At just 25 years old, biomedical scientist Wellydo Escarião has achieved a global feat: he was accepted into a competitive PhD program in Biomedical Sciences, promoted in partnership between two institutions of excellence, King's College London, in the United Kingdom, and A*STAR Singapore, in Singapore. The program lasts four years and requires the student to divide his time between the two countries, with a mandatory stay in Singapore for 18 months.
Born in Santa Luzia, in the backlands of Paraíba, Wellydo moved to Rio Grande do Norte when he was still a teenager, finishing high school in the city of Goianinha, in the interior of the state. Years later, he graduated in Biomedicine from the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN). He is currently a master's student in the Postgraduate Program in Neuroengineering at the Santos Dumont Institute (ISD), in Macaíba, where he studies aging and epigenetics of the central nervous system in primates, under the guidance of research professor Felipe Fiuza.
“My time at ISD changed the way I see the world and seek solutions to the problems we face, whether in our daily lives or in the context of scientific production,” says Wellydo. According to him, the multidisciplinary experience he gained at the institution was essential in preparing him for the challenges of his doctorate. “I believe that this solid foundation will help me develop new knowledge, which encompasses the universe of neuroengineering and computational analysis.”
PhD abroad
While still in his master's degree, Wellydo participated in mentoring programs promoted by Brazilian institutions, in partnership with renowned foreign universities, which guide students interested in doctoral programs outside the country. He wrote motivation letters for different international selections until he won one of the three scholarships, made available to students from all over the world, through the program of King's College London and A*STAR Singapore.
Wellydo is expected to move to the UK in October, when he is due to start his PhD. The approved project aims to investigate one of the most aggressive types of brain tumour: glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), which can lead to death in six months or less if left untreated.
The research proposes the use of nanointerfaces and computational tools to investigate the disease at the cellular and molecular level. The aim is to create tools that not only expand understanding of the molecular mechanisms of the disease, but also pave the way for more effective treatments.
Crowdfunding to pay for stay outside Brazil
Despite the approval, the student still faces a major challenge: obtaining financial support to cover the cost of moving and staying abroad. It is estimated that more than R$30,000 will be invested just for visas, tickets and initial accommodation.
Therefore, the student launched an online crowdfunding campaign and is selling books and CDs he collected to help with the move to the United Kingdom.
Those interested in contributing to the fundraiser can make donations using the Pix key: wellydokmarinho@gmail.com. In addition, the student provides information about book sales on his personal Instagram, @kesllowd. Every support counts, and helps write another chapter of this story that began in the backlands of Paraíba, passed through Rio Grande do Norte and now crosses borders in the name of science.
About ISD
The Santos Dumont Institute is a Social Organization linked to the Ministry of Education (MEC) and includes the Edmond and Lily Safra International Neuroscience Institute and the Anita Garibaldi Health Education and Research Center, both in Macaíba. ISD's mission is to promote education for life, forming citizens through integrated teaching, research and extension actions, in addition to contributing to a fairer and more humane transformation of Brazilian social reality.
