The Covid-19 pandemic exposed longstanding inequalities in healthcare access worldwide, particularly in Brazil. These disparities were especially evident in access to hospital beds and vaccines, disproportionately affecting low-income communities in major cities and regions with lower human development indices.

In response, the Vacina Maré project was launched in 2021 to expand vaccination coverage and study health data in favelas during the pandemic. This ongoing initiative was developed by the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz), the Redes da Maré organization, and the Rio de Janeiro City Hall, with support from the D’Or Institute for Research and Education (IDOR) and several other research institutions.

The Maré Complex, home to 16 favelas and approximately 140,000 residents, became a focal point for community-driven health interventions. Among these efforts, Vacina Maré stood out as part of a broader strategy that included vaccination campaigns, local health surveillance, telemedicine support, social assistance, and risk communication. The initiative’s success was largely due to the massive engagement of the local population, which led to international recognition, including presentations at the World Health Organization (WHO), the Brazilian Ministry of Health, and various global research centers.

A study investigated the unconscious inclinations that influence decision-making in people with depression. The innovative methodology aligned with one of the main trends in modern technology: the research was conducted by immersing participants in a virtual reality (VR) environment. With contributions from the D’Or Institute for Research and Education (IDOR) and other international institutions, the study was published in the scientific journal Journal of Psychiatric Research. Its findings offer new insights into the complex relationship between emotions and actions in depression.

Results from a study conducted in a natural area in the municipality of São Paulo (Brazil) may help estimate the effects of climate change on disease transmission risk in the biome.

Researchers revisit advances in generating genetically modified plants that prevent bedbugs, beetles, weevils, and woodworms from digesting starch.

A group from the Federal University of the ABC tested the substance on rats and obtained positive results. The group is now seeking partnerships with pharmaceutical companies to conduct clinical trials.