[Notice - March 19, 2026]

NOTICE OF SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE – ReBEC

Please be advised that the ReBEC system will undergo a scheduled maintenance outage, beginning at 6:00 p.m. on March 20, 2026 (Friday) and expected to end at 6:00 p.m. on March 22, 2026 (Sunday).

During this period, the system will be unavailable for access and for performing any operations. This measure is necessary to implement improvements and updates aimed at ensuring greater stability, security, and performance of the platform.

We recommend that users plan ahead to avoid any potential disruptions to their activities.

Thank you for your understanding.
ReBEC Coordination

PRIORITY SERVICES

The Brazilian Registry of Clinical Trials (ReBEC) presents the new fast tracks for clinical research and observational studies on INDIGENOUS PEOPLE AND TRADITIONAL COMMUNITIES and on NEGLECTED TROPICAL DISEASES (NTDs). Fast-track can reduce the normal approval period for clinical trials to less than 48 hours, if the documentation, information and any mandatory changes requested are provided by the registrant.

The already existing fast-tracks and the attendance to other studies will not be interrupted. Priority care is granted with a view to accelerating clinical research in epidemiological emergency situations and/or studies with the potential to reduce socioeconomic inequalities, keeping the perspective aligned with the forefront of ethics and transparency, diplomacy in health, scientific collaboration and diversity and specificities of recruitment and health care.

FAST-TRACKS IN OPERATION:

I - Indigenous Peoples, Traditional Communities, Human Migration and Refugee Movements – clinical research and observational studies dedicated to or preferably addressing traditional communities (quilombola, caiçara, faxinalense, among others), Indigenous peoples (within or outside legally demarcated territories), and refugee groups, taking into account the specificities established by regulation, on a case-by-case basis.

II - Neglected Tropical Diseases – Leprosy, Tuberculosis, Leishmaniasis, Schistosomiasis, Scabies, Chagas disease, Intestinal parasitoses, Viral hepatitis, Trachoma, Onchocerciasis, Human rabies transmitted by dogs.

III - National and International Public Health Emergencies – Mpox, Covid-19.

IV - Arboviruses – Zika, Dengue, Chikungunya, Malaria, Yellow fever.

V - WHO Prioritized Pathogens for Latin America – Studies dealing with World Health Organization prioritized pathogens for Latin America, as listed in the document "PATHOGENS PRIORITIZATION - A SCIENTIFIC FRAMEWORK FOR EPIDEMIC AND PANDEMIC RESEARCH PREPAREDNESS" (Health Emergencies Programme, 2024) – Lassa fever, Cholera, Black Death (Plague), Bacillary dysentery or Shigellosis, Salmonella, Pneumonia, Urinary tract infection, MERS-CoV, SARS, Ebola virus (EVE), Marburg virus (MVE), Ebola virus (EVE) Sudan subtype, Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS), Hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS), Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever, Influenza A H1, Influenza A H2, Influenza A H3, Avian influenza (Influenza A H5N1), Avian influenza (Influenza A H6), Avian influenza H7 (Avian influenza H7), Avian influenza H10 or Avian influenza H10, Nipah disease, Viral hemorrhagic disease, Poliomyelitis, Hand-foot-and-mouth disease, Herpangina, Viral meningitis, Smallpox, Mpox, Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), Venezuelan equine encephalitis (VEE).

VI - WHO Prioritized Prototype Pathogens for Latin America – Studies dealing with World Health Organization prioritized prototype pathogens for Latin America, as listed in the document "PATHOGENS PRIORITIZATION - A SCIENTIFIC FRAMEWORK FOR EPIDEMIC AND PANDEMIC RESEARCH PREPAREDNESS" (Health Emergencies Programme, 2024) – Recombinant mastadenovirus, Mastadenovirus blackbeardi serotype 14, Mammarenavirus juninense, Mammarenavirus lujoense, Mamastrovirus virginiaense, Orthobornavirus bornaense, Orthoflavivirus encephalitidis, Orthoflavivirus nilense, Orthohepadnavirus hominoidae genotype C, Paslahepevirus balayani genotype 3, Protoparvovirus carnivoran, Orthobunyavirus oropoucheense, Phlebovirus riftense, Orthopicobirnavirus hominis, Enterovirus alphacoxsackie 71, Enterovirus deconjuncti 68, Metapneumovirus hominis, Orthopoxvirus vaccinia, Genus Vesiculovirus, Genus Rotavirus, Orthoreovirus mammalis.

VII - Studies on the impacts of climate change, the effects of scientific denialism, and health misinformation -The physical, mental, and social consequences of environmental and climate changes on human populations; The impact of extreme weather events and environmental degradation on infectious, chronic, or emerging diseases; The influence of denialist narratives and misinformation in Health on adherence to preventive measures, vaccination, treatments, and risk behaviors, as well as the physical and mental outcomes for human beings and populations.

INSTRUCTIONS:

We recommend reading the Registrant Handbook. Material available at LINK.

1. Register or log in and normally fill out the forms in Portuguese and English. For English, in case of difficulty, use the Google Translate tool (or another free translation tool).
2. Attach the mandatory ethics committee documentation and submit the form.
3. Register the service number on your Whatsapp. Send a message with your name and login. IT IS NOT NECESSARY NOR RECOMMENDED TO SEND YOUR PASSWORD.
4. A reviewer will respond to you. Choose the service modality: chat, audio recordings or voice call by appointment.
5. Your form will be proofread in both languages. Follow the remaining guidelines to finalize the approval.

CONTACTS:

Support is online, via chat, dedicated telephone line (see phone number below) and WhatsApp, from 9 am to 5 pm (Brasília time).

Administrative, priority and/or urgent matters outside office hours: plantao.rebec@gmail.com
Line 1: +55 21 97203-4750

ABOUT REBEC:

The Brazilian Registry of Clinical Trials (ReBEC) is a free access virtual platform for recording experimental and non-experimental studies carried out on human beings and conducted in Brazilian territory, by Brazilian and foreign researchers. ReBEC is a joint project of the Ministry of Health (DECIT/MS), the Pan American Health Organization (OPAS) and the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (FIOCRUZ). ReBEC's Executive Committee is composed of the aforementioned institutions and the National Health Surveillance Agency (ANVISA).

05/06/2026  |  Steve Fiorillo  |  Cancer Therapy Advisor

https://www.cancertherapyadvisor.com/features/women-in-clinical-trials-history-impact/ 

Clinical trials have existed in some form for many centuries, be it Dr. James Lind’s controlled clinical trial on scurvy in 1747 to biblical descriptions dating back to nearly 500 BC.1 As science and technology have continued to progress in the centuries following, clinical trials have become an integral way to understand how treatments and medications affect the human body, which options show promise, and which ones are not yet ready to be a primary treatment option.

However, for much of history, clinical trials provided incomplete information. Women have historically been extremely underrepresented in clinical trials as a result of factors ranging from institutional misogyny to fear of how trials could affect fertility. Women were not generally considered for clinical trials until the 1990s. Though the last several decades have seen significant strides in women’s inclusion in trials and the ensuing knowledge gained, there is still work to be done.

Why were women historically excluded from clinical trials, what have been the effects of their increased participation, and what still needs to be done to create more equitable clinical trials?

History of Women in Clinical Trials
Approximately 30% of participants in industry-sponsored, phase 1 trials are women.2 How is the rate still that low after so many years?

Though the first policy that explicitly excluded many women from clinical trials was put forth in 1977, the reasoning for this decision dates back to the early 1960s. Tragedy struck worldwide as a result of the use of thalidomide, a drug that eventually was associated with birth defects that would affect thousands of…

05/06/2026  |  Kelli Aufderheide/Michael Marino  |  Contract Pharma

https://www.contractpharma.com/decentralized-clinical-trial-supply-chain-considerations/ 

Aligning central labs and remote research clinicians for stronger decentralized supply chain execution.

As decentralized and flexible clinical trial models mature, they have become an established component of research and development strategies that meet patient expectations for flexibility, ease site burdens and expand access to broader patient populations. While digital enablement remains a key focus, the physical supply chain also plays a critical role and warrants careful consideration during DCT trial planning.

Nowhere is this more evident than at the intersection of central laboratory DCT services and remote clinician delivery models. When these services are planned independently, coordination challenges can arise during study execution. As experience with decentralized models grows, sponsors are recognizing that successful implementation requires planning trial infrastructure. 

From “Rescue Mode” to Intentional Design 
Immediately postCOVID, decentralized capabilities were often deployed reactively to keep trials moving. Remote research clinicians were added mid-study, and home specimen collection was layered on top of site-centric lab workflows. These approaches highlighted the need for stronger coordination—from aligning courier schedules with home visits to ensuring consistent sample handling and clear ownership—while also revealing how earlier planning could reduce reliance on real-time adjustments once visits started.

In 2026, the industry has transitioned from crisis response to intentional trial design. Sponsors recognize that decentralized elements work…

05/06/2026  |  Abigail Beaney  |  Clinical Trials Arena

https://www.clinicaltrialsarena.com/news/who-releases-online-course-for-clinical-trial-best-practices/ 

The course is designed to reduce educational barriers about clinical trials and support countries in growing its research ability.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has released an online course for clinical trial good practices.

The self‑paced course translates the ‘WHO Guidance for Best Practices for Clinical Trials’ into practical, applied learning for those involved in clinical trials. The establishment of the course is in response to requests from WHO Member States to strengthen capacity for clinical trials and improve research quality, coordination and preparedness for public health emergencies.

By making this course freely available online, WHO aims to reduce barriers to high‑quality clinical trials education and support countries in building sustainable research capacity aligned with national and global health priorities.

The course content is based on WHO’s 2024 guidance, and emphasises real‑world decision‑making, addressing common challenges in trial design, conduct and oversight, including participant protection, ethical review, community engagement, operational feasibility and relevance to public health needs.

The course is currently available in English, but the WHO said that other language versions of the course are planned to be rolled out in the coming years.

Mithun Mohan George, project manager at Sunnybrook Research Institute in Canada, said: “The course successfully bridges the gap between ethical theory and operational reality, giving me the professional edge to ensure our trials are…

05/06/2026 | Senate Agency

https://www12.senado.leg.br/noticias/materias/2026/05/06/isencao-de-imposto-de-importacao-para-pesquisa-contra-cancer-avanca 

Medicines, supplies, devices, and equipment necessary for cancer research may be subject to a zero Import Tax (II). The Science and Technology Committee (CCT) approved on Wednesday (6) Bill 2,716/2025, introduced by Senator Dr. Eudócia (PSDB-AL), which establishes the exemption. The bill received a favorable opinion in the form of the substitute bill presented by the rapporteur, Senator Astronaut Marcos Pontes (PL-SP), and will now proceed to the Social Affairs Committee (CAS) for review.

Dr. Eudócia argued that the proposal reduces the costs of acquiring materials necessary for research in the field, helping to ensure new treatments and improve existing ones. 

The senator also highlighted that, in Brazil, clinical oncology researchers point to the lack of adequate infrastructure and logistics as one of the main obstacles in the field of clinical research, with the high tax burden being one of the factors contributing to this situation.

— Our research is still far behind what we need to move forward. And this bill will help; it will optimize studies and research in the health sector, and especially in the field of oncology. Currently, the leading cause of death is cardiovascular disease, but scientific studies show that by 2030, the disease that will claim the most lives—not only among Brazilians but worldwide—will be cancer. And we must stay one step ahead to prevent this from happening. 

Measures
The bill includes in the Import Tax Exemption Act the sale of materials essential for basic, experimental, clinical, and translational research in oncology. These include:

05/05/2026  |   Marken

https://www.marken.com/learning-center/clinical-trial-logistics-optimization 

Clinical trial logistics has become far more complex—especially as decentralized models expand and biologics, cell and gene therapies, and global patient populations place new demands on supply chains. Ensuring the integrity of clinical trial materials, from kit building through sample return, is no longer just an operational concern—it’s central to trial success.

In this Q&A, Jose Ianez, Senior Director of Logistics Operations LATAM at , shares his perspective on the challenges behind today’s clinical trial supply chains. With more than 25 years in healthcare logistics, he oversees operations across Latin America—from planning through final delivery to the patient.

Here, he discusses how Marken’s Laboratory Advantage service is helping sponsors streamline kit supply, protect sample integrity, and improve the speed and reliability of clinical trial logistics.

Contract Pharma: As part of Marken’s Laboratory Advantage, what are the most critical aspects of supplying kits and moving specimen samples, and how does it expedite the processing of clinical trial materials and specimens?
Jose Ianez: At the core, it comes down to three things: speed, sample integrity, and compliance. Everything we do is built around protecting those priorities.

A lot of it comes down to knowing the regulatory environment since the rules can change from country to country, especially in regions like Latin America. Our teams stay in close contact with local health authorities, so we’re usually aware of changes early and can adjust before they cause delays.

Where sponsors tend to run into delays is exactly there—regulatory gaps, incomplete documentation, or packaging that doesn’t…