LABORATORIES
  • Laboratory for Hormonal Dosages
  • Laboratory of Obstetrics Physiology and Pharmacology
  • Andrology Laboratory
  • Cell Culture Laboratory
  • Assisted Fertilization Laboratory
  • Molecular Biology Laboratory (biomolecular methods such as real-time PCR, conventional PCR, Western blotting, nucleic acid and protein quantification, and cell culture)
  • Preeclampsia Research Laboratory (analysis of human biomarkers related to the studies of the pathophysiology of preeclampsia, as well as other projects in the area of Obstetrics)

In addition to these physical areas as part of the Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, FMRP has other facilities used by the professors and students of the program, such as the Experimental Surgery Laboratory of the Department of Surgery and the Vivarium Service of the USP campus of Ribeirão Preto. Several other laboratories linked to different departments of the school are used in partnerships with professors from other areas.

RESEARCH CENTERS

The centers make up the infrastructure for recruitment and follow-up of clinical research subjects.

  • General Hospital of the Ribeirão Preto Medical School
  • HC-Criança
  • HC-FMRP Emergency Unit
  • Reference Center for Women’s Health
  • Hospital Estadual Secundário de Américo Brasiliense
  • Health Center School of FMRP-USP
  • Medical and Social Community Center of Vila Lobato
  • César Aritta Family Health Unit
  • Basic Health Unit Paulo Gomes Romeu

The program also develops projects with the support of the Outpatient Clinical Research Unit (UPC) of HCFMRP – USP. UPC is part of the National Clinical Research Network (RNPC) and participates in national cooperative studies sponsored by the Department of Science and Technology of the Ministry of Health. Our mission is to provide support for research in human beings carried out at the HC-FMRP-USP that comply with national and international standards of Best Clinical Practices and its Quality Policy to promote the appropriate conditions for the development of clinical research projects with the reliability and continuous improvement of processes. UPC also provides logistical support for the accomplishment of research protocols, providing infrastructure for clinical research, administrative support, and guidance for raising financial resources and training human resources.

BIOBANK AND BIOREPOSITORIES

The program also has Biobank and Biorepositories in its research areas as follows:

  • Biobank of Gynecology, Obstetrics, and Mastology of the Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics – FMRP/USP. CONEP B-088-Process N. 25000.068334/2018-49; Responsible: Prof. Dr. Omero Benedicto Poli Neto.
  • Biorepository for plasma and whole blood bank of women with preeclampsia, which currently develops studies in pathophysiology, biological, and genetic markers in women with preeclampsia. In the future, we intend to advance in genetic studies associated with the therapeutic responsibility of these patients. This biorepository is shared with Prof. Dr. Valéria Cristina Sandrim, Associate Professor of the Department of Pharmacology of Medicine at UNESP, in Botucatu-São Paulo. Responsible: Prof. Dr. Ricardo De Carvalho Cavalli.
  • Biorepository for bank of serum, plasma, whole blood, and vaginal content of pregnant women from the prenatal cohort of Ribeirão Preto 2009/10; bank of serum, plasma, and whole blood of research subjects from the 2010 birth cohort of Ribeirão Preto of the project: “Etiological factors of preterm birth and consequences of perinatal factors in child health: birth cohorts in two Brazilian cities”, developed jointly with the city of São Luís. We intend to use this biorepository in the future for the samples of women in the prenatal cohort and children in the 2010 cohort in the study: “Maintenance of health in the life cycle and the development of precursors of chronic diseases”. This biorepository is shared with Prof. Heloisa Bettiol of the Department of Childcare and Pediatrics of FMRP – USP and Prof. Antonio Augusto Moura da Silva of the Federal University of Maranhão, and Prof. Ricardo Carvalho Cavalli, who is an advisor of our program, is a member of the project. HC Process N. 4116/2008; responsible: Prof. Dr. Marco Antonio Barbieri.
  • Biorepository for a Bank of serum, plasma, whole blood, and DNA from research subjects from Ribeirão Preto birth cohorts of 1978/79 and 1994 with the study: “Determinants throughout the life cycle of obesity, precursors of chronic diseases, human capital, and mental health” A contribution of Brazilian birth cohorts to SUS, along with São Luís and Pelotas. This biorepository is shared with Prof. Heloisa Bettiol of the Department of Childcare and Pediatrics of FMRP – USP and Profs. Antonio Augusto Moura da Silva from the Federal University of Maranhão and Aloisio Jardim Dornelas from the Federal University of Pelotas, and Prof. Ricardo Carvalho Cavalli, who is an advisor of our program, is a member of the project. CAAE Process: 45485915.7.0000.5440; responsible: Prof. Dr. Marco Antonio Barbieri.
  • Biorepository of endometriosis with stored samples of peritoneal fluid, blood, serum, and plasma, as well as endometriotic tissue and endometrium of patients with endometriosis since 2008. At present, this biorepository is linked to the research project: “Differential expression of genes and microRNAs related to the adhesion and apoptosis pathways in deep and superficial lesions of patients with endometriosis.” HCRP Process n.12514/2017; responsible: Prof. Dr. Jullio Cesar Rosa e Silva.
  • Biorepository of endometrial polyp, containing samples of endometrial polyp, blood, and serum from patients with endometrial polyp since 2014. At present, this biorepository is linked to the research project: “Analysis of differential gene expression between symptomatic and asymptomatic endometrial polyps”. CAAEE process: 25128813.2.0000.5440; responsible: Prof. Dr. Jullio Cesar Rosa e Silva.
  • Biorepository of biopsies of the cervix and vaginal cervical lavage to evaluate the immune response in the female lower genital tract associated with infectious processes. Responsible: Prof. Dr. Silvana Maria Quintana.
  • Biorepository of plasma and whole blood samples of patients with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome since 2000 for current and future research. Responsible: Prof. Dr. Rosana Maria dos Reis.
  • Biorepository of plasma and whole blood samples of patients with marital infertility submitted to in vitro fertilization cycle since 2006 for current and future research. HCRP Process n. 9698/2006; responsible: Prof. Dr. Rui Alberto Ferriani.
  • Biorepository of granulosa cell and follicular fluid samples from patients submitted to in vitro fertilization cycle since 2008 for current and future research. HCRP Process n°5698/2008; responsible: Prof. Dr. Ana Carolina Japur De Sá Rosa e Silva.
  • Biorepository of ovarian tissue samples of the HCFMRP-USP of the Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics since 2009 for current and future research. HCRP Process n°541/2009; responsible: Prof. Dr. Ana Carolina Japur De Sá Rosa e Silva.
  • Biorepository of genital prolapse, with tissue sample of genital prolapse stored resulting from urogynecologic surgeries since 2013 linked to the research project: “Analysis of polymorphisms in the Genes responsible for the synthesis of the enzymes LOX and LOXL1 in women with pelvic organ prolapse”. Responsible: Prof. Dr. Luiz Gustavo Oliveira Brito.
  • Biorepository of mesenchymal stem cells obtained from menstrual flow, endometrium, and endometriosis lesion since 2015 linked to the research project: “Mesenchymal stem cells (eMSC) and perspectives on the etiopathogenesis of endometriosis: transcript profile and impact of peritoneal fluid”. As of 2020, this biorepository is shared with the Israeli Institute of teaching and research Albert Einstein on behalf of Prof Dr. Sérgio Podgaec. HCRP Process Nº 3644/2019; responsible Juliana Meola Lovato.
SCIENTIFIC DATA REPOSITORY

Repositories offer authors the option to host data associated with a manuscript confidentially and provide anonymous access to reviewers prior to public release.

HUMAN RESOURCES AND SERVICES
  • Human resources for preparing papers in English;
  • Qualified technical support in research laboratories that assist in the development of laboratory techniques;
  • FMRP-USP Project Management and Support Service;
  • Statistical support for consulting in the elaboration of research projects, evaluation of the methodological design, statistical analysis of the results obtained, and assistance in the publication of scientific papers.
IT

The IT Department is responsible for the maintenance of the network services (e-mail server for the domain, website hosting, web applications), database management, system development, and technical support. We count on a system analyst to provide operational support and develop electronic forms to capture and manage the information that is collected during the research; development and updating of the program website with language support; technical guidance for the acquisition of equipment and consumables.
The Department has 56 computers among desktops and laptops. The laptops are used for data collection in different locations where the researcher accesses the system remotely and feeds the databases. We also have a server available with RedCaP, a free application, available online where data collections are customized according to the needs of each study or clinical trial. The REDcap tool is also used for Program Management, from the online application form to the admission process, where the candidate inserts the personal documents and the academic record. These data are stored, the grades are automatically assigned, and available to the examining committee. We also use the Moodle Stoa as a virtual environment for distance learning.
Regarding mobility, the Department Area and the laboratories provide USPnet wireless network signal. We have servers that manage several databases used by researchers, currently with projects shared among several universities.
We have three rooms equipped with high-resolution multimedia projectors, a system for audio/video reception of surgeries originating from the Surgical Center, and equipment for web conference and videoconference.

LIBRARY

The Central Library of the USP campus of Ribeirão Preto established in 1952, has a physical area of 4,243 m2. Its collection currently consists of 134,335 books, 5,411 titles of national and foreign printed journals. The online collection has more than 37,000 scientific journals and the Digital Library has 22,480 theses and dissertations. The Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics has also a local library where specific and updated materials in the area of Gynecology and Obstetrics are available and a physical collection of dissertations and theses defended in the program since its creation.
Students have at their disposal computers with internet access and access to the VPN system, which allows remote access to the main portals of journals available to USP (SibiUSP), such as the journal portal (CAPES) with more than 30,000 full-text journals, PubMed, SIBInet, MD Consult, and other sites.

RESEARCH COMMITTEES

Atualizado em 18/05/2021