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McLaughlin-Rotman Centre for Global Health, University Health Network and University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5G 1L7, Canada Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, ON, M5T 3M7, Canada.

Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, ON, M5T 3M7, Canada

Email the corresponding author at halla.thorsteinsdottir@utoronto.ca

Peter A Singer

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Email the corresponding author at halla.thorsteinsdottir@utoronto.ca

Abdallah S Daar

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Email the corresponding author at halla.thorsteinsdottir@utoronto.ca

Halla Thorsteinsdóttir

† Author for correspondence

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Email the corresponding author at halla.thorsteinsdottir@utoronto.ca

Published Online:17 Nov 2010https://doi.org/10.2217/rme.10.76

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Abstract

Aims: Although Brazil has received attention for conducting one of the world’s largest stem cell clinical trials for heart disease, little has been published regarding Brazil’s regenerative medicine (RM) sector. Here we present a comprehensive case study of RM in Brazil, including analysis of the current activity, the main motivations for engaging in RM and the remaining challenges to development in this field. Methods: Our case study is primarily based on semi-structured interviews with experts on RM in Brazil, including researchers, policymakers, clinicians, representatives of firms and regulators. Results: Driven by domestic health needs and strategic government support, Brazil is producing innovative RM research, particularly for clinical research in cardiology, orthopedics, diabetes and neurology. We describe the main RM research currently taking place in Brazil, as well as some of the economic, regulatory and policy events that have created a favorable environment for RM development. Brazilian RM researchers need to overcome several formidable challenges to research: research funding is inconsistent, importation of materials is costly and slow, and weak linkages between universities, hospitals and industry impede translational research. Conclusions: Although Brazil’s contribution to the RM sector is small, its niche emphasis on clinical applications may become of global importance, particularly if Brazil manages to address the challenges currently impinging on RM innovation.

Keywords:

Papers of special note have been highlighted as: ▪ of interest ▪▪ of considerable interest

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Vol. 5, No. 6

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Published online 17 November 2010

Published in print November 2010

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Acknowledgements

The authors wish to thank all the experts in Brazil who generously shared their expertise and time. We also thank J Clark and members of the McLaughlin-Rotman Centre for Global Health (Toronto, Canada) for their comments on a draft version of the manuscript.

Financial & competing interests disclosure

This project is funded by a Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) net grant and is supported by the McLaughlin-Rotman Center for Global Health, an academic center at the University Health Network and University of Toronto, Canada. DS McMahon is supported by an Ontario Graduate Scholarship, a CIHR Training Award and a CIHR Doctoral Award. H Thorsteinsdóttir is supported by a CIHR New Investigator Award. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.

Ethical conduct of research

The authors state that they have obtained appropriate institutional review board approval or have followed the principles outlined in the Declaration of Helsinki for all human or animal experimental investigations. In addition, for investigations involving human subjects, informed consent has been obtained from the participants involved.

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Regenerative medicine in Brazil: small but innovative

Abstract

Bibliography