USP and the Université Paris Sciences et Lettres (PSL) are exploring the creation of an international center to bring together researchers working in the fields of circular economy and cell therapy. The terms of the future agreement were discussed during a meeting held between the presidents of the two universities, Carlos Gilberto Carlotti Junior, from USP, and El Mouhoub Mouhoud, from PSL, and representatives of the Research Support Foundation of the State of São Paulo (Fapesp) and the Consulate of France in São Paulo, on July 9, at the headquarters of the Museum of Contemporary Art (MAC), located in Ibirapuera Park, in São Paulo.
In November last year, the president of USP and a delegation of university leaders visited PSL – one of the most prominent French universities – to sign two agreements that will serve as the foundation for the new international research center. The first focuses on the circular economy, and the second establishes collaboration on treatments for leukemia and lymphoma using CAR-T cell therapy.
“We are bringing together two universities of excellence in the search for solutions to global challenges, such as sustainability and cancer therapies. This will not be an isolated center, but one integrated into two major initiatives that are already well established within our university’s structure: the Institut Pasteur and the CNRS,” said Carlotti.
“I am very confident in the ability of our researchers to build a new model that will foster not only research in strategic areas, and train new generations of scientists,” said the president of PSL.
According to USP’s Provost for Graduate Studies, Rodrigo Calado, “the close collaboration between USP and PSL will result in a joint research center – an unprecedented initiative in Brazil – bringing together faculty, graduate students, and researchers in a tightly integrated model of teaching and research. Initially, the center will focus on two main pillars: circular economy and cell therapy. The cell therapy pillar expands upon the recently created academic chair between the Cell Therapy Center and the Institut Curie, and will be based in Ribeirão Preto, facilitating the recruitment of researchers, students, and companies to develop new solutions in the field.”
Following the meeting, the group toured the MAC, accompanied by its director, José Tavares Correia de Lira
