The Einstein-Brazil Fogarty: A decade of synergy

Abstract

A rich, collaborative program funded by the US NIH Fogarty program in 2004 has provided for a decade of remarkable opportunities for scientific advancement through the training of Brazilian undergraduate, graduate and postdoctoral students from the Federal University and Oswaldo Cruz Foundation systems at Albert Einstein College of Medicine. The focus of the program has been on the development of trainees in the broad field of Infectious Diseases, with a particular focus on diseases of importance to the Brazilian population. Talented trainees from various regions in Brazil came to Einstein to learn techniques and study fungal, parasitic and bacterial pathogens. In total, 43 trainees enthusiastically participated in the program. In addition to laboratory work, these students took a variety of courses at Einstein, presented their results at local, national and international meetings, and productively published their findings. This program has led to a remarkable synergy of scientific discovery for the participants during a time of rapid acceleration of the scientific growth in Brazil. This collaboration between Brazilian and US scientists has benefitted both countries and serves as a model for future training programs between these countries.

Figure 1. The structure of the Einstein-Brazil Fogarty program. The diagram shows the ongoing collaborative interactions of scientists from both Einstein faculty (in blue) and the laboratory leaders in Brazil (in red).

Figure 2. Photograph title: Carlos Chagas (Receives Albert Einstein at Oswaldo Cruz Institute) recebe a visita de Albert Einstein no Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, em maio de 1925. Catalog number: BR RJCOC 02-10-20-20-006-V03-009 (http://arch.coc.fiocruz.br/index.php/carlos-chagas-recebe-visita-de-albert-einstein-no-instituto-oswaldo-cruz-em-maio-de-1925-na-fotografia-carlos-burle-de-figueiredo-antonio-eugenio-de-area-leao-nicanor-botafogo-goncalves-da-silva-adolpho-lutz-alcides-godoy-carlos-chagas;isad)

Figure 3. The model used by the Einstein-Brazil Fogarty program to ensure dynamic, ongoing contributions by both Einstein and Brazilian mentors to the successful experiences of the trainees, including oversight of the program by US and Brazilian scientists at outside institutions.

Figure 4. Herbert Tanowitz, MD receiving his formal certificate as a Corresponding Member of the Brazilian Academy of Sciences from Professor Jorge Almeida Guimarães, president of CAPES, Brazilian Ministry of Education in April 2010.