Focus: Bioinformatics applied in Urology.
The growing number of biological data in medicine has stimulated multidisciplinary approaches to understanding diseases. In this sense, the development of bioinformatics, a science that integrates computing with biology, allows for massive analysis of molecular and clinical data with the aim of exploring new diagnostic and treatment hypotheses in areas such as male infertility and prostate cancer. This research focus aims to develop and apply computational tools to understand molecular and clinical data from Urology. It is intended to mine and integrate clinical, genomic and proteomic data to perform molecular network analysis (co-expression and protein-protein interaction), molecular modeling and machine learning. These analyzes are expected to generate new insights into the molecular mechanisms of disease and the identification of targets for further study. The graduated students of this research focus will have training in computational and statistical methods applied to Urology, which can be used transversally in different areas of knowledge.
Focus: Voiding dysfunction - Molecular, cellular and functional aspects, and therapeutical innovations.
Voiding dysfunctions encompass a variety of situations where bladder, sphincter or both are compromised, either anatomically or neurologically. Injuries or diseases of the central nervous system (CNS), or peripheral organs, can lead to voiding dysfunction. Voiding disorders are widely studied in the clinical and experimental scope, given their high prevalence and impact on health and quality of life. A greater understanding of its pathophysiological mechanisms is the way to discover new pharmacological and surgical therapies and therapeutic innovations. The objective of this line of research is the evaluation of pathophysiological mechanisms, new therapies such as cell therapy, drugs, modulatory therapies and surgeries in animal models of voiding dysfunction.
Focus: Technological and therapeutical innovations in the study and treatment of urological injuries in children.
Voiding Functional reconstruction of the urinary tract in congenital, degenerative, neurological and traumatic pathologies may require replacement or repair of involved organs (bladder, ureter, urethra and penis). Alternatives for using tissue sources outside the urinary tract obtained from grafting techniques, flap mobilization, tissue engineering constitute an important chapter in reconstructive urology, and are already in current use in many circumstances. In research focus, the processes of morphofunctional integration and chronic tissue adaptation, late complications in experimental models simulating analogous clinical condition in vesical pathologies (intestinal neobladders and other sources), urethral (hypospadias and urethral lesions) and reconstruction are studied penile (aphaly). Many of the situations studied by the group were originally described and incorporated into the arsenal of surgical procedures in the specialty.
Focus: Therapeutical and technological innovations in renal transplant.
The inclusion of this research focus is based on strengthening innovations both in terms of therapeutic approaches and in the development of technologies that can benefit the area of kidney transplantation, such as tissue engineering, stem cells, among others.
Focus: Fertility preservation in patients with cancer.
The development of both operative techniques and surgical approaches has brought important advances in Urology, with examples in the integration of applied and basic research, laparoscopic and robotic approaches and advances in minimally invasive surgery. This reseach focus is part of improving operative techniques already in current use, as well as advancing the development of markers for diagnosis and prognosis, and also for use as therapeutic targets in urological oncology.
Focus: Technical and therapeutical innovations, and prognostic aspects in urological oncological surgery.
To study methods of preserving fertility in cancer patients to ensure the fertile potential of young men and women affected by cancer and who will be submitted to chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy and/or surgical treatments that compromise future fertility.
Focus: Cellular and molecular mechanisms of female infertility.
Between 50 and 70% of infertile couples have a female factor. This research focus seeks to study the cellular (oxidative stress, DNA fragmentation, mitochondrial DNA alteration) and molecular (with special emphasis on post-genomic mechanisms) mechanisms responsible for female infertility.
Focus: Cellular and molecular mechanisms of male infertility.
Male infertility participates in up to 50% of infertility cases. Although some diseases play a role in determining infertility in men, the underlying mechanisms are still poorly understood. This research focus seeks to study the cellular mechanisms (oxidative stress, DNA fragmentation, among others) and molecular mechanisms (with special emphasis on post-genomic mechanisms) responsible for male infertility.
Focus: Study of embryonic development, and of embryonic, mesenchimal and induced pluripotency stem cells.
The study and development of stem cells in urology represents a matrix and integration research focus - it exists in itself as a model to characterize and develop cells for differentiation into different lineages of interest to Urology, but it also has the potential to positively impact the development of other program lines.