In a significant recognition of innovation in healthcare research, two groundbreaking student-led projects have been awarded top honors in the 2024 cycle of the Empresa Brasileira de Serviços Hospitalares (Ebserh) Scientific and Technological Initiation Programs (PIC/PIT), in partnership with the Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq).
The programs, launched in 2022, provide scholarships to undergraduate students conducting research in Ebserh’s network of university hospitals, under the mentorship of experienced researchers. In 2024, a total of 665 scholarships were awarded—399 for Scientific Initiation (PIC) and 266 for Technological Initiation (PIT)—each with a monthly stipend of R$700 for one year.
Breakthrough in Tinnitus Treatment
Fabiana Cristina Toillier, an eighth-semester speech therapy student at the Federal University of Santa Maria (UFSM), clinched first place in the PIC category with her research on individualized assessment and treatment for tinnitus—a persistent ringing or buzzing in the ears affecting an estimated 28 million Brazilians.
Her study, conducted at the Hospital Universitário de Santa Maria (HUSM-UFSM/Ebserh), evaluated 155 patients from June 2024 to August 2025. Of those, 34 required only guidance and follow-up, while 121 underwent personalized treatment. Of the 78 who completed the protocol, over 85% showed significant improvement or resolution of symptoms.
Beyond clinical outcomes, the project generated 22 abstracts in national and international conferences, two published articles, three accepted manuscripts, and two under submission. Fabiana emphasized the importance of a holistic approach:
“It’s essential to understand not just the sound of the tinnitus, but also the patient’s lifestyle, sleep, emotions, and diet, so we can tailor interventions for the best possible outcome.[…]We treat the whole person—auditory, muscular, metabolic, cognitive, and emotional aspects. In many cases, we achieved cure; in others, we helped patients live well with reduced perception of the symptom.”
– Michele Garcia, Professor and Fabiana’s advisor
Innovative Data Platform for Health Management
In the PIT category, Luan Augusto Nascimento, a statistics student at the Federal University of Ceará (UFC), won for developing the “Public Dashboards Repository” at the CH-UFC/Ebserh complex. The project processes data from DATASUS (the Brazilian Unified Health System’s information department) to transform raw health data into interactive, strategic dashboards.
The platform empowers hospital managers and data teams to independently create visual reports on key health indicators: mortality, outpatient and hospital productivity, live births, and hospital management. The open-source code is available on GitHub (https://github.com/repositorio-paineis-publicos), and the project has received intellectual property registration, underscoring Ebserh’s commitment to innovation.
“This experience challenged me to think creatively and solve real-world problems using health data—something that has greatly enriched my academic journey.”
– Luan
Abel Silva, the project’s advisor and head of the CH-UFC Data Intelligence Unit, said: “Our goal is to deliver ready-to-use, monthly-updated tools for all Ebserh hospitals, helping reduce operational workload and enabling strategic decision-making.”
Looking Ahead
For 2025, the PIC/PIT programs will expand to 758 scholarships, with 50% reserved for affirmative action candidates. Activities are set to begin on September 1, 2025, and run through August 2026.
Ebserh, linked to Brazil’s Ministry of Education and managing 45 federal university hospitals, continues to foster research, education, and innovation while supporting the Unified Health System (SUS).
Source: AgenciaGov
