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Fundação Getulio Vargas Wins the 2023 Capes Elsevier Award in the Health and Well-Being Category

The award recognizes research institutions that have made the most significant contributions to the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Fundação Getulio Vargas was the winner of the 2023 Capes Elsevier Award in the SDG 3 – Health and Well-Being category. The award aims to recognize research institutions whose publications have had the greatest impact in relation to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations 2030 Agenda. The SDGs include a series of global actions to end poverty and protect the environment.

The fifth edition of the Capes Elsevier Award ceremony took place on December 5 at the headquarters of the Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (Capes) in Brasília. The event was held alongside the celebration of the 23rd anniversary of the Capes Journals Portal, which also hosted the 6th Seminar: Consolidating Paths – The Journals Portal and Scientific Communication in Brazil.

FGV Projects on Health and Well-Being

Among the Fundação Getulio Vargas units that stood out for their scientific output in Health and Well-Being were the School of Applied Mathematics (FGV EMAp) with 25 publications, the São Paulo School of Business Administration (FGV EAESP) with 15 publications, and the School of Public Policy and Government (FGV EPPG), located in Brasília, with 9 publications on the topic.

Among FGV EMAp’s publications, two studies related to SDG 3 were selected as FGV Research Highlights in 2023: Machine learning prediction of side effects for drugs in clinical trials and Machine learning and network medicine approaches for drug repositioning for COVID-19. The first developed a mathematical model capable of estimating the side effects of drugs on the human body, while the second created a specific model for medications used to treat COVID-19.

Another research project related to SDG 3 and considered a 2023 FGV Research Highlight was developed by FGV EPPG. The results of this study include an estimated 23% increase in hospitalizations due to respiratory diseases and 21% due to circulatory diseases, associated with wildfires in Brazil. To reach these results, the study cross-referenced satellite data on wildfires with information from DataSUS. A series of studies on this topic led to the creation of the Center for Environmental and Public Health Studies (FGVcemasp), which aims to assess the impacts of environmental factors on human health and provide evidence to support the development of environmental and health public policies.

FGV EAESP, aiming to contribute to strategies for eliminating hepatitis B and C, developed a study that evaluated the use of the dried blood spot (DBS) test for detecting hepatitis virus markers. The evaluation concluded that the DBS test is a useful tool for diagnosing and studying the prevalence of hepatitis B and C among key populations. The results of this study can help promote the prevention and treatment of these diseases. Learn more about this project.

FGV’s Director of Research and Innovation, Goret Paulo, congratulated Capes and Elsevier for the award initiative, which encourages researchers to develop studies that contribute to achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals. “In the specific case of Fundação Getulio Vargas, it is a great honor to be recognized for conducting research that contributes to achieving SDG 3: Health and Well-Being. We deeply thank and congratulate our researchers for developing studies that have an impact on the Sustainable Development Goals,” she emphasized.

Selected Institutions

According to Ana Luisa Maia, Elsevier account manager, “The award aims to celebrate scientific institutions that contribute to the advancement of science in Brazil and highlight those with the greatest relevance among the SDGs, thereby increasing the international visibility of Brazilian scientific research.”

In addition to FGV, 12 other Brazilian institutions were recognized for their high-impact contributions to other SDGs.

Complete list of 2023 Capes Elsevier Award winners:

  • SDG 1 – No Poverty
    Winner: Universidade Federal de Santa Maria

  • SDG 2 – Zero Hunger and Sustainable Agriculture
    Winner: Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas Espaciais
  • SDG 3 – Good Health and Well-Being
    Winner: Fundação Getulio Vargas
  • SDG 4 – Quality Education
    Winner: Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein
  • SDG 5 – Gender Equality
    Winner: Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto
  • SDG 6 – Clean Water and Sanitation
    Winner: Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul
  • SDG 7 – Affordable and Clean Energy
    Winner: Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia
  • SDG 8 – Decent Work and Economic Growth
    Winner: Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas Espaciais
  • SDG 9 – Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
    Winner: Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul
  • SDG 10 – Reduced Inequalities
    Winner: Universidade Federal de Ciências da Saúde de Porto Alegre
  • SDG 11 – Sustainable Cities and Communities
    Winner: Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul
  • SDG 12 – Responsible Consumption and Production
    Winner: Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio de Janeiro
  • SDG 13 – Climate Action
    Winner: Universidade Federal de Itajubá
  • SDG 14 – Life Below Water
    Winner: Universidade Federal de Goiás
  • SDG 15 – Life on Land
    Winner: Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas Espaciais
  • SDG 16 – Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions
    Winner: Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecuária

Special Mention – Universidade Federal de Sergipe, for its outstanding performance in SDG 1 (No Poverty), SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-Being), SDG 5 (Gender Equality), SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities), SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), and SDG 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions) in the Northeast region.