Students visit Fiocruz to study infectious diseases

Students from IMPA Tech’s bachelor’s degree in Mathematics of Technology and Innovation visited the facilities of the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz) in Manguinhos, in the north of Rio de Janeiro, on Wednesday (22). The activity was led by Professor Leonardo Bastos, who also works as a researcher in the institution’s Scientific Computing Program (PROCC), and was part of the directed study “Statistical modeling of infectious diseases”.

The visit gave the students direct contact with the research environment and the history of one of the country’s leading scientific institutions. “What struck me most was the size of Fiocruz and the level of organization needed to deal with different areas that directly impact Brazil, such as vaccines, epidemiological research and statistical analysis. I also found it very interesting to learn about the institution’s history over time,” said student Natália Brandão.

The itinerary included a tour of the Museum of Life and a guided tour of the Moorish Castle, where participants learned more about the formation of the institution and the development of public health in Brazil. The origins of Fiocruz date back to 1900, with the creation of the Federal Serotherapy Institute, responsible for producing serums and vaccines against bubonic plague.

Throughout its history, the foundation has been involved in important scientific milestones in the country, such as the creation of the National Department of Public Health in 1920, and advances in epidemiological research. These include the isolation of the HIV virus for the first time in Latin America, its work during the Zika and microcephaly epidemics and the studies carried out during the Covid-19 pandemic.

For the students, the experience also highlighted the diversity of areas and professionals involved in scientific production. “It was a great opportunity to get to know a very diverse research environment, which brings together data scientists, biologists and other specialists. In addition, the space also functions as a cultural and tourist center. In the castle, we had contact with historical documents, such as Carlos Chagas’ doctoral thesis, which shows how research was conducted in the past,” said student Lucas Vieira.

The visit complements the studies that have been developed throughout the semester. In the directed study, the students explore statistical methods applied to the analysis of infectious diseases, using real data and tools such as the R language. “We are developing models for diseases such as dengue and respiratory infections, analyzing, for example, the impact of vaccination on the evolution of cases. It’s an area I really enjoy, and being able to deepen this knowledge while still an undergraduate has been a very enriching experience,” said student Dulce Costa.