Recife, Brazil
Instituto de Medicina Integral Professor Fernando Figueira (IMIP)
IIPAN Center & Collaborators
The Instituto de Medicina Integral Professor Fernando Figueira (IMIP) is a public institution that is largely supported by philanthropy. IMIP is located in the state of Pernambuco, in the Northeast region of Brazil, and was built to serve the local underprivileged community. Approximately 180 new diagnoses of childhood cancer each year are served by IMIP, and about 78% of the patients are residents from the state’s countryside. The Northeast is an impoverished region of Brazil, with over 40% of the population living in poverty and over 50% with food insecurity. IIPAN is an integral partner in advancing collaborative nutritional research and care for the patients served.
Chief pediatric oncologist Dr. Mecneide Mendes Lins is the IIPAN medical collaborator. She works with dietitian Jullyana Alves on advancing clinical care for children with cancer and is advancing our understanding of the impact of nutrition in pediatric oncology by collaborating in multicenter research studies.
Site Challenges
- Socioeconomic disparities.
- Large provider for indigenous populations.
- Little training in nutrition methodology and research.
- Lack of mentorship for nutritionists.
Site Needs
- Family and patient education on basics in nutrition.Approaches to address food security.
- Clinical program development and advancing nutrition research.
(Image Source: www.imip.org.br)