INVITATION FROM BRAZILIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY FOR NIH

UNCLAS BRASILIA 000089

SIPDIS

STATE FOR OES/STC/MBRADECAMP
STATE FOR WHA/BSC/LKUSNITZ
STATE PLEASE PASS TO DHHS/NIH/FIC FOR KEVIN BIALY

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: TBIO KSCA OSCI BR
SUBJECT: INVITATION FROM BRAZILIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY FOR NIH
TO VISIT BRASILIA FOR DISCUSSIONS ON ISSUES RELATED TO
MEDICAL RESEARCH PROJECTS

REF: EMAIL 12/17/2005 TO KEVIN BIALY

--------------
Summary:
--------------

1. The Brazilian Foreign Ministry has extended an
invitation to Kevin Bialy (and other NIH representatives if
desired) to visit Brasilia after January 15, 2005, for face-
to-face discussions related to NIH medical research
projects. The topics mentioned by the Brazilians were
discussion of a speedier system for processing the grants
and a way for the Brazilian government to know that the
recommendations that accompany their letters of grant
acceptance were being considered. Embassy encourages
acceptance of the invitation, and would hope a visit could
be scheduled in January 2005. End summary.

--------------
Background
--------------


2. In November 2004, Brazil's Ministry of Foreign Affairs
communicated with Embassy Brasilia regarding the possibility
of holding discussions with NIH on above-mentioned issues.
Embassy Brasilia supported this initiative because, as you
know, recent letters of grant acceptance from the Ministry
to NIH contained "recommendations" that NIH adhere to
provisions of Brazilian law pertaining to rules on research
involving human subjects. In an effort to ensure that NIH
was aware of all Brazilian rules and regulations in this
area, Embassy requested and received a copy of Brazilian
Ministry of Health publication "Rules on Research Involving
Human Subjects" (English) and forwarded it via FEDEX to
Kevin Bialy.

--------------
Meeting To Clarify Issues
--------------


3. In subsequent discussions with Minister Counselor
Vergniaud Elyseu Filho, Chief of the Division of Science and
Technology at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Embassy
related its desire to have a clearer understanding of the
"recommendations" included in the grant acceptance letters.
Elyseu Filho explained that recommendations in the
acceptance letters are generated either by the Ministry of
Health or the National Commission for Ethics in Research.
He expressed a willingness to invite representatives from
each of these entities to the meeting to clarify this
process and other issues.


4. Embassy strongly supports the Brazilian request for NIH
to travel to Brasilia, and hopes that it can be scheduled in
January. We recommend that because of national holidays,
you avoid the period February 2-15, as often Ministry
officials are unavailable.


5. We view this meeting as an excellent opportunity to
ensure that NIH has access to all rules and regulations
governing your activities in Brazil. It will also provide
the Brazilians with an opportunity to express to you any
concerns they may have.


6. Embassy believes the research funded and conducted in
Brazil by NIH with its Brazilian partners is an extremely
positive and important component of our bilateral
relationship. Judging from the attitude of those we've
spoken to at the Ministry, the Brazilians hold this
partnership in equally high regard.


7. NIH may reply to this communication either by cable, or
email to Brasilia Embassy Science Counselor Patricia Norman
at NormanPD@state.gov Tel: 55 61 312-7401. Logistical
details can be worked out after your acceptance has been
received.

DANILOVICH