The Covid-19 pandemic in Brazil has exposed social inequalities and the ills of our society, bringing a scenario of uncertainty that requires unity in defense of the preservation of life.
Before the pandemic, there was already great contempt for science, scientific knowledge and universities. Actions by the current federal government have largely strengthened this trend when they attempt to interfere in the autonomy of our universities, violating a constitutional precept. We live with cuts in research grants for our students and cuts in research funding. Our president, with the support of business groups and leaders of neo-Pentecostal churches, questions the social isolation measures recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO), adopted by almost all countries and defends the use of medicines without scientific proof in the fight against Covid-19.
Using this strategy as a political instrument, we see several city halls adopting treatment protocols and distributing kits of medicines for use off-label, without supporting scientific evidence. It is a nightmare and a great irresponsibility, especially in the face of a society that is a victim of misinformation. Combating this practice of affront to public health is a duty and a challenge for the Public Ministry, given its responsibility in defending the rights of the population. However, it is also the duty of all of us scientists to protect the population from populist acts and decision-making without scientific basis.
Our position against untruths and in favor of enlightening the population becomes even more important at this moment given the growth in public perception about the importance of science. Society does not need those who deny science, pseudoscientists, but rather scientists to answer important questions about medicines, treatments, vaccines and questions that go far beyond areas directly related to health and that cover a wide spectrum that ranges from the sciences human, physical, technological.
Fortunately, the Brazilian population has the support of public universities and their university hospitals, colleges and Brazilian institutes and research centers to combat this pandemic. And it also counts on our weakened, but fantastic, Unified Health System (SUS), which has been saving thousands of lives and which needs to be valued and strengthened.
We have a huge task force of public universities and research institutes for the benefit of Brazilian society and in defense of all vulnerable people and populations in this country, which demonstrate and reaffirm our value, competence and our supportive stance when facing Covid-19 . Groups of students and teachers produced mechanical respirators, aprons, alcohol gel, glycerinated alcohol, antiseptics for surfaces and environments, masks and personal protective equipment for healthcare professionals.
Through the application of mathematical models, researchers in the sciences and humanities develop tools to monitor, in real time, the progress of the pandemic in several cities, also evaluating the economic and social impact of the disease. Other teams use artificial intelligence to predict growth curves and acceleration of Covid-19 in the country. Epidemiologists and virologists study and share data regarding the real spread of Covid-19. Together, these studies play a fundamental role in monitoring the progression of the pandemic and predicting scenarios, helping health professionals and public agents in making decisions regarding forms of treatment and isolation and social distancing measures.
Our researchers are also involved in the development of diagnostic tests, serological tests and tests based on the RT-PCR technique. In this aspect, there was also intense activity in structuring infrastructure and training professionals to carry out rapid tests to detect the presence of the virus.
Electrical impedance tomographs for monitoring oxygen distribution in the lungs of patients in intensive care who require artificial ventilation are being developed at our universities in partnership with startups (who were born in public universities).
Embrapa, a public research company, has provided guidance to farmers and ranchers on how to prevent the new coronavirus, ensuring their own health, that of their families and the population's supply. Embrapa is also providing statistical data and deploying its structure of equipment, products and personnel to help carry out laboratory tests to identify Covid-19.
Other important aspects of the disease have also been investigated by our researchers, such as the possibility of transmission of the virus through pregnancy, assessment of changes in smell and taste in infected patients and creation of severity markers in patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome. Other investigations involve analyzing the presence of Sars-CoV-2 in biological materials such as blood, saliva, urine, feces, both during the acute and convalescent phases of the infection, in addition to studies on Covid-19 in cancer patients , transplanted and with rheumatological disease (immunosuppressed). Brazilian scientists are also seeking to understand why people with diabetes are more susceptible to Covid-19, the role of coagulation in the disease and how the new coronavirus can infect human neurons.
Researchers from the Institute of Biomedical Sciences at the University of São Paulo (ICB-USP) isolated and cultivated Sars-CoV-2 in the laboratory, using samples obtained from the first two Brazilian patients diagnosed with the disease at Albert Einstein Hospital. The viruses were distributed to research groups and public and private clinical laboratories in the country, allowing them to expand their capacity to carry out diagnostic tests and begin studies on how the disease is caused and how it spreads.
The genome sequencing of the first Brazilian patient infected with Covid-19, extremely important for mapping mutations that may be related to the process of viral evolution and adaptability to hosts and the environment, was carried out by Brazilian researchers. Groups from the Adolfo Lutz Institute and the USP Institute of Tropical Medicine (public research and epidemiological surveillance laboratories), in collaboration with colleagues from the United Kingdom, sequenced the virus genome just 48 hours after the first case was detected in São Paulo. These groups continue to investigate possible mutations in Sars-CoV-2 and the existence of different strains circulating in the country.
Scientists are working on phenotypic screening for drug repositioning, in laboratories with a high level of biological safety. This study can contribute to the validation of targets and the development of new chemical entities to combat Sars-CoV-2 and other coronaviruses that may emerge in the future.
The Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz), the largest Brazilian science and technology institution in the health sector, which celebrated its 120 years in 2020, contributed to the production of kits diagnostics and will now contribute to the production of a possible first vaccine in Brazil in collaboration with the University of Oxford and the AstraZeneca laboratory. This vaccine will be tested at the Federal University of São Paulo, UNIFESP. Fiocruz also coordinates the study in Brazil solidarity, from the WHO, which investigates the repositioning of drugs and involves the participation of several hospitals in the country. In its institutional video, Fiocruz states: “You may not know it, but you carry the Fiocruz inside you". Pure truth. Fiocruz produces the majority of our vaccines and does fantastic work for Brazilian and South American health, being an international reference for research, teaching and innovation in the health area.
The Butantan Institute, a prominent biological research center, entered into a partnership with the Chinese pharmaceutical company Sinovac Biotec to test a vaccine against Covid-19. Coronavac will be tested on nine thousand volunteers starting in July at research centers that include USP, UNICAMP, UnB, UFMG and UFPR. If efficacy is confirmed, Butantan must receive technology transfer to produce the vaccine nationally. There are also several other examples of vaccine development research carried out in the country. Factors such as the effectiveness of the vaccine and the number of people to be vaccinated suggest that we may have partial immunization of the population. However, this immunization will play a crucial role both in substantially minimizing the number of contaminations, and being extremely useful so that we can once again think about conscious measures to make social isolation more flexible and relaxed. We will not end the infection, we will protect against the disease.
Brazilian universities are also investigating the effects of the pandemic from a social perspective and the living conditions of people and cities, evaluating the impact of social distancing, new forms of remote work and carrying out mappings on people's mobility. There are fronts that involve studies related to income generation, the impact of the new coronavirus on vulnerable populations, work safety strategies and the effect of teleworking and its psychological impacts.
Our scientists have also actively participated in actions to educate the general population. Inspiringly, professors, researchers, undergraduate and postgraduate students have volunteered to guide the population on dietary care, the use of masks and face shields, on the importance of maintaining physical activities and relaxation exercises, on how handling and cleaning food, the house and shopping, caring for pets, what to do if you experience symptoms of Covid-19 and what to do if a family member confirms the infection. Scientists and researchers from across the country are sharing data, research results, videos, classes and various materials published on social media with accurate and relevant information for society. Some universities have created community service channels with the aim of providing clarification on the procedures to be adopted to combat the new coronavirus. Other institutions created groups on social networks to provide information in the form of videos for deaf people, with translators and interpreters in Libras.
We are witnessing intense activity from scientists linked to the Brazilian Society for the Progress of Science (SBPC), the Brazilian Academy of Sciences (ABC), the National Academy of Medicine (ANM), the Academy of Sciences of the State of São Paulo (ACIESP), several scientific societies and initiatives such as Cientistas Engajados, in various social actions, organizing webinars to enlighten society on various aspects, from understanding the disease to strategies to combat the pandemic.
This work of enlightening the population is even more important because we face this devastating scenario of dissemination of fake news. In the fight against this complex network of spreading lies and hatred, we count on the intense and very welcome participation of scientific disseminators, enlightening society about the pandemic, the spread of viruses and warning about the risks of using medicines without proof of effectiveness and without robust scientific evidence in the treatment of Covid-19. These scientific communicators are scientists, some linked to universities and research institutes and were all trained in our public higher education institutions. In this fight, there is also an intense and valuable participation of several scientific journalists, showing that it is essential that we have more and more journalists with science training to help us in this enormous and difficult task of bringing correct information to the population and helping in the fight for public policies are based on solid scientific evidence.
But it is not only through actions related to the fight against Covid-19 that public universities contribute to society at this time. The Public University did not stop. We are maintaining our teaching activities at undergraduate and postgraduate levels remotely, as we have a responsibility to society, education and future generations. Administrative and research activities were also adapted to the form home office in order to respect social isolation measures and minimize the spread of the virus. We continue to participate in meetings now through different platforms online, adapted to the emergency imposed by the current reality, attending videoconferences and involved in teaching, culture and university extension activities, which constitute the tripod of the public university. We are at a time when we also need to discuss new guidelines for Brazilian education at all levels, from basic education.
It is also important to mention the many solidarity networks created by public universities to help with campaigns to collect food, clothing, hygiene and cleaning items, for distribution to the most vulnerable populations. And among so many actions, it is worth remembering the work of Brazilian public institutions and universities, combined with the voluntary work of some doctors and NGOs, in promoting actions to protect indigenous peoples who are in a highly vulnerable situation. Unfortunately, these actions still fall far short of what is necessary given the precarious situation of indigenous peoples such as the Yanomami and Xavantes, who face an even more serious situation, which is not limited to the spread of Covid-19, but who continue to face increasing invasions and land grabbing. of indigenous lands. There is no efficient supervision, there is no political will. Indigenous peoples have been alone in their struggle for 520 years, but the situation of abandonment has never been so critical.
Even with all this intense activity in Brazilian science, coordinated government actions are essential to raise awareness and educate the population to protect themselves and combat the spread of Covid-19 and new pandemics that are yet to come. In Brazil, we have never had coordinated government action, with strategies to combat Covid-19 and with transparency in information about the disease. The pandemic will certainly not be overcome with fake news, with promises of miraculous cures without scientific evidence to attest to their effectiveness nor with attacks on science and scientists and researchers. And we, scientists, need to produce quality science to provide the necessary response for society.
This text cites only a small portion of the production of universities and public research institutes in confronting this social crisis. However, it highlights the essential role of science in resolving this crisis and the importance of valuing universities and research institutes for the country's development, for the protection and security of the Brazilian people and for national sovereignty.
Scientists and researchers from universities and research institutions in the country need to be heard and supported to produce new knowledge about the most different aspects of science. We need a stable, continuous funding system and resources for research grants so that we can train the generation of researchers of the future. The Brazilian public university needs stability to be able to plan its actions, and advance in the construction of knowledge, creating future capacity to face situations like this. We need a state policy, continuous long-term funding, as a country needs time to build capacity and experience in scientific research to be able to face problems and challenges. But contrary to all reason and necessity, Brazilian science today has the lowest budget in the last 25 years and is suffering attacks from a government that hates science and scientists, that despises our universities and public research centers.
Brazilian universities and public institutions should be considered a source of pride for all Brazilians and at this absolutely unprecedented moment in our modern history, they are showing their value.
We see that in times of pandemic, trust in science increases and Covid-19 is showing that there is no safe world without science.
