Collaboration in the area of neuropsychopharmacology is one of the highlights
Connecting with international institutions is essential for the continuous actions of internationalization of PUCRS. In 2018, an international cooperation agreement was established with the University of Milan. Both universities initially joined forced in 2014, when the director of the Institute of Geriatrics and Gerontology of PUCRS (IGG), Dr Newton Luiz Terra, went to Italy. Later in the future, PUCRS welcomed Dr Maurizio Popoli for the International Symposium of Geriatrics, in Porto Alegre.
Increasing interest in research into human aging has strengthened the ties between both institutions. The visit paid by School of Medicine professor and coordinator of experimental research of the Brain Institute of Rio Grande do Sul (BraIns), Dr Denise Cantarelli Machado, in special, has materialized this agreement, and now both universities can work together.
One of the ongoing projects involving PUCRS and the University of Milan is the MicroRNAs in frailty-associated cognitive impairment (MATCH-In), coordinated by Popoli. PUCRS is the only university outside of Europe to have joined this research group.
The agreement seeks to advance research and increase student and faculty mobility, especially for PhD students, who can now do internships in Italy. Carina Zuppa, who holds a doctoral degree in Biomedical Gerontology, being advised by Denise, was one of the students who had the chance to work at the laboratories of University of Milan for one year, between 2017 and 2018.
This partnership must be included in the Programa Institucional de Internacionalização da Capes – Capes/PrInt (Institutional Program of Internationalization), as a response to PUCRS’ efforts in the area. “We hope this unprecedented agreement makes a contribution to the elderly in our countries to age autonomously, independently, healthily, actively, safely and productively”, comments Terra.
