The CURA Project Institute, a non-profit institution, created in 2016, dedicated to making society aware of the benefits of clinical research and its importance for advances in cancer treatment, announces the purchase and donation of an ultrafreezer —80ºC to the LACOG (Latin American Cooperative Oncology Group) Biorepository, reinforcing the infrastructure necessary for the continuity and expansion of translational research conducted by the group.

This equipment is essential for the adequate storage of biological samples from patients, used in research that seeks to identify molecular characteristics and thus develop more precise and effective treatments.

Currently, the space supports ten ongoing studies, including IRONMAN, MADONNA, EXBAT, AMIGO-1, SMART-KEY, PACIFIC and FOUNDATION, which investigate everything from the molecular behavior of solid tumors to response mechanisms and resistance to target therapies and immunotherapies in different types of cancer. With the expansion of the infrastructure funded by Cura, LACOG, located in Porto Alegre, is preparing to receive nine more new studies.

All of these projects are rigorously evaluated, monitored, and approved by government bodies, including Research Ethics Committees linked to the Ministry of Health. The new ultrafreezer has remote temperature monitoring and the samples will be traceable, important requirements for projects to be conducted with quality and safety.

Founded in 2009, LACOG is the first multinational cooperative group in Latin America dedicated exclusively to epidemiological, clinical, and translational cancer research. Gustavo Werutsky, executive director of LACOG, says:

“We have a list of translational research projects with blood and tumor samples in progress, which are being carried out thanks to the biorepository. For this reason, this donation from CURA is very important”.

For the president of the CURA Project Institute, Fernanda Schwyter, the gesture reinforces the institution's purpose:

“This initiative reflects CURA's vision to strengthen the scientific infrastructure necessary for the entire cancer research ecosystem in the country to grow. Investing in technical capacity, good practices and appropriate conditions for molecular research is part of our long-term commitment to Brazilian science. Each structural advance paves the way for more robust studies, more reliable results and, most importantly, for more patients to be represented in cutting-edge research.”

At CURA, we believe in the power of collaborative intelligence and invites its partners and supporters to be part of the sustainability of this ecosystem. This action is not just a donation, but a symbolic investment in people's lives and in the future of cancer research in Brazil and Latin America. In recognition, LACOG named the space “CURA Project Institute Room”. We continue together for more discoveries and innovation.