Fiocruz News Agency

Leonardo Bastos (28/2), a researcher at Fiocruz's Scientific Computing Program (PROC/Fiocruz), won the award. Read on for UK Alumni Awards 2024 From the British Council in Brasilia, for making a positive contribution to his community and profession using his experience of studying at a UK university. Bastos completed his PhD at the University of Sheffield and was awarded in the department Science and sustainability. Diana Taste, director of cultural engagement at the British Council, explains: “In recognition of his outstanding work in using statistics to correct delays in notifications by epidemic warning systems.”

According to the director, “In 2024, the tenth edition Read the UK Alumni Awards It received a total of 1,450 applications from alumni from nearly 100 countries. In Brazil, there were more than 50 applications, including the researcher's application. Winners are “regarded as technical and professional leaders”, Diana explains, “who stand out in the way they have used this experience and knowledge gained at a British higher education institution with results and impact for the benefit of their community or their profession”.

United Kingdom to Fiocruz

Bastos says he sent part of the research he developed in collaboration with other researchers at Fiocruz Broadcast now. “It is a statistical method that anticipates the incidence of diseases but has not yet been reported in surveillance systems,” he commented.

This method is a key part of two Fiocruz epidemic surveillance systems, developed in collaboration with the School of Applied Mathematics at Fundação Getúlio Vargas (FGV). InfotenguIt monitors cases of arboviruses (dengue, Zika and chikungunya) and InfoGrip, It monitors cases of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). “These systems are widely used by the Ministry of Health and some health departments,” explains the researcher working on the foundation's research together with Claudia Godoso, Osvaldo Gonçalves Cruz and Marcelo Gómez.

Path of the Explorer

Leonardo says that his career was also important in receiving this award. “I come from the suburbs of Belo Horizonte, the son of a worker, I studied in municipal schools, entered the Federal University of Minas Gerais (as far as I know, the first person in my family to graduate), I did. A master's degree at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro and, later, a doctorate in England. With a degree and a scholarship.Leonardo's studies are all connected with statistics.

“When I returned from my PhD, my long-time friend Alin made it very clear that the research environment at Procc/Fiocruz was excellent. I took the competition in 2010, passed, was invited in December 2012, and here I am,” concludes the laureate. .