New international award recognises Brazilian research

Arquivo: EBC

An unprecedented study by Brazilian neuroscientist Stevens Rehen was one of the laureates of the first International Fiocruz-Servier Award. A researcher at the Instituto D'Or de Pesquisa and a professor at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rehen identified the presence of the Zika Virus in the development of microcephaly in infants, whose mothers were infected during pregnancy. The award ceremony took place on 12 July in Rio de Janeiro.

During the event, the researcher explained the work done by him and his team. "Cells were withdrawn from the urine of volunteers and we had them return to the stage of embryonic stem cells, that is, a stage where they have the potential to transform into any cell type. Then, we instructed these cells to become brain cells." The study provided clues as to how brains develop. When infected with the virus, the "mini-brains" have their growth compromised.

The new award in neuroscience is the result of a cooperation agreement between the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz) and French pharmaceutical group Servier. The two categories chosen for this first edition were "neuroscience and zika virus infections" and "neuroscience and neurodevelopmental disorders".