In a ceremony held on September 6, 2024, at the Rectory of the University of Campinas (Unicamp), a memorandum of understanding was signed to establish a commitment in Knowledge Management, Research, Development, and Innovation between Amazônia Azul Tecnologias de Defesa S.A. (AMAZUL) and the university. This agreement is the result of a partnership that has been taking shape since the beginning of the year. Initially, the cooperation will benefit CEPID CancerThera, enhancing its vocation for innovation, but it also envisions promising prospects for other collaborative projects between the two institutions.
The planned cooperative activities will foster “interaction, solidarity, and mutual understanding, which are crucial to strengthening the relationship and opening new possibilities in the future,” emphasized Prof. Dr. Antonio José de Almeida Meirelles, food engineer and Rector of Unicamp, during the ceremony. He also highlighted the university’s potential and pioneering role in innovation alongside other Brazilian institutions.
Currently, AMAZUL’s team of engineers and architects is collaborating with CancerThera researchers on the design of Radio-chemistry and Radiobiology laboratories, which will occupy approximately 400 m² in one of the buildings of Unicamp’s School of Medical Sciences (FCM/Unicamp). These labs will house the Basic and Pre-clinical research arms focused on developing new radiolabeled molecules for theranostic approaches in cancer — one of CancerThera’s primary objectives.
Cooperation brings recognition and enthusiasm for innovation
The event was attended by representatives of the Unicamp Rectory, AMAZUL, and CancerThera and was marked by speeches emphasizing the importance of collaboration for the advancement of science and technology in Brazil.
During the ceremony, Newton de Almeida Costa Neto, CEO of AMAZUL, highlighted the importance of partnering with Unicamp, particularly in the development of highly specialized human capital. He expressed his gratitude and stressed that collaboration between public companies, such as AMAZUL, and universities is crucial for training professionals in strategic areas, such as Nuclear Medicine. “I am certain we will succeed by working together and taking many important steps. This moment is of great significance for us, and we are here with much happiness and satisfaction,” he said.
Prof. Dr. Carmino A. de Souza, hematologist, lead researcher, and director of CancerThera’s executive committee, acknowledged AMAZUL’s expertise in nuclear energy and emphasized that the partnership will allow the university to continue contributing to public health by offering new treatment alternatives for cancer patients, often in advanced stages of the disease. “This partnership will undoubtedly shorten a very long path. We have a public commitment to bring well-being to the population and to allow people to have a better quality of life,” he stated.
“Nuclear Medicine is part of the Brazilian Nuclear Program, and AMAZUL’s mission is to work with nuclear energy. So, this partnership between the institution and our research center is a logical step,” pointed out Prof. Dr. Celso Dario Ramos, nuclear physician, principal researcher, and deputy director of the CancerThera executive committee. Ramos is also part of AMAZUL’s Scientific, Technological, and Innovation Council and has been designated as one of the key executors of this promising agreement between AMAZUL and Unicamp.
The agreement will mark another significant step toward the development and transfer of innovative technologies aimed at healthcare — one of Unicamp’s major investments in terms of human resources and finances. “In our institutional vision, the future of Unicamp lies increasingly in innovation,” emphasized the rector.
Attending the memorandum of understanding signing ceremony were:
AMAZUL
- Carlos Alberto Matias, Technical Director
- Newton de Almeida Costa Neto, CEO
- Rafael Faraone Rando, Head of the Technological Innovation Center
- Ricardo Ibsen Pennaforte de Campos, Chief of Staff of the Executive Board
CancerThera
- Prof. Dr. Barbara Juarez Amorim, associate researcher
- Prof. Dr. Carmen Silvia Passos Lima, principal investigator and Innovation coordinator
- Prof. Dr. Carmino A. de Souza, hematologist, lead investigator and executive committee director
- Prof. Dr. Celso Dario Ramos, nuclear physician, principal investigator, and executive committee deputy director
- Dr. Gilberto Carlos Franchi Júnior, associate researcher
- Prof. Dr. Pedro Paulo Corbi, chemist and principal investigator
Unicamp Rectory and Guests
- Prof. Dr. Antonio José de Almeida Meirelles, Rector
- Prof. Dr. Cristiano Torrezan, faculty member and advisor at the School of Applied Sciences/Unicamp
- Prof. Dr. Luiz Carlos Kretly, professor at the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering/Unicamp
Text and Photos: Romulo Santana Osthues
