O I Seminário Anual Científico e Tecnológico de Bio-Manguinhos foi planejado para ser um hub para cientistas, empreendedores e empresas de biotecnologia para acelerar o desenvolvimento de soluções inovadoras para a saúde da população.
Confira os destaques do evento I Simpósio Internacional de Imunobiológicos
Download the proceedings of the event in PDF
A speech by the Minister of Health, José Agenor Álvares da Silva, and the signing of the government order that instituted the INOVACINA Project opened the event commemorating the 30th anniversary of Bio-Manguinhos: the I International Symposium on Immunobiologicals and Human Health, held from May 2nd to 4th in Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro. For three days, renowned specialists in research and production of immunobiologicals debated current themes that are important for human health.
After opening lectures by the President of Fiocruz, Paulo Buss, and the Director of Bio-Manguinhos, Akira Homma, respectively, the Debates addressed the development of vaccines against HIV, HPV and Malaria, and the role of domestic producers in developing countries.
The second day began with the theme Vaccinology? Past, present and future, presented by Dr Ciro de Quadros, President of the Albert Sabin Vaccine Institute (USA), and the debate focused on pneumococcal vaccines and their impact in the country. In the afternoon, the focus shifted to influenza, avian flu, and preparation for possible pandemics and their consequences.
Exactly 30 years after the Institute’s creation, on May 4th, round tables promoted the debate around technological advances in diagnostic reagents and biopharmaceuticals. By becoming the first national producer of these biotechnologically-based drugs with high added value, with the incorporation of production technologies for recombinant Interferon and Erythropoetin, Bio-Manguinhos has taken firm steps towards the future, remaining in tune with advances in biotechnology applied to health.
The last conference of the event, given by the Secretary of Science, Technology and Strategic Inputs, Moisés Goldbaum, recalled the main milestones of the policies and initiatives in the areas of public health and science and technology, such as the Industrial, Technological and Foreign Trade Policy – PITCE.
Besides the other Fiocruz units, the Symposium was attended by representatives from public and private institutions, both national: Anvisa and Instituto Butantan; and international: World Health Organization – WHO, Pan-American Health Organization – PAHO, Serun Institute from India, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention – CDC – USA, Glaxosithkline, and researchers from universities such as USP, Maryland, Alabama, and Saskatchewan (Canada).
These were days of intense debates and emotions, and a person whose life trajectory is intertwined with that of the Foundation, and of Bio-Manguinhos in particular, received a special tribute. In the opening speech, the president of Fiocruz, Paulo Buss, said that “Fiocruz will be well represented by the always competent presentation of Akira Homma, Director and force of Bio-Manguinhos, to whom Fiocruz and Brazil owe a lot. For his talent, creativity, and dedication, and to whom I pay homage at this moment, on behalf of all the Institution”.
On the occasion, a decree instituting the National Vaccine Competitiveness Program (Inovacina) is signed. The program is an initiative of the Brazilian industrial sector to achieve self-sufficiency in immunobiologicals for the annual immunization calendar. This includes vaccines for tuberculosis, yellow fever, hepatitis b, influenza, measles, rubella, polio, typhoid, rotavirus, and other strategic immunobiologicals.
