Medical students from Cariri (CE) visit ISD units in Macaíba (RN)
Text and photos: Ariane Mondo – Ascom ISD – Photo album on Facebook HERE
03/02/2016
Medical students from Ceará took advantage of the vacation period to visit two units of the Santos Dumont Institute (ISD) in Macaíba (RN), about 20 kilometers from Natal. Between January 26 and 29, 2016, five students from Federal University of Cariri and one of the Federal University of Ceara were welcomed by ISD staff and participated in activities at the Anita Garibaldi Health Education and Research Center (CEPS) and in Edmond and Lily Safra International Institute of Neuroscience (IIN-ELS).
How it all began
All the students who came to visit ISD are enthusiasts in the field of neuroscience and participate in the Cariri Neuroscience League (LINECC), founded a year ago by a group of medical students from the region. The League currently has 14 members, who organize weekly meetings, write scientific articles and give presentations on neuroscience open to the public. In 2015 they held the 1st Cariri Neuroscience Symposium and invited researchers from all over the country to give thematic lectures. One of the guests at the event was the IIN-ELS researcher, Mariana Araujo, who traveled to Ceará and spoke about the work developed in the ISD units, focusing on the IIN-ELS research lines: Brain-machine interface (BMI) It is neuromodulation. The students' curiosity in getting to know first-hand what ISD has been doing in the area of neuroscience led them to schedule a visit during the course holidays to immerse themselves in two of the ISD units in Macaíba.
Innovative activities in Macaíba
The future doctors began their experience by visiting the CEPS, which provides prenatal care, particularly for high-risk pregnancies. The students learned about the history of the unit, as well as some of the outreach projects carried out by the Center. They also saw the maternal and child care services offered to cases referred by the SUS and were able to observe some of the work carried out by the CEPS multidisciplinary team. Following the immersive week, the medical students experienced advanced research activities and learned more about the work developed at the IIN-ELS, both by researchers and by the Institute's master's and scientific initiation students. They were able to use the Oculus, an object with sensors that allows the user to experience the virtual reality program, and there were also demonstrations of the Zero G equipment, which can be used on patients with spinal cord injuries. Everyone received explanations about one of the innovative research projects of the IIN-ELS, which studies the development of methodologies combining virtual reality, electroencephalography and Zero G.
Reports of the experience at the Santos Dumont Institute units
Matheus Ribeiro, 20 years old, will start the 5th semester of medicine at the Federal University of Cariri and commented that he was finding the experience different, as he was able to learn about innovative scientific research methods that have clinical applications. The student said that the visit to the ISD made him see the real possibility of carrying out high-level work in the Northeast of Brazil and stated that the days spent in Macaíba only reinforced his desire to continue in the research area.
“I never imagined that I would have all this in Brazil, in the Northeast, right next to my house,” said the student smiling. Larissa Mina, 18 years old, who will start the 4th period of medicine at the Federal University of Ceará. She, who has always admired the field of neuroscience, said that with the visit to the ISD she was able to glimpse other perspectives for people with neurological problems, combining research and cutting-edge technology to improve the quality of life of affected patients.
Vangelisson Diniz, 22 years old, who will be starting his 5th semester of medicine at the Federal University of Cariri, said that getting to know the work of the ISD more closely was an incredible experience and said he was very pleased to have this type of experience while still an undergraduate. Vangleilson also lamented that many universities in the country have poor research, which, in his opinion, leads students to seek other institutions to have contact with this area.
Israel Pereira, 26 years old, who has already graduated in biomedicine and is now going into his 4th semester of medical school at the Federal University of Cariri, reported that visiting the ISD had been a long-held dream since the Symposium held last year in Ceará. He said he felt like he was in another country by observing the innovative research carried out at the Institute's units. “This is like a new movie, whose script is still being written. Science is written here,” said the student when reflecting on the pioneering work carried out by the professionals at the Santos Dumont Institute.
Just like Israel, Catherine Tavora, 20 years old, who will be studying medicine for the 4th semester at the Federal University of Cariri, also said that she felt like she was not in Brazil when she visited the ISD units. Although she had always admired research, she did not see many possibilities in this area because she felt that the country lacked incentives for this field. The student reported that her immersion in the Institute changed her perception of medicine, because before she imagined her career as more linked to clinical practices, and with the visit to the units in Macaíba, Catarina saw up close examples of research combined with methods that can be applied in medical treatments.
Gabriel Siqueira, 19 years old, who will be studying medicine for the third year at the Federal University of Cariri, said that he always wanted to work in the field of research, even though his dream in the medical field was “faded”. Getting to know the units and the work of the ISD opened up new horizons in his path. “The Institute is helping to train new researchers. Who knows, maybe Brazil will become a reference in research? This visit to the Institute helps us dream”, said Gabriel. “One thing that caught my attention was the enthusiasm of the ISD researchers in sharing their knowledge. One lesson that comes from this is humility. It was a very rewarding week”, said the future doctor.
Edgard Morya, a research professor at the Edmond and Lily Safra International Institute of Neuroscience (IIN-ELS), states that this ISD unit constantly receives students from various institutions so that they can have contact with advanced scientific methodologies in neuroscience and neuroengineering. “This interaction between students from Cariri and our students encourages the exchange of information and knowledge,” says the researcher. “It is important that future doctors return to Ceará with new perspectives and further develop the Neuroscience League there. They are also multipliers of the idea that it is possible to do cutting-edge science in Brazil. All of them have already demonstrated initiative and interest by spending an intensive week at the Santos Dumont Institute units,” he concludes.
Learn more about the Edmond and Lily Safra International Institute of Neuroscience (IIN-ELS): https://www.institutosantosdumont.org.br/instituto-internacional-de-neurocienciasedmond-e-lily-safra/
Learn more about the Anita Garibaldi Health Education and Research Center (CEPS): https://www.institutosantosdumont.org.br/centro-de-educacao-e-pesquisa-em-saude-anita-garibaldi/
