After eight years as chairman of the Board of Directors of the Santos Dumont Institute (ISD), neuroscientist Miguel Nicolelis is leaving his post. The change took place at an ordinary meeting of the Board this Wednesday, June 8, and the election follows the provisions of Article 17º Item IV of the Bylaws of ISD, which provides for four-year terms with permission for reappointment to the function. Chosen by unanimous vote, the new chairman of the ISD Board of Directors is the executive Theodoro Paraschiva, who held the position of advisor at the institution. On the same occasion, the counselors reappointed the obstetrician Dr. Reginaldo Freitas Jr. to the General Directorate. Both terms last for four years.

The Board of Directors is ISD's highest decision-making body. Its members are representatives of public authorities, civil society entities, associates of the Institute and people of recognized professional capacity in the institution's areas of activity. The activity of president and board member is unpaid, and consists of periodic meetings to deliberate on matters such as: the general lines of ISD policies, guidelines and strategies; management contract proposals, budget, investment program and action plan for the execution of activities; financial and accounting statements and annual accounts; creation and amendment of statutes, internal regulations, own regulations for contracting works, services, purchases and disposals, as well as a plan for positions, salaries and employee benefits; management and activity reports to be forwarded to the supervisory body for the execution of the management contract; compliance with established guidelines and targets.

“After eight years as chairman and board member, my term comes to an end. I would like to thank all the members of the Board, for all the support, for all the collaboration and the continuous work so that we could keep the Institute walking within its basic initial guidelines that continue to guide all the work carried out by the technical team and general direction”, declared the neuroscientist Miguel Nicolelis, who conceived the idea of the Santos Dumont Institute. 

The new chairman of the ISD Board of Directors knows the institution in detail. Theodoro Paraschiva, an engineer by training, served as general director of the Santos Dumont Institute between 2014 and 2018. He was one of those responsible for setting up the Edmond and Lily International Institute of Neurosciences (IIN-ELS), known as Campus do Cérebro, also in Macaíba. Since leaving the general board, Theodoro has taken on the role of advisor. After the announcement of his choice for the presidency of the collegiate, Theodoro recalled his career at the Institute and thanked the trust placed in him in what he considers a challenging mission. “I want to thank Prof. Nicolelis for the appointment, to the other directors for the choice. The work developed at ISD is exceptional”, he pointed out. 

Miguel Nicolelis then recalled that the dream of building the Institute was born two decades ago and was considered one of the most daring projects in his 40-year career. “This project was born 20 years ago with the idea that it was possible to carry out cutting-edge science anywhere in Brazil and transform this science into an agent of social transformation. Thanks to the commitment of hundreds of people, counselors, scientists, past students, all the women assisted by the Institute's team, who manage to receive free support in basic prenatal care, we contribute to improving the quality of life of these women and of your children. I feel deeply fulfilled”, he adds. 

Nicolelis also stated that although this was his last official act at the head of the Institute's Board, he hopes to be able to contribute voluntarily to the continuity of the institution's work "This project has become an instrument of the Brazilian State, and can provide not only not only an improvement in the quality of life for the surrounding population, but also contributing to the training of scientists and the country's scientific capacity in a region where few believed it would be possible to install a science center. This makes me extremely proud and happy”, said Miguel Nicolelis. 

At the end of the speech, the neuroscientist called on all advisors to continue developing the work to support the Institute, which was endorsed by the director general of the institution, Reginaldo Freitas Jr. “Gratitude to Prof. Miguel, to the advisors. The reappointment to the position of director general represents the result of teamwork. A team that shares values, responsibilities, challenges and that, above all, grows stronger because it has dedicated a lot of love to the work that is carried out here. My name, in this situation, represents all the workers at the Santos Dumont Institute, which today number more than 100. The ISD is a life experience that deserves to be lived and I hereby reassert my commitment to living this institution, placing it above everyone else. us”, declared Reginaldo Freitas Jr.. 

In a message addressed to Prof. Miguel Nicolelis, the general director, emphasized that the change in the presidency of the Board of Directors follows an institutional norm, but does not represent the end of the scientist's collaborations with the ISD. “It's not a farewell, it's a natural change that takes place in a formal context, complies with Brazilian legislation and reinforces our commitment to institutional development. Our immense gratitude to your dream, to your energy. Your dream became our dream and became the reality that today delights us and makes us happy. The word to say to you is: gratitude!”, emphasized Reginaldo Freitas Jr. Then, he welcomed the new president. “I am grateful for Theo's generosity, who knows us and who is present in every brick of this work. Many people walked before us and paved the way for things to happen. Theo is an inspiration and a reference. He has my deepest admiration and respect. On behalf of the entire ISD team, I know we are safe.”

Recognition

The president of the Federation of Industries of Rio Grande do Norte (Fiern), Amaro Sales de Araújo, who represents the National Confederation of Industry (CNI) as one of the members of the Board of Directors of ISD, congratulated the work carried out by Prof. Miguel Nicolelis throughout the two terms as president and highlighted the importance of the Institute for the state of Rio Grande do Norte. “We all know the effort that Prof. Miguel had to bring this scenario to Rio Grande do Norte. We have a lot to be thankful for. I am very happy with this reappointment (of Reginaldo Freitas Jr. to the general board of ISD). I want to congratulate and say that the National Confederation of Industry will always be present on the Board”, stressed Sales.

The following directors were present at the meeting: José Luiz Egydio Setúbal, Fábio Donato Soares Larotonda, Anna Maria Lima Sales, George Dantas de Azevedo, Musa Morais and Francisco Humberto Vignoli. Representing ISD were: Reginaldo Freitas Jr., general director; Jovan Gadioli dos Santos, managing director of ISD; Lilian Lira Lisboa, manager of the Anita Garibaldi Health Education and Research Center (Anita) and Edgard Morya, manager of the Edmond and Lily Safra International Institute of Neurosciences (IIN-ELS).