The Center for Biotechnology (CBiot) was established in December 1981 through an agreement signed between the Government of the State of Rio Grande do Sul, the State Development Bank (BADESUL), the Foundation for Research Support of the State of Rio Grande do Sul (FAPERGS), and the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), with the central objective of promoting biotechnology development in the state. In July 1982, the Center for Biotechnology began its activities in an area of 220 m² provided by the Institute of Agricultural Research (IPAGRO and later FEPAGRO - State Foundation for Agricultural Research) of the State Department of Agriculture, with financial support from FAPERGS, BADESUL, and the Financier of Studies and Projects (FINEP). In 1988, the research groups of the Center for Biotechnology moved to their own building on the UFRGS Campus do Vale. Currently, the Center is located in two buildings (43.421 and 43.431 - upper floor) of Block IV on the UFRGS Campus do Vale, with a total area of 3,700 m².
In 1997, based on the Statute and General Regulations of UFRGS, the Center was institutionalized as the Interdisciplinary Studies Center of the University. The institutionalization of CBiot enabled the structuring of the Graduate Program in Cellular and Molecular Biology (PPGBCM) aimed at training masters and doctors in these areas. PPGBCM was approved by the UFRGS Graduate Chamber on March 17, 1998, and later by the Technical Advisory Group of the Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (CAPES) on July 21, 1998. PPGBCM started with a grade of 5 (maximum for new courses) with CAPES and has maintained a grade of 6 since its second triennium of activities, demonstrating an internationally excellent level. A total of 253 doctors and 399 masters have been trained since then. Currently, PPGBCM has 38 faculty advisors (30 from the permanent core), 58 doctoral students, and 29 master's students.
Historically, all members of the Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (DBMB) of the Institute of Biosciences (IB) have acted as teaching-researchers of CBiot. It was from this group of faculty that the initiative to propose the creation of the Undergraduate Program in Biotechnology originated. As an Interdisciplinary Studies Center, CBiot could not host an undergraduate program. The proposal was taken to IB, which then established the course, characterized as one of the most competitive at our University. Although affiliated with IB, a significant portion of the activities of the Undergraduate Program in Biotechnology takes place within the facilities of CBiot, significantly impacting its infrastructure and requiring investments in the acquisition of consumables and maintenance of equipment.
In addition to researchers from DBMB/IB, CBiot also includes professors-researchers from the Departments of Biophysics and Botany of IB, the Institute of Basic Health Sciences, the Faculty of Pharmacy, and the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine. Currently, CBiot has 30 researchers, all of whom hold PhDs, including 16 leaders of research groups, 3 invited collaborating professors, 6 associate researchers, and 5 postdoctoral fellows, as well as nearly 40 undergraduate students in scientific initiation internships. These researchers have contributed to the consolidation of CBiot's infrastructure with resources from approved projects, providing support for the acquisition of large-scale equipment for multi-users and enabling the pursuit of various research, teaching, and extension activities.
Since its creation, CBiot has had a business incubator, the CBiot Business Incubator (IECBiot), aimed at supporting entrepreneurial activities in biotechnology. This incubator is part of the “Zenit - UFRGS Science and Technology Park”, recognized by it as one of its model incubators. Currently, two companies are in the pre-incubation phase and six are in incubation at IECBiot. A total of 21 companies have been (pre-)incubated at IECBiot, eight of them graduated, and three remaining successfully in the market.
One of the indicators of the impact of CBiot's activities on Gaúcho and Brazilian societies is the quantity and quality of articles published by our researchers in highly relevant international journals, often subject to interactions with the productive sector.
Most of these works are associated with the training activities of our students into new high-level researchers, ready to tackle societal problems, whether in teaching, research institutes, or technology-based companies.
Professor Titular do Departamento de Biofísica, Instituto de Biociências, UFRGS
Professor Adjunto do Departamento de Produção de Matéria-Prima da Faculdade de Farmácia - UFRGS
Professor Titular do Departamento de Biologia Molecular e Biotecnologia do Instituto de Biociências, UFRGS
Professor Titular do Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, UFRGS
Professor adjunto do Departamento de Ciências Morfológicas do Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde da UFRGS
Professora Adjunta do Departamento de Biologia Molecular e Biotecnologia, Instituto de Biociências, UFRGS
Professor Titular do Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, UFRGS
Professor Titular do Departamento de Biologia Molecular e Biotecnologia, Instituto de Biociências, UFRGS
Professor Titular do Departamento de Biologia Molecular e Biotecnologia, Instituto de Biociências, UFRGS