In the ever-evolving landscape of international scientific collaboration, the partnership between the state of São Paulo in Brazil and the United Kingdom stands out as a beacon of innovation and academic synergy. Over the last decade and a half, this transatlantic alliance has generated more than 18,000 co-authored research articles, reflecting a scholarly output imbued with a citation impact that is quadruple the global norm. Such a metric not only highlights the high quality of collaborative work but also underscores the meaningful integration of expertise across continents. Yet, despite this notable achievement, both scientific communities recognize the untapped potential in burgeoning fields such as artificial intelligence, energy transition, biotechnology, and biodiversity, which are rapidly ascending as global priorities.
This dynamic collaborative spirit was palpably on display during the recent FAPESP Week in London held at the prestigious Science Museum. The event, scheduled from June 2 to June 4, 2024, serves as a strategic platform designed to deepen and expand cooperative scientific endeavors between São Paulo’s researchers and their British counterparts. Its overarching mission is to unravel new dimensions of partnership, focusing on areas of mutual strategic interest that promise impactful scientific breakthroughs and societal benefits.
FAPESP President Marco Antonio Zago poignantly reflected on the tumultuous period since the last FAPESP Week in London in 2019, highlighting the profound disruptions wrought by the global pandemic. The world experienced the tragic loss of over seven million lives, including 600,000 in Brazil, and scientific pursuits were deeply impacted. Publication rates declined, academic exchanges halted, and research funding contracted sharply. Despite these headwinds, Zago emphasized the resilience and reinvigoration of the scientific community, underscoring how the current landscape is vastly transformed, with artificial intelligence taking precedence as a universal research priority reshaping the modalities of scholarship and peer evaluation.
Significant transformations within FAPESP itself mirror the evolving scientific ecosystem. The agency now disburses over 10,000 grants and scholarships annually, showcasing a remarkable expansion in capacity. It supports around 50 globally recognized research centers, half of which benefit from private sector co-funding. These include specialized entities such as Research, Innovation, and Dissemination Centers (RIDCs) and Applied Research Centers (ARCs), which serve as hubs of high-impact scientific and technological activity, fostering environments where academia and industry converge to accelerate innovation.
Among the strategic imperatives charted by FAPESP’s Board of Trustees for the forthcoming three years are seven thematic priorities designed to catalyze bilateral cooperation. These span the domains of biotechnology; energy transition; biodiversity and sustainable food production; digital transformation and artificial intelligence; quantum sciences and technologies; human and animal health; and issues of violence and public safety. Each theme resonates with both local relevance and global urgency, offering fertile ground for joint research ventures and technology development.
The economic and scientific heft of São Paulo further elevates the significance of this alliance. Accounting for 40% to 60% of Brazil’s scientific output, the state is a powerhouse in innovation and technology. It harbors approximately 22% of the nation’s technology workforce and more than half of its deep tech startups, underscoring its status as a vibrant hub for cutting-edge research and entrepreneurial activity. Educational institutions such as the University of São Paulo (USP), the State University of Campinas (UNICAMP), and São Paulo State University (UNESP) consistently rank among Latin America’s elite, further bolstering the state’s intellectual foundation.
From the UK’s perspective, the partnership with São Paulo is heralded as one of the most enduring and effective models of international cooperation. Francis Wood, Director of International Partnerships at UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), articulated the mutual benefits of this alliance. She underscored that the complexity of modern scientific challenges transcends borders and that collaborative endeavors are essential to addressing them. Despite internal organizational changes within UKRI, the commitment to international partnership remains resolute, aligning priorities closely with FAPESP in fields such as agrotechnology, biodiversity, and climate science.
Concrete collaborative initiatives illustrate the depth of this bilateral engagement. The Transatlantic Platform, jointly chaired by FAPESP and UKRI, exemplifies multinational coordination in the humanities and social sciences, enabling researchers to navigate British research councils under a responsive agreement established in 2009. In an emblematic move in 2024, the Medical Research Council launched a bilateral call focused on artificial intelligence applications in health, supported by a €6 million investment and yielding six funded collaborative projects. Partnerships with institutions like King’s College London and the University of Birmingham expand cooperation into environmental sciences, urban transport, and health, reflecting the multifaceted nature of this scientific diplomacy.
The strategic importance of São Paulo’s innovation ecosystem cannot be overstated. Despite the state encompassing a mere 3% of Brazil’s land area, it commands 70% of the country’s knowledge-based workforce, and its annual investment in research and development approaches BRL 1.8 billion, equating to 11% of its annual budget. São Paulo’s status as Latin America’s sole representative among the world’s top 100 startup ecosystems—rated 26th globally—further highlights its economic dynamism. Particularly in fintech, São Paulo boasts the world’s largest ecosystem. The state government’s role is characterized by support rather than intervention, nurturing nearly 100 innovation hubs comprising incubators, technology parks, and innovation districts that collectively house over 2,200 startups alongside 700 large companies.
Moreover, Brazil’s broader strategic vision integrates “innovation diplomacy” as a core element. Alexandre Brasil, Minister-Counselor at the Brazilian Embassy in London, elaborated on this approach, emphasizing science and technology as pivotal drivers not only of economic growth but also of national sovereignty, social equity, and global influence. Initiated in 2017, this program deploys science, technology, and innovation units across major Brazilian embassies and consulates. It leverages the quadruple helix model, which synergizes government, academia, industry, and civil society around common objectives, fostering international partnerships that transcend traditional diplomatic boundaries.
The selection of the British Science Museum as the venue for FAPESP Week London provided a symbolic backdrop linking scientific diplomacy with cultural engagement. Shri Mukundagiri, Deputy Executive Director of the museum, highlighted its historical ties to Brazil and the power of science communication to fortify international relationships. Recent exhibitions like “Amazonia,” “Water and Fire,” and an adaptation of “Injecting Hope”—chronicling the race for a COVID-19 vaccine—demonstrate the museum’s commitment to fostering mutual understanding through science, especially vital at a time when public trust in science faces unprecedented challenges in both the UK and Brazil.
Looking ahead, the trajectory of FAPESP Week is poised for continued expansion and impact. Initiated in Washington, D.C., in 2011, and subsequently hosted in Latin America and Europe, the event has catalyzed a measurable increase in joint research proposals, underscoring its role as a valuable facilitator of academic and technological exchange. Confirmed future editions in the Netherlands (October 2026) and Canada (2027) promise to sustain this momentum, creating sustained opportunities for networking, partnerships, and collaborative innovation across continents.
In sum, the São Paulo-UK scientific partnership illustrates an exemplary model of international cooperation, blending scientific excellence with strategic foresight. It exemplifies how science transcends geographical and cultural boundaries, becoming a catalyst for profound societal benefits and global progress. As technological frontiers advance and new challenges emerge, such partnerships will be indispensable in navigating the complex, interconnected future of research and innovation.
Subject of Research: International Scientific Collaboration, Artificial Intelligence, Energy Transition, Biotechnology, Biodiversity, Innovation Ecosystem
Article Title: São Paulo and the UK: Forging a Robust Scientific Partnership in the Age of Innovation
News Publication Date: June 2024
Web References:
Scientific collaboration, artificial intelligence, biotechnology, energy transition, biodiversity, innovation hubs, transatlantic partnerships, scientific diplomacy, research funding, São Paulo innovation ecosystem, UKRI partnership, science communication
The Cardiovascular Research Foundation (CRF®) has unveiled an extraordinary lineup of groundbreaking studies slated for presentation at the forthcoming New York Valves: The Structural Heart Summit™, scheduled for June 24-26, 2026. This premier event, hosted at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York City, brings together leading interventional cardiologists, cardiac surgeons, and clinical researchers to showcase transformative advancements in the treatment of structural heart disease. The summit’s scientific agenda features an impressive array of 22 late-breaking clinical science presentations alongside eight pioneering innovation reports, each promising to reshape the landscape of valvular therapy.
Central to the conference’s late-breaking clinical studies is the burgeoning field of transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR), a minimally invasive procedure that has revolutionized the management of aortic stenosis. The research to be shared includes long-term valve durability data, extending as far as seven to eight years in pivotal trials such as PARTNER 3 and studies involving the Evolut Platform. These data represent some of the first comprehensive, extended durability assessments of bioprosthetic valves implanted via catheter-based methods, providing critical insights into valve longevity, risks of reintervention, and patient outcomes beyond the mid-term horizon.
Low-risk patients treated with balloon-expandable valves, a subgroup historically managed with surgical valve replacement, will be a particular focus. The anticipated findings from U.S.-based studies underscore the expanding applicability of TAVR beyond traditional high-risk cohorts, reflecting a paradigm shift in patient selection. Detailed analyses have also explored outcomes in bicuspid aortic valve disease—a congenital malformation often excluded from early TAVR trials—spotlighting the nuanced considerations necessary when applying transcatheter therapies to anatomically complex cases.
Further expanding the scope of the summit are significant investigations into tricuspid valve disease, an often underappreciated yet clinically impactful valvular pathology. Presentations will delve into the use of transcatheter tricuspid valve replacement (TTVR) following failed transcatheter tricuspid valve repair (T-TEER), revealing pooled registry data that illuminate procedural efficacy and safety. Additionally, outcomes from patient cohorts deemed ineligible for TRISCEND trials and insights into valve thrombosis post-TTVR will enrich the collective understanding of this burgeoning frontier.
The mitral valve, with its intricate anatomy and diverse pathology, also anchors several late-breaking sessions. Cutting-edge data from the ENCIRCLE-MAC study will share one-year outcomes of transcatheter mitral valve replacement (TMVR) in patients burdened with severe mitral annular calcification—a notoriously challenging subset. Registry analyses comparing the efficacy of M-TEER devices such as MitraClip and PASCAL promise to refine interventional choices, while investigations into repeat interventions and the novel REPAIR study address previously unmet clinical challenges, including treatment in patients with small mitral valve orifice areas.
Innovation sessions will spotlight revolutionary technological advancements. AI-augmented electrocardiographic analysis emerges as a powerful tool for early detection and prognostication of structural heart disease, potentially enabling earlier intervention and personalized management strategies. Discussions will also cover the evolution of multidisciplinary heart valve teams, emphasizing patient-centered care models across leading TAVR programs. Novel devices such as leaflet modification tools designed for valve-in-valve TAVR procedures are expected to demonstrate enhanced procedural safety and efficacy.
On the final day, focused sessions revisit TAVR with studies assessing baseline clinical and echocardiographic traits of moderate aortic stenosis patients enrolled in the PROGRESS trial, and large-scale quality metrics from the American Heart Association’s Target AS Initiative. Efforts to standardize care pathways facilitated by electronic health records (EHR) will be discussed, signaling a move towards integrated, data-driven patient management. Procedural nuances, including vascular access site selection and new pacemaker implantation risks post-TAVR for pure aortic regurgitation, will be evaluated with the rigor befitting large multicenter cohorts.
Innovation tracks will introduce the first multicenter experiences utilizing pulsed field ablation of the left atrial appendage (LAA) prior to LAA closure, aiming to mitigate peri-device leaks—a known postprocedural complication. Comparative registries investigating M-TEER versus valve-in-ring approaches for failed surgical mitral valve repair will enrich decision-making algorithms. Furthermore, the anticipated SMART-MAC trial will elucidate outcomes of mitral valve lithotripsy using specialized balloon techniques to address severe annular calcification—a technical challenge limiting current therapies. Ingenious registry data on TAVR with the JenaValve Trilogy system in patients supported by continuous-flow left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) confront the intersection of mechanical circulatory support and valvular interventions.
Beyond research presentations, New York Valves 2026 promises a compelling blend of live procedural demonstrations from world-renowned operators, over 180 scientific abstracts, and more than 220 challenging clinical case reviews. The event’s comprehensive educational scope also encompasses the second annual LAAC Summit, dedicated to left atrial appendage closure with pragmatic discussions and case-based learning. Collectively, these offerings foster an environment conducive to innovation dissemination and clinical excellence.
The CRF® maintains its stature as a vanguard institution in interventional cardiovascular medicine, fostering advancements through its Skirball Center for Innovation, Clinical Trials Center, Center for Education, CRF Digital platform, TCTMD®, and its dedicated journal, Structural Heart: The Journal of the Heart Team. The forthcoming summit epitomizes CRF’s commitment to accelerating cardiovascular breakthroughs and equipping clinicians worldwide with evidence-based tools to improve patient survival and quality of life.
For press inquiries and registration details, media professionals are encouraged to contact Judy Romero at jromero@crf.org. The New York Valves: The Structural Heart Summit stands as an unmissable convergence of clinical genius and technological innovation, poised to redefine standards of care in structural heart disease management for years to come.
Subject of Research: Structural Heart Disease and Transcatheter Valve Therapy
Article Title: Breakthroughs in Transcatheter Valve Replacement Unveiled at New York Valves 2026
News Publication Date: June 2, 2026
Web References:
https://www.nyvalvesconference.com/
http://www.crf.org
Keywords: Structural heart disease, TAVR, TMVR, tricuspid valve replacement, valve durability, mitral annular calcification, AI ECG analysis, valve thrombosis, pulsed field ablation, left atrial appendage closure, valve-in-valve therapy, cardiovascular innovation
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