Fapesp

FAPESP and the Sustainable Development Goals

News

Research funded by FAPESP aligned with the SDGs

News

Research funded by FAPESP aligned with the SDGs

Experts warn about the need for seeking novel treatments for parasitic worm diseases
SDG 3
Experts warn about the need for seeking novel treatments for parasitic worm diseases

Advanced drug discovery methods have led to advances in the search for treatments for some neglected tropical diseases, including leishmaniasis and Chagas, but research on schistosomiasis and other diseases caused by worms remains at an early stage, according to an article in Drug Discovery Today by Brazilian researchers.


Cancer: FAPESP-supported center extends mastery of technique involving genetically modified defense cells
SDG 3
Cancer: FAPESP-supported center extends mastery of technique involving genetically modified defense cells

Research that can increase Brazil’s access to CAR T-cell therapy, an increasingly important strategy for treating cancer, is under way at the University of São Paulo’s Center for Cell-Based Therapy (CTC) in Ribeirão Preto, and the Butantan Institute.


Peptide with anti-obesity action is successfully tested in animal trial
SDG 3
Peptide with anti-obesity action is successfully tested in animal trial

In mice fed a high-fat diet, the molecule mitigated weight gain while reducing insulin resistance and liver fattiness. An article describing the results of the study by researchers at the University of São Paulo and collaborators is published in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences.


Small temperature rise can be lethal for amphibian endemic to Cerrado, study shows
SDG 13
Small temperature rise can be lethal for amphibian endemic to Cerrado, study shows

In the laboratory, tadpoles of the species B. ibitiguara kept in water 3 °C warmer than the highest temperature recorded in their habitat were unable to complete metamorphosis, indicating a threat to the species from climate change.


How the pandemic and social distancing have changed our perception of time
SDG 3
How the pandemic and social distancing have changed our perception of time

Brazilian researchers surveyed 900 volunteers via an online platform for five months. Most reported feeling that time passed more slowly during home confinement in the early months of the pandemic, associating this perception with feelings of loneliness and a lack of positive experiences in the period.


Amazon+10 Initiative issues first call for proposals
SDG 11, SDG 13
Amazon+10 Initiative issues first call for proposals

FAPESP and 19 other research foundations will invest BRL 50 million in collaborative science projects aiming at sustainable development in the Amazon.


University of São Paulo researchers grow MPXV in Vero cells and distribute samples to other laboratories
SDG 3
University of São Paulo researchers grow MPXV in Vero cells and distribute samples to other laboratories

The material can be used for diagnostic testing, research on the evolution of the monkeypox virus, and development of novel treatments and vaccines.


New Zealand seeks to strengthen cooperation with São Paulo state in science and technology
SDG 17
New Zealand seeks to strengthen cooperation with São Paulo state in science and technology

A delegation from New Zealand led by Education Minister Chris Hipkins visited FAPESP to discuss new partnerships and areas of interest shared by the two countries.


Novel technique permits sequencing of monkeypox virus in only 18 hours
SDG 3
Novel technique permits sequencing of monkeypox virus in only 18 hours

A protocol developed by the Brazil-UK Center for Arbovirus Discovery, Diagnosis, Genomics and Epidemiology (CADDE) was used to analyze a sample from the first Brazilian patient with a confirmed diagnosis. The technology can also be used to detect unknown emerging viruses.


Physical exercise boosts beneficial cardiovascular effects of losartan in men with high blood pressure
SDG 3
Physical exercise boosts beneficial cardiovascular effects of losartan in men with high blood pressure

The finding comes from a clinical trial by researchers at the University of São Paulo who recruited 32 male volunteers and have now published the results in Clinical and Experimental Hypertension.


Novel sewage treatment system removes up to 70% of nitrogen that would otherwise be discarded into nature
SDG 6
Novel sewage treatment system removes up to 70% of nitrogen that would otherwise be discarded into nature

Brazilian researchers have designed a new low-cost anaerobic reactor that uses a bacterial biofilm on a sheet of polyurethane foam. The goal is to enable more wastewater treatment plants in Brazil to achieve nitrogen removal and reduce water body contamination.


Pesticide in widespread use in Brazil poses a grave threat to native bee species, study shows
SDG 15
Pesticide in widespread use in Brazil poses a grave threat to native bee species, study shows

Preliminary results of trials conducted by Brazilian scientists show that the existing regulatory framework based on a protocol referenced to the Western honeybee, Apis mellifera, is too Eurocentric and may not be sufficient to guarantee the protection of native bees, which are important pollinators.


Sharks near Miami have more accumulated fat than in better conserved areas, study shows
SDG 14
Sharks near Miami have more accumulated fat than in better conserved areas, study shows

Analysis of blood samples showed that sharks living near urban areas have a lower-quality diet than those living in wilderness areas. Dietary imbalances can impair important physiological processes, such as cardiovascular tone, inflammatory response and reproduction.


Molecule that combines three distinct technologies against most aggressive type of brain cancer is tested
SDG 3
Molecule that combines three distinct technologies against most aggressive type of brain cancer is tested

The approach combined nanotechnology, chemotherapy and monoclonal antibodies. It produced promising in vitro and in vivo results against glioblastoma multiforme.


International meeting discusses proposals for collaborative funding of research in the Amazon
SDG 13, SDG 17
International meeting discusses proposals for collaborative funding of research in the Amazon

The workshop was a side event to the Annual Meeting of the Global Research Council. The need to dialogue with and learn from traditional communities, especially Indigenous peoples, was emphasized in the discussions.


Lack or excess of amino acid methionine in diet can affect liver cells, study shows
SDG 3
Lack or excess of amino acid methionine in diet can affect liver cells, study shows

Research reveals the mechanisms whereby methionine-deficient and methionine-supplemented diets can alter gene expression and damage liver cells.


Low-cost 3D model is expected to accelerate research on neurological effects of COVID-19
SDG 3
Low-cost 3D model is expected to accelerate research on neurological effects of COVID-19

A bioink developed from mouse cells can be used in a 3D printer to create a model that more closely resembles the brain than conventional ones. Researchers at the Federal University of São Paulo also obtained an adapted version of SARS-CoV-2 capable of infecting neural cells from mice.


Physical activity should be encouraged during pregnancy, even for socially vulnerable women
SDG 3
Physical activity should be encouraged during pregnancy, even for socially vulnerable women

Researchers at the University of São Paulo analyzed data for a group of pregnant women in western Amazonia. The analysis pointed to a correlation between at least 150 minutes of physical activity per week and lower birth weight, with less risk of childhood obesity and diabetes.


Transcranial stimulation lowers blood pressure in patients with resistant hypertension, study shows
SDG 3
Transcranial stimulation lowers blood pressure in patients with resistant hypertension, study shows

The results of a clinical trial are reported by Brazilian researchers in Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine. According to the authors, if corroborated by more robust research, the findings indicate that the method can be used in emergency treatment of hypertensive crisis patients.


New Science for Development Centers will seek solutions to society’s problems
SDG 17
New Science for Development Centers will seek solutions to society’s problems

Universities, research institutions and agencies of the São Paulo State Government will join forces in 15 new centers announced during a ceremony held to celebrate FAPESP’s 60th anniversary. The centers will address problems in areas ranging from human and animal health to the energy transition and climate change.


Belo Monte reservoir has tripled local greenhouse gas emissions
SDG 13
Belo Monte reservoir has tripled local greenhouse gas emissions

Monitoring since 2011 shows that emission levels vary significantly from one part of the complex to another, making the standards used in environmental impact assessments and the carbon credit market unreliable.


Study reinforces importance of high-quality face coverings in schools
SDG 3
Study reinforces importance of high-quality face coverings in schools

Mathematic simulations showed that well-executed non-pharmacological measures reduce the spread of COVID-19 even in places with low vaccination coverage. According to the authors, however, up to 80% of the population could catch the disease if preventive protocols are abandoned.


Academia, civil society and government join forces in new center for nature-based solutions
SDG 11
Academia, civil society and government join forces in new center for nature-based solutions

Officially launched on May 18, BIOTA Synthesis is one of FAPESP’s new Science for Development Centers. In the next five years it will develop solutions to challenges relating to sustainable agriculture, water security and control of zoonotic diseases.


First database of multidrug-resistant bacterial genomes created in Brazil
SDG 3
First database of multidrug-resistant bacterial genomes created in Brazil

The open-access platform developed by researchers at the University of São Paulo offers access to strategic information on microorganisms classified by WHO as a “critical priority”. The aim is to contribute to the monitoring and control of bacteria that pose a great threat to human and animal health.


Waste from cocoa processing converted into raw material for cosmetics
SDG 12
Waste from cocoa processing converted into raw material for cosmetics

A startup supported by FAPESP has developed a face cream and body lotion based on cocoa juice, which is usually thrown away. The entrepreneur has been selected for the 2022 Leaders in Innovation Fellowships training program in the UK.


News about research projects funded by FAPESP and articulated with the SDGs: