Muito Obrigado, Brasil: Inside PAPAGAIO’s Brasília Team Meeting
This June, members of the PAPAGAIO team travelled to Brasília for a landmark week, combining a Trial Update Meeting with attendance at the 58th Congress of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of the Federal District (SGOB), hosted by the Brazilian Society of Gynaecology and Obstetrics.
Science on the stage
PAPAGAIO co-Principal Investigators Professor Andrew Shennan (King’s College London) and Professor Leandro de Oliveira (São Paulo State University) both presented at SGOB, covering topics from caesarean sections and preterm birth to eclampsia and the clinical application of biomarkers. Dr Louisa Samuels, PAPAGAIO Trial Coordinator at KCL, presented a review of the evidence surrounding biomarkers and intrauterine growth restriction, before the trio came together for a roundtable discussion on biomarkers in placental dysfunction.
Dr Maria Laura do Costa Nascimento, PAPAGAIO Chief Investigator at Campinas University, added to the team’s strong showing at the conference with her own presentation on how and when to use biomarkers in the context of pre-eclampsia.
Reflecting the truly international nature of PAPAGAIO, simultaneous translation was provided throughout, enabling English-language presentations to be followed in Portuguese, and the KCL team to respond to questions in real time. Thanks go to Dr Alberto Zaconeta, PAPAGAIO Chief Investigator at Brasília University, for organising this so seamlessly.
Connecting with the clinical team
Beyond the conference, the visiting team were welcomed on a tour of the maternity and neonatal units at University Hospital Brasília, hosted by Dr Zaconeta alongside the heads of Clinical Research and Neonatology and the hospital’s Obstetrics and Gynaecology residents. The visit included a presentation of updates from both the PAPAGAIO Diagnosis and Delivery Trials, by Professor Shennan, Dr Samuels and Dr Chiamaka Elumogo (Research Assistant at King’s College London), with key questions addressed in a short discussion session followed by a delicious mini-buffet of Brazilian treats to round it all off.
The KCL team would like to extend their deepest thanks to their Brasília colleagues for their hospitality, generosity, and dedication to the PAPAGAIO mission.
Muito obrigado — we can’t wait for what comes next.