Foreword
Research Structures
Energy, Environment, and Biodiversity
- Metallic Materials Engineering
- Solar Energy
- Biodiversity and Ecosystems in Fields and Forests of the Atlantic Forest
- Economic, Human, and Environmental Development
- Primatology
- Genetics, Evolution, Ecology, and Conservation of Carnivores
- Oleochemistry: Processes and Products
- Technologies to Mitigate Environmental Impacts
- Ichthyology
- Ornithology
- The Center for Wind Energy
Humanities and Ethics
- Fundamental Rights
- Theological and Ethical Anthropology
- The Political Authoritarianism and Press in Contemporary Brazil
- Christology within the Contemporary Latin American Context
- Law and Bioethics
- Clinical Bioethics
- Ecclesiology and Emergent Problems
- Analytic Epistemology
- Ethics, Contemporaneity, and Deconstruction: The Philosophical Criticism of Violence
- Immigration, Towns, and Foreigners Narratives of Brazil (1864–1964)
- Criminal Procedure and Democratic Rule of Law
Culture and Education
- Southern Writers Collection
- Architecture and Heritage
- Culture, Subjectivity, and Formative Policies
- Between the Memories and Stories of Schools at Rio Grande do Sul: From the Deutscher Hilfsverein to Farroupilha School (1858-2008)
- Enunciation and Discourse
- Education for Health and Inclusive Education
- Teaching of Physics
- Format Y: Formation in Mathematics for Generation Y
- History of Literature: The Investigation and Diffusion of Sources
- Reading Literature: The School and Other Social Agencies
- Chemical Education
- Relationship between the Nature of Science and Science Education
- Literature, History, and Theories on the Imaginary
- Training of Professors, Licentiates, and Pedagogical Practices
Society and Development
- Companies and Organizations
- Law and Economy
- Study and Research on Violence
- Family, Social Work, and Health
- Architecture and Industrialization
- Agribusiness
- Social Well-being Economics
- Applied Mathematics
- Class Action Lawsuits
- Psychology and Social Policies: Memory, History, and Production of the Present Time
- Inter-organizational Relationships and Systemic Competitiveness
- Parties, Elections, and Political Communication
- Fundamental Principles of Tax Law
- Social Demands and Policies
Information and Communication Technology
- Wireless, Wired, and Optic Communications
- Organizational Communication
- Strategy and Innovation
- Hardware Project Support
- Computing Molecular Biophysics – The Modeling and Simulation of Biosystems
- Technological Development in Telehealth
- Resource Management and Virtualization
- The Management and Governance of Information Technology
- International News at the Global Village
- Communication Science
- Ubiquity and Technological Convergences in Communication
- Aerospace Research
- The Performance Evaluation Group
- The Group on Systems, Signals, and Computing
Biology and Health
- Cancer and Other Pathologies of the Oral and Maxillofacial Region
- Memory
- Molecular and Functional Biology
- Cardiometabolic Risk, Aging, and Nutrition
- Health Education and Work
- Structural Biochemistry
- Pediatric Respirology
- Applied Pharmacology: Characterization of Mechanisms Involved in Pain, Inflammation and Cancer
- Immunology and Immunodiagnostics
- Nephrology
- Neurosciences
- Orthodontics
- The Promotion of Health in Longevity
- Olympic Studies and Health Sciences
- Nerve Regeneration
- Intensive Neonatal Medicine and Congenital Infections
- Aerospace Pharmacy
- Medical Imaging
- Pulmonology
- Orofacial Pain and Temporomandibular Disorders
- Metabolic Transformations of Purines of Biological Importance
- The Study of Parasitosis, Biochemical Parameters, and Hematological Parameters Associated with Aging
- Aerospace Science
- Bioethics and Ethics Applied to Animals
- Pharmacovigilance
- Evaluation and Intervention in the Life Cycle
- Surgery for Obesity and Metabolic Syndrome
- Modification of Lifestyle and Cardiovascular Risk
- Nanostructures and Nanoscopy
- Clinical and Experimental Neuropsychology
- Psychology of Occupational Health
- Memory and Neurodegeneration
- Epidemiology, Neurology, and Immunology
- Chemistry of Natural Products
- Health Economics
Research Structures and Researchers
- RESEARCH STRUCTURES AND RESEARCHERS
- Business School: Management, Accounting and Economics (FACE)
- School of Architecture and Urbanism (FAU)
- School of Biosciences (FABIO)
- School of Aeronautical Sciences (FACA)
- School of Social Communication (FAMECOS)
- Law School (FADIR)
- School of Education (FACED)
- School of Physical Education and Sport Science (FEFID)
- School of Nursing, Nutrition and Physiotherapy (FAENFI)
- School of Engineering (FENG)
- School of Pharmacy (FFARM)
- School of Philosophy and Human Sciences (FFCH)
- School of Physics (FAFIS)
- School of Computer Science (FACIN)
- School of Letters: Languages, Linguistics and Literature (FALE)
- School of Mathematics (FAMAT)
- School of Medicine (FAMED)
- School of Dentistry (FO)
- School of Psychology (FAPSI)
- School of Chemistry (FAQUI)
- School of Social Work (FSS)
- School of Theology (FATEO)
- Institute of Bioethics (IB)
- Institute of Geriatrics and Gerontology (IGG)
- Institute of Research and Development (IDÉIA)
- Institute of Biomedical Research (IPB)
- Institute of Toxicology and Pharmacology (INTOX)
- Institute of the Brain (InsCer)
- Institute of Environment and Natural Resources (IMA)
- Museum of Sciences and Technology (MCT)
From basic research to industry – the study of resveratrol
In 1999, the Laboratory of the Chemistry of Natural Products was created in the School of Chemistry, led by Professor André Arigony Souto. The group’s research areas are as follows: The evaluation of the biological activity of natural products, The development of nutraceutical formulations, and The development of analytical methodologies to quantify bioactive molecules in different types of matrices.
The main project, which began in 1999, studies the molecule resveratrol, which is present in wine and important in combating diseases linked to aging, such as cardiovascular diseases, neurodegenerative diseases (Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s), and diabetes. In 2001, the Laboratory stood out when it published an article with data on the amount of resveratrol present in Brazilian red wines (information that previously did not exist in the Brazilian literature). An average of 2.5 mg/liter was discovered, which is a high level in comparison to the average for wines from other countries.
The next step, beginning in 2005, was the evaluation of different forms of resveratrol administration so that it could used as a pharmaceutical agent. In total, six patents were obtained, with two being the most important: one solved the problem of rapid elimination of resveratrol from the body (by means of a compound formed with another molecule, cyclodextrin, which slowly releases the resveratrol in the organism); the other developed the extraction process of resveratrol from a new natural source, the sorrel plant (Rumex acetosa), whose root contains a large amount of the molecule. The Laboratory sought a partnership in the pharmaceutical industry, and in 2008, it had its patents licensed by the company Eurofarma Laboratórios.
Currently, the main project of the Laboratory is to continue monitoring the processes with resveratrol. Currently, phase 1 clinical trials are starting (human testing for toxicity). If resveratrol passes through all the phases, it may reach the pharmaceutical market.