Fundação Getulio Vargas won the 2023 CAPES-Elsevier Award in the “UN Sustainable Development Goal 3 – Good Health and Well-Being” category. These awards recognize research institutions whose publications have generated the greatest impact in relation to the Sustainable Development Goals as part of the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda. The Sustainable Development Goals include a series of global actions to end poverty and protect the environment.

The fifth CAPES-Elsevier awards ceremony took place on December 5 in the main office of the Brazilian Education Ministry’s graduate education support agency, CAPES, in Brasilia. The event coincided with the 23^rd anniversary of the CAPES Periodicals Portal and the “6^th CAPES Periodicals Seminar: Consolidating Paths – The Periodicals Portal and Scientific Communication for Brazil.”

FGV projects in the area of health and well-being

FGV schools that stand out for their scientific production in the area of health and well-being in the last year include the School of Applied Mathematics (FGV EMAp), which had 25 publications, the Sao Paulo School of Business Administration (FGV EAESP), which had 15 publications, and the School of Public Policy and Government (FGV EPPG), located in Brasilia, which had nine publications in this area.

Among FGV EMAp’s publications, two studies related to UN Sustainable Development Goal 3 were selected as FGV “Research Highlights” in 2023: Machine learning prediction of side effects for drugs in clinical trials and Machine learning and network medicine approaches for drug repositioning for COVID-19. The first study developed a mathematical model capable of estimating the side effects of drugs on the human body, while the second developed a specific model for drugs used to treat COVID-19.

Another research project related to UN Sustainable Development Goal 3 and considered an FGV Research Highlight in 2023 was carried out by FGV EPPG. The results of this study include an estimated 23% increase in hospitalizations for respiratory diseases and 21% increase in hospitalizations for circulatory diseases associated with fires in Brazil. To find these results, the study cross-referenced satellite data on fires with information from the public health system’s information technology department, DataSUS. A series of studies on this subject gave rise to the Center for Environmental and Public Health Studies (FGVcemasp), which aims to assess the impacts of environmental factors on human health and thereby contribute evidence to support the formulation of public environmental and health policies.

In order to contribute to the development of strategies for the elimination of hepatitis B and C, FGV EAESP conducted a study that evaluated the use of the dried blood spot (DBS) test to detect hepatitis virus markers. This evaluation concluded that the DBS test is a useful tool for diagnosis and prevalence studies of hepatitis B and C among key populations. The results of this study may help promote the prevention and treatment of these diseases. Find out more about this project here.

FGV’s director of research and innovation, Goret Paulo, congratulated CAPES and Elsevier on their awards scheme, which encourages researchers to carry out studies that contribute to achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals. “In the specific case of Fundação Getulio Vargas, it is a great honor to be recognized for conducting research that contributes to achieving UN Sustainable Development Goal 3: Good Health and Well-Being. We thank and congratulate our researchers immensely for doing research with an impact on the Sustainable Development Goals,” she said.

According to Elsevier account manager Ana Luisa Maia, “these awards seek to celebrate scientific institutions that contribute to the progress of science in Brazil and to highlight those of greatest relevance to the UN Sustainable Development Goals, thereby increasing the international visibility of Brazilian scientific research”.

To learn more about the Award, visit the Research Network website.