Claudia Chamas

A New Deal for Global Health R&D? The Recommendations of the Consultative Expert Working Group on Research and Development (CEWG)

John-Arne Røttingen and Claudia Chamas, chairs of the the Consultative Expert Working Group on Research and Development (CEWG), summarize their recent report recommending to the World Health Assembly that a global health R&D treaty be developed.

Securing the public good of health research and development for developing countries

PerspectivesSecuring access to medicines and other health technologies in developing countries continues to be among the major challenges for global health. The challenge lies in ensuring that existing health products are delivered at afford-able prices and that innovations and discoveries meet the health needs of developing countries. This policy prob-lem calls for both global and national policy instruments. When in 2001 the Commission on Macroeconomics and Health categorized diseases as typeI, II and III based on the extent to which they affected countries at different eco-nomic levels, it was alienating for many public health professionals.

Genética molecular: avanços e problemas

This article is an attempt to draw the discussion on molecular genetics in health into the public health domain. Now that the genetic engineering revolution has arrived, it is important to point out the advances and problems this technology poses for society. It is time for a clear, informed assessment of what we have already achieved and may soon achieve using this technology. Clearly, society needs to understand the ethical and practical implications of a technology which can produce miracle drugs and modern diagnoses and cure virtually every disease. Important points from sensitive social issues raised by molecular biology and the human genome project are discussed.

The Brazilian FCC Catalyst Plant: An Example of a Successful Joint Venture between Petrobrás and Akzo Bringing about Technological Innovation

The creation of the Fabrica Carioca de Catalisadores (FCCSA) is presented in this article. After some brief background information on the reasons for its implementation, the methods used to choose the partner are discussed, as well as the technology transfer, with particular emphasis on R&D transfer. Finally, the plants current stage of development is studied and its main characteristics are presented, as an example of a successful joint venture between culturally different and geographically distant countries.