01/09/2026 | Frederico Feijó | GZH Zona Sul

https://gauchazh.clicrbs.com.br/zona-sul/saude/noticia/2026/01/ufpel-recruta-voluntarios-para-estudo-de-vacina-contra-a-dengue-cmk70eyhp01xc011h0i5uj7nv.html 

The study will be conducted at the Clinical Research Center of the Teaching Hospital and is seeking participants between the ages of 40 and 79.

The Teaching Hospital of the Federal University of Pelotas (HE-UFPel) has begun recruiting volunteers for a clinical study of a dengue vaccine, which will be developed at the institution's Clinical Research Center. The initiative is part of efforts to support the Unified Health System (SUS), with a focus on disease prevention and strengthening scientific production.

The study, identified as DEN-04, aims to evaluate a new dengue vaccine and is recruiting people between the ages of 40 and 79. Participation is voluntary and intended for residents of the region interested in contributing to the advancement of science and public health.

To participate, interested parties must complete a clinical study interest form. Based on this registration, the Clinical Research Center team forms a database of potential volunteers and conducts an initial screening, with interviews and consultations, to verify that candidates meet the criteria defined in the protocols. After this stage, selected participants are contacted to receive guidance on the next phases of the research.

In addition to DEN-04, HE-UFPel plans to start a new clinical study in the coming months. The project, called Codenchik, will evaluate the co-administration of vaccines against dengue and chikungunya and is expected to recruit volunteers between the ages of 18 and 59.

For Rosiane Mastelari, head of the Research Management Sector at HE-UFPel, conducting these studies reinforces the hospital's role as a space for teaching, research, and care.

“Conducting clinical research at HE-UFPel strengthens our commitment to the production of scientific knowledge and direct support for the SUS, especially on priority issues such as arboviruses,” she says.

The research follows strict ethical and scientific protocols, ensuring the safety of volunteers and the reliability of the data collected. Participation represents an opportunity to collaborate directly with the advancement of knowledge in a context of increasing circulation of arboviruses in Brazil.

Butantan vaccine tested at HE
In addition to ongoing studies, Brazil already has a national vaccine against dengue fever, developed by the Butantan Institute. The Ministry of Health has decided that national vaccination with the single-dose vaccine, Butantan DV, will begin on January 18, initially in Botucatu (SP), Maranguape (CE), and Nova Lima (MG). The strategy calls for accelerated vaccination, with a goal of reaching between 40% and 50% of the population in these cities.

In the first stage, primary health care professionals will be vaccinated, and then immunization will be gradually expanded to the population, starting with people aged 59 and over, until reaching the 15-year-old age group. 

01/09/2026 | Cinthya Leite | JC PE

https://jc.uol.com.br/colunas/saude-e-bem-estar/2026/01/09/butantan-convoca-em-pernambuco-idosos-voluntarios-para-estudo-de-nova-vacina-contra-gripe-voltada-ao-sus.html 

National study compares new Butantan vaccine with high-concentration vaccine used in private clinics, with potential direct impact on the Brazilian public health system (SUS)

Aging brings natural changes to the body, and one of the most important occurs in the immune system. Over the years, the body's defenses become less efficient, a process known as immunosenescence. It is a condition that, among other things, reduces the response to traditional vaccines and increases the risk of complications caused by the flu.

Given this scenario, there is a need for more specific and potent protection against the influenza virus designed for the elderly. With this goal in mind, the Butantan Institute has developed a new flu vaccine aimed exclusively at people aged 60 and over. Next Monday (12), in Recife, the recruitment of volunteers for the final phase of clinical trials will begin.

Pernambuco is among the states participating in the study, through the Plátano Clinical Research Center, which has already begun to register interested parties. 

Currently, more potent flu vaccines for the elderly are only available in the private sector, which restricts access for a large part of the population. The study with the new Butantan vaccine seeks to change this reality.

The research will assess whether Butantan's new adjuvanted vaccine is equivalent to or superior to the high-concentration vaccine marketed in private clinics. If the results confirm its effectiveness, the impact could be direct on public health.

Why the elderly need a different vaccine
In the case of influenza, the fragility of the immune system that comes with aging takes a heavy toll: more than 75% of hospitalizations and deaths related to the disease in Brazil affect people aged 60 or older, usually due to complications such as pneumonia or the worsening of chronic diseases.

The flu vaccine currently offered by the Unified Health System (SUS) provides important protection, but it does not work the same way in all age groups. With advancing age, the body produces fewer antibodies and the immune response tends to be shorter. This helps explain why influenza remains one of the leading causes of hospitalization and death among the elderly, even with annual vaccination campaigns.

The new vaccine developed by Butantan attempts to address this limitation. The main innovation is the use of an adjuvant, a substance capable of stimulating and prolonging the immune system's response, which makes protection more lasting and effective in this population.

From the private network to the SUS
Researcher Rafael Dhalia, from Fiocruz Pernambuco and director of the Plátano Clinical Research Center, points out that the study's proposal is clear. “Butantan has developed a new flu vaccine for the elderly and will compare its effectiveness with that of the private network vaccine,” he says. 

Private clinics offer the quadrivalent Efluelda vaccine from Sanofi. Studies show that this vaccine, intended for the elderly, can reduce the risk of hospitalizations due to cardiorespiratory events, pneumonia, and other causes. Efluelda is a high-dose vaccine that contains four times more antigen (active component). 

Compared to the standard-dose flu vaccine, Efluelda provides a superior immune response against flu cases in the elderly population. 

“If the effectiveness of the new Butantan vaccine is equal to or greater than that of the private network flu vaccine, the Butantan vaccine will be offered free of charge at health centers,” says Rafael Dhalia.

A study without a placebo
For those considering participating, one piece of information is often decisive: there will be no placebo. All volunteers in phase 3 of the study will receive vaccines with technologies that are already in use and recognized.

A total of 6,900 people will participate in the study, distributed across 20 clinical research centers in Brazil. Half will receive the new adjuvanted vaccine developed by Butantan; the other half will be immunized with the high-concentration vaccine currently available only in the private network.

This means that all participants will be protected against the flu during the study.

Pernambuco at the center of research
In Pernambuco, volunteers are recruited by the Plátano Clinical Research Center, which is part of the national network responsible for conducting the study. The profile sought is people aged 60 or older, with controlled health conditions.

Pernambuco at the center of research
In Pernambuco, volunteers are recruited by Plátano Clinical Research Center, which is part of the national network responsible for conducting the study. The profile sought is people aged 60 or older, with controlled health conditions.

Individuals with a history of severe egg or chicken allergies, or those undergoing immunosuppressive therapies such as radiotherapy or continuous treatment with corticosteroids, are not eligible to participate.

Benefits for participants
In addition to contributing to the advancement of science and public health, volunteers will receive direct benefits during the follow-up, including:

• Access to high-performance vaccines, currently unavailable in the SUS (Brazilian Unified Health System);
• Specialized medical follow-up by a multidisciplinary team throughout the study;
• Monitoring of the immune response, with blood samples collected over six months for antibody analysis.

How to sign up
The first stage of recruitment involves the selection of 300 volunteers starting this Monday, January 12, with an additional 7,000 places to be opened later. Those interested in participating in the study in Pernambuco can contact the Plátano Clinical Research Center via WhatsApp (81 99476-2173) or by email: pesquisa@institutoautoimune.com.br.

Participating in the study is a gesture that goes beyond individual care. It is also a way to help ensure that, in the future, millions of elderly Brazilians have free access to more effective protection against the flu: a reinforced shield for a stage of life that requires extra attention.

01/08/2026 | Carol Alencar | Sechat

https://sechat.com.br/noticia/pesquisa-internacional-cobra-mais-rigor-cientifico-no-uso-da-cannabis-medicinal 

A scientific review highlights the lack of robust evidence on medical cannabis and reinforces the need for more rigorous and balanced research in the field

The growth in the use of medical cannabis for different clinical conditions has not been accompanied, in the same proportion, by robust scientific evidence. A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) reinforces that there is consistent evidence for only a limited number of indications, while most uses continue to be supported by limited or inconclusive data. 

According to the review, which analyzed thousands of studies published over the last decade, the quality of available evidence is still considered insufficient to support broad clinical recommendations, especially in cases such as chronic pain, anxiety, and insomnia.

Despite the research findings, evidence from many clinical cases shows that cannabis has achieved satisfactory results. In an interview for Sechat's “Vidas Transformadas” (Transformed Lives) program, Daiany Dias reported a good response to the use of medical cannabis, highlighting its positive impact on coping with the effects of chemotherapy and on the quality of rest.

Where science points to clear benefits
According to the study, prescribed cannabinoid medications showed more consistent results in controlling chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting, stimulating appetite in patients with HIV/AIDS, and treating rare pediatric epilepsies, such as Dravet and Lennox-Gastaut syndromes. Outside of these contexts, the benefits observed were classified as modest or inconsistent when compared to established therapies.

Medical guidance, risks, and realistic expectations

For rheumatologist and clinician Dr. Tiago Campanholi, the data reinforce the need for transparency in the doctor-patient relationship. 

According to him, prescribers should recognize the fragility of current scientific evidence and inform patients that about 30% of them may experience adverse effects, including cognitive changes, psychiatric and cardiovascular effects, and risk of dependence.

"The use of medical cannabis should be treated as an adjunctive therapeutic resource, not as a miracle solution. It is essential to avoid promises, clarify that results vary, and that the goal is to improve signs and symptoms, without completely replacing conventional treatments," he explains.

The specialist also highlights the importance of detailed clinical evaluation, continuous follow-up, and frequent monitoring, with dose adjustments and analysis of possible drug interactions. In addition, he advocates the integration of cannabis with other therapeutic approaches, such as physical therapy, psychotherapy, and traditional pharmacotherapy.

“All clinical decisions must be individualized, documented, and aligned with CFM and Anvisa standards, ensuring safety, ethics, and clear information for the patient,” he concludes.

01/08/2026 | Ministry of Education

https://www.gov.br/mec/pt-br/assuntos/noticias/2026/janeiro/rede-inteligente-do-sus-contara-com-cinco-hus-federais#76b5ee2b-2ea4-4089-b108-0aa6baace99d 

University hospitals from UnB, UFRJ, UFMG, Unifesp and Unirio will integrate the national network announced by President Lula this Wednesday (7). Investment will be R$ 4.8 billion, in partnership with the BRICS Bank

Five federal university hospitals (HUs) will integrate the National Network of Smart Hospitals and Services of the Unified Health System (SUS). The announcement of the network took place at the Planalto Palace in Brasília (DF), this Wednesday (7), with the presence of the President of the Republic, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva; the Minister of Education, Camilo Santana; the Minister of Health, Alexandre Padilha; the President of the BRICS Bank, Dilma Rousseff; and the President of the Brazilian Hospital Services Company (Ebserh), Arthur Chioro. The University Hospitals are managed by Ebserh, linked to the Ministry of Education (MEC).

The SUS modernization initiative will have R$ 4.8 billion in investments, through a partnership with the New Development Bank (NDB), of the BRICS. The network aims to guarantee health infrastructure with advanced technologies in the five regions of the country. During the ceremony, President Lula stressed that the most vulnerable population should benefit from the new technologies. “We need to ensure that the humblest people are not invisible, they must be seen. It is for them that we govern, it is for them that we must improve,” he argued. Smart healthcare services will utilize infrastructure with advanced digital technologies, such as artificial intelligence (AI), big data, telemedicine, and remote monitoring, in order to make care more agile, personalized, efficient, and accessible. The use of technology optimizes processes, improves patient outcomes, and can reduce waiting times for specialized care in urgent and emergency situations by more than five times. The network of smart ICUs will also function as a national center for research and innovation.

Stages – In the first phase of implementation of the National Network of Smart Hospitals and Services, 14 smart intensive care units (ICUs) will be inaugurated in hospitals in 13 states across the five regions of the country, with the aim of enabling cutting-edge diagnoses and treatments. The modernization actions encompass the University Hospitals of the University of Brasília (HU-UnB) and the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (HU-UFRJ), and the Clinics Hospital of the Federal University of Minas Gerais (HC-UFMG), of the Ebserh/MEC network.

In Phase 2, investments totaling R$ 1.7 billion will be allocated to the construction of the country's first smart hospital for urgent and emergency care – the Technological Institute of Intelligent Medicine (ITMI), at the Hospital das Clínicas of the University of São Paulo (USP), in the state capital.

Following this, Phase 3 will encompass the structuring of innovative services at the new University Hospital of the Federal University of São Paulo (Unifesp); as well as the modernization of hospitals of excellence: at the new University Hospital of State Employees (HUSE-Unirio); at the Brain Institute (RJ); and at the New Oncology Hospital (RJ).

HU-Unifesp – Part of the SUS smart network implementation project, the Unifesp university hospital will be built with resources from the New Growth Acceleration Program (Novo PAC), totaling R$ 206 million. The bidding process for the construction will take place by March of this year.

The five-story, 36,750 m² structure will have 326 beds and will handle highly complex cases in the specialties of neurology, oncology, trauma-orthopedics, and cardiovascular care. In addition, through clinical, surgical, and maternal-infant care, it will offer referral surgeries, a specialty outpatient clinic, and a clinical emergency service, also featuring an imaging diagnostic center.

For teaching and research activities, the hospital will also have a simulation center, classrooms, spaces for clinical case discussions, an auditorium, an outpatient clinic with teaching stations, and a clinical research center, prioritizing a humanized environment.

HUSE-Unirio – In December 2025, the Ministry of Education (MEC) signed the management contract integrating the Federal Hospital of State Employees (HFSE) into the Gaffrée e Guinle University Hospital (HUGG) of the Federal University of the State of Rio de Janeiro (Unirio), under the management of Ebserh.

The integration resulted in the implementation of the University Hospital for State Employees (HUSE-Unirio), which will play a strategic role in the professional training of Unirio, offering medical and multiprofessional residency programs, strengthening the qualification of health professionals and the production of scientific knowledge. The transition will also allow the hiring of 1,200 new professionals.

01/08/2026 | José Tadeu Arantes | FAPESP Agency

https://agencia.fapesp.br/estudo-combina-neuromodulacao-e-fisioterapia-para-reabilitar-pacientes-apos-avc/56847 

The multicenter Titan Trial project investigates a method to treat unilateral spatial neglect, a sequela of stroke that affects the perception of the opposite side of the affected cerebral hemisphere.

A clinical study involving several centers will test an innovative method to treat a disabling sequela of stroke: unilateral spatial neglect (USN), a condition that affects the perception of one side of space and hinders functional rehabilitation. Called the Titan Trial, the project investigates the combination of two non-invasive neuromodulation techniques – transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) and theta burst (TB) transcranial magnetic stimulation – with task-based physiotherapy sessions.

NEU causes a person to forget or not perceive one side of their body or environment. For example, they may only eat what is on the right side of the plate; collide with objects or people on the left side; comb, shave, or apply makeup only to the right side of their head; not hear when someone calls from the left side, etc. It is not a motor or visual deficit, but a perceptual deficit, which can continue even if the affected individual recovers strength and movement.

“This new initiative is a derivation of our research line in post-stroke neurorehabilitation, supported through Regular Grants from FAPESP,” says neurologist Rodrigo Bazan, professor at the Botucatu Faculty of Medicine of the São Paulo State University (FMB-Unesp) and coordinator of the study. This initiative continues a research trajectory that had already yielded promising results in a previous study conducted by the same group. Supported by FAPESP, the researchers tested the effectiveness of anodal tDCS (stimulatory) in patients with lesions in the right cerebral hemisphere, especially in the parietal region, responsible for the perception of space on the left.

“In that study, which we called the Electron Trial, we showed that anodal electrical stimulation applied to the right parietal region favors brain plasticity and reduces spatial neglect,” recalls Bazan. “Six articles were published, including one in the Annals of Neurology, one of the most respected journals in neuroscience.”

Based on these results, the group decided to move towards a more comprehensive and potentially more effective approach. In the Titan Trial, in addition to electrical stimulation of the affected (right) hemisphere, patients receive continuous theta burst (inhibitory) transcranial magnetic stimulation in the contralateral (left) hemisphere. “The logic is this: stimulate the side that suffered the injury and inhibit the other side, which, due to poor compensation, may be hindering recovery,” explains Bazan.

This is because, when a stroke occurs, the hemisphere that suffered the injury may become hypoactive and the side contralateral to the injury may become hyperactive, causing an interhemispheric imbalance. The combination of the two techniques helps to rebalance brain activity and enhance the effects of physiotherapy.

The procedures are considered completely safe and have been used in other treatments for depression, anxiety, chronic pain, and motor impairments resulting from stroke. Electrical and magnetic stimulation do not hurt, causing, at most, a slight tingling or a small pressure in the head, which passes quickly.

“We are using the best of both techniques: anodal tDCS [stimulatory], which has already shown good results in our previous study, and TB [inhibitory], which allows for faster and more concentrated sessions, with great potential for impact on cortical reorganization,” says physiotherapist Luana Aparecida Miranda Bonome, a doctoral candidate in the postgraduate program in Physiopathology in Clinical Medicine at FMB-Unesp. The study is part of her research project.

According to her, the differentiating factor of the Titan Trial lies precisely in the combination of the two techniques, stimulatory and inhibitory, coupled with specific physiotherapy. “All patients undergo physiotherapy focused on specific tasks, which enhances the effects of neuromodulation. There's no point in opening the window of brain plasticity and not taking advantage of it with a functional intervention,” comments Bonome.

The study is multicenter, with participation from institutions in various regions of Brazil, including the Federal University of Triângulo Mineiro (UFTM), with Gustavo Luvizutto, a physiotherapist and active member of the team with significant involvement in the previous study (Eletron Trial); the University of São Paulo (USP); the State University of Campinas (Unicamp); and specialized centers in Salvador (BA), Campo Grande (MS), and Joinville (SC), among others. There is also international collaboration with the University of Toronto, Canada, which will participate in the analysis of clinical outcomes, and physiotherapists Brenton Hordacre and Emily Ramage, researchers from Australia with experience in conducting clinical trials and neuromodulation. At least 51 patients will be recruited, divided into three groups: combined active stimulation, isolated electrical stimulation, and a placebo group, all groups receiving physiotherapy with task-oriented therapy.

“The selection of participants is rigorous. We only included patients with ischemic stroke of the right hemisphere and a confirmed diagnosis of spatial neglect. We excluded cases of bilateral lesions, severe cognitive deficits, or comorbidities that compromise adherence to treatment,” informs Bonome.

The interventions will be carried out during 15 sessions, with intermediate and follow-up evaluations after three, six, and 12 months. The interventions and evaluations will be conducted at the Clinical Research Unit (Upeclin), a major supporter of the project. Among the monitored outcomes, the main one is the reduction of NEU (neuroneurogenic stress), in addition to the analysis of improvements in functionality, autonomy, quality of life, and self-efficacy. The researchers hope that the results can consolidate the clinical application of combined neuromodulation as an effective and feasible strategy in the context of the Brazilian Unified Health System (SUS). “This will be an important step in transforming advanced technology into everyday healthcare practice,” concludes Bazan.