The mission of the Laboratory of Experimental and Computational Biochemistry of Drugs (LaBECFar) of the Oswaldo Cruz Institute (IOC/Fiocruz) is to carry out research, teaching, technological development and innovation aimed at prospecting, optimizing and characterizing the mechanism of action of drug candidate molecules against health problems of the Brazilian population.
The Laboratory carries out interdisciplinary studies on the action of bioactive molecules and their targets, employing in an integrated way experimental and computational approaches in biochemistry for the discovery and optimization of new drugs.
The projects developed by the Laboratory address different problems for human health, including: schistosomiasis, Chagas disease, cancer and diabetes. In addition to national funding agencies, these projects are also funded by international organizations, such as the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
Among the main scientific-technological advances achieved by the Laboratory, the development of an automated imaging assay for screening drugs against the parasite stands out. schistosoma mansoni, which causes schistosomiasis, the identification of new cytotoxic agents against leukemia and the discovery of new glucosidase inhibitors with potential application in the treatment of type II diabetes.
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