After two years of virtual meetings and seminars, due to the covid-19 pandemic, scientists, post-docs, students, and technicians from RIDC Redoxoma returned to interact in person, at the eighth annual meeting of the group, held last week. In addition to the scientific agenda, the scientists discussed the future of redox research in Brazil.

For Professor Ohara Augusto, director of Redoxoma, the meeting showed the group’s unity and the excellence of the research produced, despite the temporary laboratories closure. She highlighted, at the opening of the event, the importance of science and scientists in facing the pandemic, with the development of vaccines, rapid diagnostic tests, and better treatments for severe cases of the disease. “We went through difficult times, which affected us in many ways. We know that the number of Brazilians that have died was excessive, and we know why. And this tragedy was not enough, because our government seems to be trying to destroy the entire country. But they won’t be able to if Brazilians decide to follow good examples to build their future”, she said.

The meeting had more than 100 participants. The most important recent scientific results of the four Redoxoma goals were presented, in addition to advances in innovation and technology transfer and education and knowledge dissemination. One of the highlights of the event was the poster session, in which 57 works of high scientific level were presented and discussed by highly stimulated young people.

Ohara Augusto was honored by the group for receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award 2022 from the Society for Redox Biology and Medicine (SfRBM).

“Our meeting once again demonstrated that the RIDC Redoxoma makes us better professionals. The science produced by each of us has increased in quality, scope and visibility. We also increased our openness to interactions with peers, society, and companies. Working together, we gained greater political strength in the national and international scientific scenario”, Ohara said when raising the question of Redoxoma continuity after the end of this RIDC project. The consensus was that the group should continue.

This September, the RIDC Redoxoma enters its tenth year of activity, with most of its main researchers participating in the different Redoxoma networks that preceded the RIDC, such as the Millennium Project and the INCT, since 2006. The Research, Innovation and Dissemination Centers (RIDCs) are supported by the São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP).

Highlighting the importance of the redox area in Latin America, Francisco Laurindo, RIDC Redoxoma’s vice-director, invited everyone to the joint conference of the Society for Redox Biology and Medicine (SfRBM) and Society for Free Radical Research International (SFRRI), to be held in Uruguay, in 2023. As of November 2022, Laurindo assumes the SfRBM presidency.

The RIDC Redoxoma meeting was held on July 25 and 26, at the István Jancsó Auditorium - Biblioteca Brasiliana, at the Universidade de São Paulo (USP).