Regarding the article published by Folha de S.Paulo, on October 10, entitled “TCU points out irregularities in the work of Miguel Nicolelis”, the Santos Dumont Institute (ISD) clarifies:

• The civil work on the Brain Campus is not carried out by neuroscientist Miguel Nicolelis, as mentioned, but is the responsibility of the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN), ISD's partner in its implementation.

• The Federal Government's investment of R$ 57 million was transferred directly to UFRN to be used in the construction of the Brain Campus and is not part of the ISD budget.

• Civil works, under the responsibility of UFRN, are advanced. However, the basic infrastructure for water supply, sewage and electricity is in different stages of specification, bidding and execution. According to the MEC, the work should be delivered in the second half of 2016.

• Miguel Nicolelis is the creator of the project and president of the Board of Directors of ISD, a Social Organization (OS) that maintains the operation of three Scientific Education Centers, serving 1,400 students annually; a Health Education and Research Center, a reference outpatient service in maternal and child health in the region of Macaíba (RN), with a current capacity to provide 12,000 consultations/year, with a planned expansion to 20,000 consultations/year; and a Neuroscience Research Center (see below), having received from the MEC, in August 2014 and to date, a single transfer in the amount of R$ 29,693,901.00, which has been applied to their operating expenses. When the Campus do Cérebro is handed over by UFRN, the ISD will be responsible for coordinating and executing core activities, infrastructure and administrative and financial issues.

Center for Scientific Education – CEC 
Serrinha/BA Unit
Rua Machado de Assis, 152 – Municipal Gym 48.700-000 Municipality of Serrinha – BA
Tel: +55 (75) 3261 7523

Alfredo J. Monteverde School Scientific Education Center
Natal Unit:
Av. Interventor Mário Câmara, 3133, Bloco A – Cidade da Esperança 59070-600 – Natal – RN
Tel/Fax: +55 (84) 3205-5387

Macaíba Unit:
Rodovia RN 160, 3003 – Jundiaí District 59280-000 – Municipality of Macaíba – RN
Tel: +55 (84) 3271-5072

Anita Garibaldi Health Education and Research Center – CEPS
Rodovia RN 160, 2010 – Jundiaí District 59280-970 – Municipality of Macaíba – RN
Tel: +55 (84) 3271-3311

Edmond and Lily Safra International Institute of Neurosciences (IINELS)
*while the new headquarters is under construction at the Brain Campus
RN 160 Highway, 3003 – Jundiaí District
59280-000 – Municipality of Macaíba – RN
Tel: +55 (84) 3271-1500

• Regarding possible legal confusion between the Alberto Santos Dumont Association for Research Support (AASDAP) and the Alberto Santos Dumont Teaching and Research Institute (ISD), the first is a Civil Society Organization of Public Interest (OSCIP) and the Alberto Santos Dumont Teaching and Research Institute, a Social Organization (OS). OSCIPs are NGOs certified by the Ministry of Justice, which can form partnerships with Government bodies, as well as receive donations from the private sector. OSs are a model of non-state public organization, created by the Federal Government, designed to absorb public activities that are not exclusive to the State, through specific qualifications.

• AASDAP is recognized and approved by the Ministry of Justice and was created on April 17, 2004, to carry out the education and science project as agents of social transformation. Its function is to capture and manage public and private resources intended to sponsor cutting-edge scientific research and social projects in Brazil. He was responsible for managing the Scientific Education Centers and the International Institute of Neurosciences of Natal Edmond and Lily Safra (IINN-ELS) until July 2014. As of August 2014, this project was transferred to the Alberto Santos Teaching and Research Institute Dumont (ISD), qualified in February of the same year, by the Federal Government, as a Social Organization, to manage three scientific education centers, a health center and a Neuroscience research center and, upon delivery by UFRN , from the Brain Campus.

• A Working Group was established by the MEC, through Ordinance nº 755, published in the DOU on July 27, 2015, with the objective of carrying out studies and preparing proposals with a view to improving the implementation of the MEC-ISD Management Contract, as well as how to present a draft amendment to the management contract, through the MEC. The group includes representatives from the Department of Higher Education – SESu-MEC; Legal Consultancy – CONJURMEC; from UFRN and ISD.

• All resources transferred from the Union are supervised by the Fiscal Council and by an external audit appointed by the Administrative Council and by the Public Power control bodies. Compliance with the goals established in the Management Contract is monitored by the Management Contract Monitoring and Evaluation Committee (CAACG) of the MEC, under the terms of Law 9,637, of May 15, 1998, which deals with the creation of OSs. The Financial Report containing the main actions and results is published every six months on the ISD website (www.isd.org.br) and in the DOU – Official Gazette of the Union.

• With regard to any patents generated, the ownership, use and licensing of intellectual property generated from activities carried out by ISD will be governed by current legislation and in accordance with the best practices adopted by the country's educational and research institutions. Resources from patent licensing, if any, will be donated to the Institute, as a non-profit entity.

Santos Dumont Institute