Text by: Daniela Prandi 

Often associated with sophisticated exams and high-cost treatments, precision medicine is still seen as a reality restricted to highly specialized centers. A new international commission created by the scientific journal The Lancet, titled “The Lancet Commission on Precision Health”The group aims to change this perception. It brings together more than 20 experts from various countries, including Iscia Lopes-Cendes, a professor at the Faculty of Medical Sciences (FCM) at Unicamp and a researcher at the Brazilian Institute of Neuroscience and Neurotechnology (Cepid-Brainn), based at Unicamp.

Lopes-Cendes, a specialist in genomic medicine and technologies applied to neuroscience, is one of two representatives from Latin America in the group, which also includes psychiatrist Christian Kieling from the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS). According to her, the commission’s objective is to formulate recommendations so that precision health strategies can be equitably incorporated into health systems worldwide.

In this process, he emphasizes, Brazil can play an important role. “I see Brazil as having a great responsibility to do the right thing, because we are a showcase for other countries in Latin America and for countries in the Global South.”

According to Lopes-Cendes, the country occupies a strategic position because it possesses characteristics that can transform it into a benchmark. “We can implement this equitably because, as long as it occurs within the Unified Health System (SUS), which has enormous reach, it will benefit all Brazilians.”

The researcher emphasizes that the combination of a universal public system, the increasing integration of health databases, and the accumulated experience in prevention policies puts Brazil in a privileged position to test models that can later be replicated in other regions of the world.

“Given Brazil’s characteristics—a country that produces a great deal of statistics and is currently transitioning to a higher level of development—there is significant international interest in what happens here. Brazilian case studies may be published within the commission. Our healthcare system is very organized in terms of record-keeping and data production, and this allows for the development of very interesting research,” she added.

The commission was created to address a growing challenge in healthcare systems. Although scientific advances have demonstrated that genetic, environmental, behavioral, and social factors influence the onset of diseases and the response to treatments, most medical care is still based on population averages and standardized protocols. The so-called precision health seeks precisely to incorporate this diversity. “We decided not to call the commission ‘precision medicine,’ but ‘precision health,’ because we can recommend actions related to lifestyle, behavior, and even public policies,” she explains.

The scientific journal Genetics and Molecular Biology (GMB), published by the Brazilian Society of Genetics, is celebrating 50 years in 2027. To mark this occasion, the journal is highlighting the 50 most cited papers in its history. Among them is the review ‘The new world of RNAs‘, which included contributions from three researchers of the CEPID BRAINN, André Schwambach Vieira, Simoni Helena Avansini and Iscia Lopes-Cendes.

The New World of RNAs

Published in 2013, the article is a didactic review on noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs), with a primary focus on microRNAs (miRNAs) and small interfering RNAs (siRNAs).

In the article, the authors explain miRNA biogenesis and how these molecules can regulate gene expression, either through mRNA degradation or by inhibiting translation. The text also describes the different classes of ncRNAs, the complexity of regulatory networks, and the association between miRNA dysregulation and diseases such as cancer.

The review further addresses siRNAs and the mechanism of RNA interference (RNAi), emphasizing that siRNAs are an important tool in mammals for silencing specific genes, and discusses experimental and therapeutic applications — from functional studies to early clinical trials of RNA‑based drugs. The authors comment on the potential of miRNAs as biomarkers and RNAi approaches as promising therapeutic strategies, while also pointing out technical limitations (target prediction specificity, need for experimental validation) and challenges for clinical translation.

About Genetics and Molecular Biology

GMB was published between 1978 and 1997 under the title Revista Brasileira de Genética (Brazilian Journal of Genetics), and its name was updated to Genetics and Molecular Biology starting with volume 21, issue 01, March 1998. In 2024, the journal obtained an impact factor of 1.3 (1.7 for 5 years / JCR, Clarivate), with a Citescore of 3.2 and an h‑Index of 65.

The researcher Isadora Cristina Ribeiro, from CEPID BRAINN, received the Young Researcher Award 2026 at the Congress on Brain, Behavior and Emotions, which took place from June 3 to 6 in Porto Alegre, Brazil.

The work presented by Isadora is titled “Brain functional connectivity is modulated by resistance training and is associated with blood biomarkers in mild cognitive impairment“, and evaluated whether there are differences in brain functional connectivity after resistance exercise in older adults with mild cognitive impairment, as well as whether there is a correlation between functional connectivity of brain networks and plasma biomarkers of Alzheimer’s disease.

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The study, in addition to the Young Researcher Award, also received an honorable mention at the same event.

Visit the link below for more information about this line of studies by the researcher.

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About the Award

The Young Researcher Award is an initiative of the Congress on Brain, Behavior and Emotions to promote and recognize the scientific production of new talents in the fields of neuroscience and mental health. At each edition, the event awards the papers and abstracts that receive the highest scores during the scientific evaluation.

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Precision medicine for all — this is the objective of a new global initiative that seeks to broaden the scope of precision health (a term encompassing both disease prevention and treatment), deploying cutting‑edge technologies across diverse socioeconomic contexts.

The The Lancet Commission on Precision Health, of which CEPID BRAINN researcher Dr. Iscia Lopes‑Cendes is a member, intends to translate medical, scientific, technological and analytical advances into effective, equitable and financially sustainable health interventions that account for the social, cultural and economic characteristics of specific populations. This is precision medicine in practice, tested in real‑world settings. Below is a summary of the project.

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Annual Reviews: como integrar Genômica, Medicina de Precisão e sistemas de saúde na América Latina?

The era of one‑size‑fits‑all treatment is over

Many of the world’s most common and serious diseases (such as cardiovascular disease, mental health disorders and cancer) do not affect all individuals in the same way. Disease etiology and treatment responses can vary substantially between individuals and across populations. Nevertheless, most health systems still employ a one‑size‑fits‑all approach, which constrains therapeutic efficacy and the equity of care.

According to researchers from The Lancet Commission, this unified approach to disease management made sense until recently, prior to the major medical, technological and data‑processing advances of the last decades.

“Most modern healthcare is based on population averages — adopting an approach that assumes what works on average will work for each individual,” the group states.

“This ‘one‑size‑fits‑all’ model was reasonable when we lacked tools to predict disease risk or treatment response with precision. Today, however, we know that people differ markedly in how diseases develop and how treatments perform, depending on their genetics, environment, behavior and access to healthcare.”

About the Commission

The The Lancet Commission on Precision Health aims to change this paradigm by developing prevention and care strategies that make healthcare more effective and equitable worldwide. The group’s stated goal is “to ensure that the benefits of precision medicine reach all populations, not only a privileged few.”

Working model of the Commission for precision health studies. Source: official website of the group

Precision‑based strategies have already been implemented successfully in high‑income countries using advanced (and costly) technologies, particularly in oncology. The Commission seeks to demonstrate that these examples do not exhaust the potential of this medical‑scientific approach, which can also be adopted in settings with greater economic and technological constraints. In other words, there are accessible, low‑cost opportunities that can help scale precision medicine globally.

Precision Health considers an individual’s genetic, biological and environmental characteristics to design tailored therapeutic strategies. This enables improvements in treatment duration and effectiveness, as well as in preventive measures.

The group will examine the application of precision health both for disease prevention (through lifestyle changes, behavioral interventions and pharmacotherapies) and for disease management (including diagnostics, therapies, prognostics and monitoring), comparing health outcomes and quality of life of subgroups and individuals against traditional standardized treatments.

The Commission comprises more than 20 researchers from around the world. Latin America is represented by CEPID BRAINN physician‑researcher Dr. Iscia Lopes‑Cendes, an expert in genomic medicine and multi‑omics technologies applied to neuroscience, and by Dr. Christian Kieling from the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul.

The Commission will operate for approximately three years, having been formally launched in January 2026. The group’s studies, analyses, findings and recommendations will be published periodically in The Lancet, one of the world’s leading scientific journals.

For further reading

For more details and information, consult the official launch announcement in The Lancet and the links below.

• Franks PW, Lim LL, Ramsay M, Chotirmall SH, Abedalthagafi MS, Ali R, K SB, Ford J, Giordano GN, Hamdi Y, Kieling C, Leal J, Li F, Lopes‑Cendes I, Lyons L, Misra S, Owolabi MO, Rosenquist R, Tandon N, Tsosie KS, Udler MS, Smeden MV, Verguet S, Wason J. The Lancet Commission on precision health: equitable, data‑driven health outcomes for all. Lancet. 2026 May 25:S0140-6736(26)00612-4. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(26)00612-4. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 42184810.
• See the Commission’s publications list: https://www.theprecisionhealthcommission.org/publications/
• Visit the official website: https://www.theprecisionhealthcommission.org/

The singer Milton Nascimento was diagnosed with Lewy body dementia (LBD), a neurodegenerative disease. The news sparked public interest in an issue that affects millions of people, not only the elderly.

The situation is more worrying in countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America. In Brazil, the matter still involves misinformation and stigma that hinder the pursuit of appropriate and effective follow‑up care. Many families delay seeking support and tend to believe that cognitive difficulties are normal as years go by. The consequence is that patients arrive at clinics when the problem is already advanced and the possibility of controlling it is reduced.

Information, however, is the best path. Studies indicate that people aged 50 and over who adopt preventive measures have up to 25% lower chances of developing dementia. Physical activity, healthy eating and habits such as reading can, indeed, help. To discuss the topic, “Direto na Fonte” speaks with Professor Marcio Balthazar, head of the Cognitive Neurology Group in the Department of Neurology at the Faculty of Medical Sciences (FCM) of Unicamp and a member of CEPID BRAINN.

“A cada ano que passa, recebo pacientes mais jovens. Tem pessoas na casa dos 30 anos, por exemplo. A prevenção é o melhor caminho”, alerta Balthazar.

Originally published at FCM Unicamp

The World Academy of Sciences for the Advancement of Science in Developing Countries (TWAS) elected Iscia Lopes Cendes, a faculty member of the Department of Medical Genetics and Genomic Medicine at the Faculty of Medical Sciences (FCM) of Unicamp and a researcher at CEPID BRAINN, as a member in 2024, in recognition of her distinguished contributions to science and to strengthening knowledge in the Global South. The diploma was presented during the 17th TWAS General Conference, held in Rio de Janeiro from 29 September to 2 October.

The conference is held biennially and, in this edition, was supported by the Brazilian Academy of Sciences (ABC), of which Iscia is also a member. Highlights of the event included discussions on strengthening scientific collaboration among countries of the Global South and the importance of investing in science as a foundation for sustainable development. Iscia took part in meetings with researchers from diverse regions, discussing topics related to health, innovation and scientific inclusion.

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According to the professor, the moment was significant for valuing science produced in the Global South.

“It was inspiring to see so many scientists committed to advancing knowledge and to the social impact of research,” she said.

On the meaning of the recognition, Iscia stated: “It is a great honor and also a responsibility. TWAS represents a commitment to science aimed at improving people’s lives, especially in developing countries. Being recognized for this work motivates me even more to continue advocating for open, inclusive science with real societal impact.”

Iscia Lopes Cendes was elected in 2024 and sworn in at the 2025 TWAS congress

The professor believes that her career — combining excellent research, the training of young scientists and the promotion of international collaboration — was decisive for this achievement.

“I have always believed that doing science in Brazil — and for Brazil — is possible and essential, and I have sought to demonstrate this throughout my career,” she emphasized.

For Iscia, the recognition reinforces Unicamp’s role as a center of scientific excellence and serves as an inspiration for new generations.

Nísia Trindade, former Minister of Health and speaker at the Symposium on Health in the Global South

Regarding the integration of Brazil and Latin America into the international scene, Iscia highlights that there are research groups of excellence and very high‑level science despite the difficulties. “Genetics and genomics in Latin America have demonstrated significant contributions, particularly linked to our genetic diversity and its implications for building the medicine of the future. The applications of genomics in medicine have advanced greatly in the country, contributing to the inclusion of precision medicine and public health in the SUS. What we now need is sustained investment and policies that ensure the knowledge generated here is valued and applied for the benefit of our population,” she said.

“I hope this serves especially as an example to young women who dream of pursuing a scientific career. May they know that it is indeed possible to occupy these spaces and contribute to changing the world through science. At a time when scientific thinking is being questioned, we must reaffirm, with conviction, that it is through science that we progress as a society,” concluded Iscia.

TWAS

The World Academy of Sciences for the advancement of science in developing countries (TWAS) was founded in 1983 by a group of scientists from the developing world, under the leadership of Abdus Salam, the Pakistani physicist and Nobel laureate. TWAS is associated with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and works to support sustainable prosperity through research, education, policy and diplomacy. The organization has members from more than 100 countries.

Helena Nader, president of the Brazilian Academy of Sciences (ABC) and co‑organizer of the event, addresses the audience

On August 5th, 2025, the University of Campinas (UNICAMP) and BRAINN, Brazil, hosted the scientific lecture “The genotype-phenotype association of epilepsy-associated brain lesions: the 2025 update”, delivered by Professor Ingmar Blümcke, MD, from Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Germany.

The presentation focused on the complexities involved in establishing clear genotype-phenotype correlations in epilepsy-associated brain lesions. Professor Blümcke emphasized that, in certain types of brain lesions, defining such relationships remains a major scientific and clinical challenge. This limitation highlights the ongoing need to continuously revise diagnostic classifications and clinical protocols, in parallel with the evolution of genetic research.

Throughout the lecture, recent findings were presented that support the relevance of integrating histopathological and genetic data to improve diagnostic precision.

The event contributed significantly to the academic environment by promoting discussion on the advances in epilepsy research and reinforcing the role of updated classification systems in enhancing patient care and research strategies.

Between 31 July and 3 August 2025, Campinas hosted the 15th edition of the International School of Neuropathology and Neuroimaging in Epilepsy (INES 2025), an initiative organized by the International Society of Neuropathology (ISN) in partnership with the International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE), and supported by CEPID BRAINN. The event aimed to provide advanced training for researchers and healthcare professionals in neuropathology, neuroimaging and neurosurgery applied to the diagnosis and treatment of focal epilepsy.

Program and practical activities

Activities took place at Unicamp’s Casa do Professor Visitante (CPV) and in the Neuroanatomy and Neuroimaging Laboratories, combining theoretical lectures, clinical case discussions and hands‑on sessions. The course brought together participants from a range of countries, including Brazil, Germany, Austria, Mexico, Honduras, Uruguay, Argentina, Peru, Canada, Colombia, India, Venezuela, Chile and the Dominican Republic, reinforcing the international character of the initiative and expanding the network of scientific collaboration among institutions across continents.

The scientific program was structured to cover fundamental concepts and recent advances related to the recognition, classification and characterization of brain lesions associated with focal epilepsy. Activities emphasized the integration of neuropathology, neuroimaging and neurosurgery, enabling participants to appreciate the importance of a multidisciplinary approach for accurate diagnosis and individualized therapeutic planning.

International collaborations

In addition to lectures delivered by specialists from Brazil, Germany and Austria, the course included practical sessions on magnetic resonance imaging interpretation, demonstrations of neuroanatomy applied to surgical access routes and training in the neuropathological assessment of surgical specimens. Macroscopic and microscopic analysis of samples allowed participants to correlate clinical, radiological and histopathological findings, strengthening understanding of the mechanisms involved in epileptogenesis and their relevance for clinical decision‑making.

A highlight was the participation of Prof. Ingmar Blümcke of Friedrich‑Alexander Universität Erlangen‑Nürnberg (Germany), an international authority in epilepsy neuropathology. His presence made a significant contribution to the scientific update of participants and to the reinforcement of international collaborations already established with Unicamp research groups.

After the course concluded, the researcher also delivered the lecture “The genotype‑phenotype association of epilepsy‑associated brain lesions: the 2025 update” at the Hospital de Clínicas of Unicamp to approximately 40 professionals, including physicians, residents and other healthcare staff, thereby extending the reach of the knowledge‑dissemination activities promoted during his visit.

A scientifically and academically impactful event

Compared with previous editions, INES 2025 substantially increased the number of hours devoted to practical activities, especially those related to neuroanatomy demonstrations, surgical approach planning and neuropathological evaluation of surgical specimens. These activities reinforced the importance of integration among different specialties for the diagnosis and treatment of focal epilepsy, and highlighted the role of interdisciplinary communication in the development of translational research.

In this context, the event also helped to showcase internationally the research model developed at Unicamp and CEPID BRAINN, characterized by efficient integration among neuroimaging, neurosurgery, neuropathology, neurogenetics and clinical research. Interaction among faculty, researchers and participants fostered discussion of clinical cases and research projects, promoted exchange of experiences and encouraged the establishment of new scientific collaborations.

The course’s formative impact was widely acknowledged by participants. In anonymous evaluations conducted at the end of the event, many students emphasized the opportunity to learn directly from international experts and the relevance of the content for their academic and professional activities. Reports indicated that the knowledge gained has direct application in research projects and clinical practice, particularly in the areas of imaging diagnostics, neuropathology and surgical treatment of epilepsy. The practical sessions in neuroanatomy and neuroimaging were especially valued by participants, who highlighted the quality of the available infrastructure and the opportunity to correlate theoretical concepts with real‑world situations encountered in care and research.

Results from the satisfaction survey conducted by the ILAE showed a high level of approval for the event, with more than 90% of participants rating the experience as extremely positive and indicating that their expectations were met or exceeded.

Thus, INES 2025 consolidated itself as an important initiative for human resource training, internationalization and dissemination of scientific knowledge, contributing to the capacity building of professionals and researchers from different countries and strengthening the role of CEPID BRAINN and Unicamp as centers of excellence in research, teaching and innovation in the field of epilepsies.

A Unicamp study, involving researchers from the CEPID BRAINN, was featured on Jornal da EPTV 1 (Rede Globo) on June 25, 2025. The segment highlights the development of assistive-robotics technologies designed to improve the quality of life for people with disabilities and reduced mobility.

According to the researchers, these projects aim to restore autonomy and promote inclusion by enabling users to perform daily tasks more independently.

INTERNATIONAL AWARD

The report notes that this line of research recently earned international recognition: Unicamp’s Advanced Robotics Laboratory team won the PhyRC Challenge, outperforming 56 other institutions from 17 countries. The prize honored advances and innovations in robotic manipulator programming.

In addition to detailing these programming breakthroughs, the piece showcases other devices developed at the university that aid in mobility, communication, and environmental interaction—focusing on accessible, customized solutions. It also features testimonials from people with disabilities who already use this technology in their daily lives, describing how it has transformed their routines, bringing greater dignity and self-esteem.

During the interview, Rohmer commented:

“A technology developed specifically to help put on clothing can also be applied to handling other types of objects. For example, if the manipulator is mounted above a wheelchair, it can serve as an ‘extension’ of the person with a disability, allowing them to manipulate everyday objects.”.

Watch the full report at the link below:

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Unicamp research indicates that weight training may slow dementia in the elderly, offering an accessible and effective alternative for Alzheimer’s prevention.

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