São Paulo – Two Arab doctoral students are among the 60 participants of the 2nd São Paulo School of Advanced Science (ESPCA), to take place from Monday (28) to March 4th, in Campinas, in the interior of the state of São Paulo. The Egyptian Rania Labib and the Moroccan Mounir Tilaoui should participate in the one-week course on molecular genetics to cover the most recent research on genetic diseases, in areas like genomics, oncology, neuroscience and haemoglobinopathy.
ESPCA is a fostering modality promoted by the State of São Paulo Research Foundation (Fapesp) for organisation of short courses in themes like science and technology. This year, the course is being promoted in partnership with the University of Campinas (Unicamp).
Of the total number of seats offered, 30 should be occupied by professionals from abroad. "The idea is to bring foreign students for scientific initiation, as well as professors," said Edi Lucia Sartorato, joint director of the Centre for Molecular Biology and Genetic Engineering at Unicamp.
Rania works for the research department at the National Cancer Institute, in Cairo. According to information supplied by Unicamp, the professional researches cancer, genomics and neuroscience.
Mounir, in turn, is undergoing his doctoral studies at the Technical Science College, in Beni Mellal. The Moroccan operates in research regarding the use of Artemisia herba alba, a bush used in traditional medicine in Morocco, for the treatment of serious diseases, like diabetes mellitus, hypertension and neuralgy.
Apart from Arab students, the course should also include students from India, Colombia, Uruguay, Canada, Chile, Venezuela, Japan, Argentina, Spain, the Untied States and France. To teach, apart from the Brazilians, ESPCA should also bring ten foreign professors, among them professionals from the United States, England and Spain.
"The advantage [of opening the course to foreigners] is improving scientific relations and promoting collaboration between groups that work in the same matters, like cancer, blood disease and generative diseases," said Edi.
All expenses travel and housing expenses of foreign students are covered by the Fapesp.
*Translated by Mark Ament
