coordinator prepared the SUBPROJECT 1: MULTIUSER EQUIPMENT, sent by the Butantan Institute. This consists of the purchase of three instruments important for the development of projects of INCTTOX and which could not be included due to the 20% cut in the CNPq-FAPESP allotment.

The equipment requested from FINEP and destined for the SUBPROGRAM PHYSIOPATHOLOGY, under the coordination of Drs. Yara Cury and Paulo Sergio Beirão, were only a system for conditioning animals, consisting of plates with sensor systems, of high sensitivity, to measure acute and chronic inflammatory processes, and for studies on the actions of antinociceptive substances. For the SUBPROGRAM BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY, under the coordination of Drs. Ana Marisa Tavassi, Paulo Lee Ho and Jonas Perales, it was proposed to acquire an intravital microscope which would contribute to analyses of the mechanisms of action of pro- and anti-inflammatory, pro- and anticoagulant, pro- and anti-angiogenic molecules and those of true therapeutic potential. Furthermore, there was a proposalto purchase a broad use imaging system, which would be applied in the documentation of protein gels (SDS-PAGE), DNA/RNA gels, Western blots revealed by chemiluminescence, fluorimetry or colorimetry, as well as in in vivo images of bacteria colonizing hosts, semi-solid medium plates, progression of tumors and action of toxins. In the case of in vivo studies, it is possible to observe how toxins work, penetrate and are distributed in animals, and how antisera can affect the distribution and action of toxins. In the area of vaccines, the use of instrumentation of this caliber is even more evident. One can observe the dynamics of infection and how interventions can perturb this dynamics in a positive way for the host. It is possible to observe the progression of tumors and how possible therapeutic measures disrupt their progression and dynamics. Thus, not only INCTTOX, but other areas of the Institute will be able to benefit from instrumentation of this nature. Finally, to complement the SUBPROGRAM IMMUNOLOGY, under the coordination of Drs. Denise V. Tambourgi and Wilmar Dias da Silva, the only instrumentation, but of great value, which would also serve the needs of other projects of the Institute, involves the purchase of a SORVALL Cytospin refrigerated centrifuge. The SUBPROJECT 1, approved in whole by FINEP, was budgeted at a total of U$ 272,800 or EU$ 67,261.

In July 2009, the first meeting of the Managers took place, with the presence of Denise Vilarinho Tambourgi, Jonas Perales, Maria Elena of Lima Perez Garcia and Paulo Lee Ho. This meeting with the Coordinator was about the project as a whole, including the distribution of appropriations and definitions of periodic meetings, locations and objectives. Further, the performance of the coordinations was evaluated in the progress of the Subprograms, and new participants were redefined and approved. The subjects considered included the realization of the event on November 30, 2009 and December 1, 2009, for the presentation of the progress of the project and results obtained in the first year of the functioning of the INCT, for each of the subprograms, considering the structuration of the report. This, in fact, occurred with the participation of 76 investigators and students in scientific initiation, masters, doctorate and post-doctoral programs, with presentations by the Coordinators of the Subprograms and three expositions by investigators and post-graduate fellows of each of these.

The Coordinator proposed and defined partnerships with three other INCTs:

• Institute National of Science and Technology of Structural Biotechnology and Medicinal Chemistry in Infectious Diseases [INBEQMEDI] – Coordinated by Prof. Glaucius Oliva
• National Institute of Science and Technology of Investigation in Immunology [III] – Coordinated by Prof. Jorge Kalil
• National Institute of Science and Technology for Translational Research in Health and Environment in the Amazon Region [IMPETAm] – Coordinated by Prof. George dos Reis

In December 2009, on the occasion of the XI Annual Scientific Meeting of the Butantan Institute, a Round Table was held about our INCTs, including Glaucius Oliva and Jorge Kalil; unfortunately, Dr. George dos Reis did not attend. At the end, as suggested by Dr. Denise V. Tambourgi and accepted by Dr. Oliva, it was decided to plan a meeting in 2010, of Postgraduates/Postdoctoral of INCTTOX and INBEQMEDI.

During this period, the Coordinator was present at different meetings concerning subjects of interest to the INCTTOX, and attended some gatherings to describe the Project:

1. Launch of the book ANIMAL TOXINS, which received support from INCTTOX for its distribution – August 7, 2009 – Belo Horizonte;
2. Lecture on the National Institute of Science and Technology in toxins at the XXIV Annual FESBE Meeting – August 23, 2009 – Águas de Lindóia;
3. Coordination of the Round Table TOXINS AND IMMUNITY at the Congress of the Brazilian Society of Immunology – September 23 to 26, 2009 – Lecturers: Dr. Yara Cury [SP/BA/SP], Dr. Jonas Perales [RJ/BA/SP], Dr. Carlos Chavez Olórtegui [MG/BA/MG], Dr. Osvaldo Augusto Sant’Anna [SP/BA/SP];
4. Lecture TOXINS AND IRREVERSIBILITY OF THE IMMUNE SYSTEM – Foundation of Institute of Advanced Hub for Health of Ribeirão Preto [FIPASE] – November 11 to 13, 2009.

Prof. Guilherme Ary Plonski agreed with the idea of Dr. Osvaldo Augusto Sant’Anna for the theme to be developed in the Doctorate thesis of Cely Ades, student in the Post-Graduation Program of the Faculty of Economics, USP: THE CREATION OF RESEARCH UNITS IN BRAZIL. This original study, which was well-received and supported by Prof. Ana Lucia Assad, Head of the Advisory for National Cooperation of the CNPq, from the development of INCTTOX, is based on the idea of developing a new model of management. In this context, the intention was the creation and eventual organization of RESEARCH UNIT, applicable for any other research institution in Brazil. Needed for this are innovation management practices that consider the culture, structure, resources – human as well as technological and financial, vision of market, development of analytical instruments, utilization of proficiencies, and efficient internal and external communication, as well as processes of patents, publications, commercialization of technologies or potentiate the image of the Institute.

Despite the focus being the development of the Research Unit with regard to INCTTOX, the approaches applied in this context can be used in other focuses of public/private interest. The unpublished work of this research is evident by the fact of not having models of Science and Technology Institutios [STI] practiced in Brazil; it is about an opportune project, provided that in the last 10 years, R & D became a priority of the State. Moreover, the constant transformation of the political, legal, cultural and technological environment stimulates the elaboration of the model in question. Thus, this project will be directed by Professors Guilherme Ary Plonsky of FEA-USP and Osvaldo Augusto Sant’Anna, Coordinator of this INCTTOX.

Aimed at the public in general, an audiovisual was prepared on TOXINS. This video shows different social players, filmed in the streets and on the USP campus in the city of São Paulo [students and professionals, among others], and their perceptions on the theme, respecting their different opinions. Besides, the video provides a reflection on science/technology/society relations [Drs. Ana Marisa Chudzinski-Tavassi and Osvaldo Augusto Sant’Anna] with respect to the process of innovation in the production of biopharmaceuticals. In the “extras” are presented the presuppositions of INCTTOX, by means of the Manifest written by their coordinator, as well as an institutional video, containing objectives, institutions and structure of this INCT. Copies of this video will be sent to CNPq, FAPESP, CAPES and FINEP, Institutions that integrate this Project, partners, College of Application of USP, etc. Two other videos are being programmed under the themes, TOXINS: UNDERSTANDING OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF BIOPHARMACEUTICALS AND TOXINS: UNDERSTANDING THERAPY.