Les collaborations scientifiques franco-brésiliennes renforcées
The São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP), Inserm and ANRS Maladies infectieuses émergentes signed a memorandum of understanding on 29 March 2023 aimed at fostering cooperation in scientific research. This partnership was renewed for a further three-year period on 9 June 2026.
Last updated on 11 June 2026
Professor Marco Antonio Zago, President of the São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP), accompanied by Vahan Agopyan, Secretary for Science, Technology and Innovation of the State of São Paulo, and Carlos Carlotti Júnior, President of the University of São Paulo, visited Inserm headquarters on 29 March 2023 to sign a three-year memorandum of understanding with Inserm, represented by its Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Professor Didier Samuel, and ANRS Emerging Infectious Diseases, represented by its Director, Professor Yazdan Yazdanpanah. This partnership was renewed for a further three-year period on 9 June 2026.
The purpose of this agreement is to strengthen cooperation and ties between the scientific communities of the State of São Paulo and France, based on the principles of equality and mutual benefit, in the fields of HIV/AIDS research, viral hepatitis, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), tuberculosis, emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases, immunology, neuroscience, genetics, chronic diseases and cancer.
In practical terms, the agreement, whose implementation will be overseen by a multi-stakeholder steering committee, will support the design and implementation of collaborative research projects, the organisation of scientific meetings, and the sharing of technical and scientific expertise.
More than 30 years of scientific cooperation between Brazil and ANRS
Initiated in 1992 and further consolidated in 2001 through the signing of a framework agreement between the agency and the Brazilian Ministry of Health, this partnership is structured around joint research projects and scientific networking activities between the two countries. It forms part of the scientific and technical cooperation programme between the Brazilian Ministry of Health and the French Embassy and is coordinated by Dr Cristina Pimenta (Brazilian Ministry of Health) and Dr Nathalie de Castro (AP-HP). Major national and international institutional and scientific stakeholders, including the Department of Chronic Diseases and Sexually Transmitted Infections of the Brazilian Ministry of Health (DMCIST) and Fiocruz, contribute to this partnership.
Among the approximately sixty clinical research projects that have emerged from this collaboration are the ANRS REFLATE TB and ANRS REFLATE TB2 trials on HIV/tuberculosis co-infection treatment and, more recently, the ELDORADO trial evaluating antiretroviral combination therapies in people living with HIV, as well as participation in the UNITY trial assessing the safety and efficacy of mpox treatments.
Renewal of the cooperation agreement in 2026
During an official visit to Brazil, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Inserm, Professor Didier Samuel, signed a new cooperation agreement on Tuesday 9 June 2026 at the headquarters of FAPESP (Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo), bringing together Inserm, ANRS Emerging Infectious Diseases (ANRS MIE) and the Brazilian foundation.
This memorandum of understanding renews and further strengthens the scientific partnership established in 2023 between the French institutions and the State of São Paulo.
The renewal of this agreement will promote the organisation of joint scientific events, the sharing of expertise, and the launch of collaborative initiatives for the benefit of the French and Brazilian scientific communities.
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