InsCer was opened on June 6, 2012. It developed out of the neuroscience research group of the PUCRS Biomedical Research Institute and its objective was to conduct translational healthcare research and development, in other words, research that would actually effect people’s lives.

The original site project was completed on November 9, 2020, expanding the institution’s facilities to 9,335 square meters.

2010

The cornerstone for the Brain Institute at PUCRS was laid in March. The original vision for a place dedicated to translational neuroscience research had been conceived back in 2004.

2011

Construction begins on the building to house the cyclotron, a particle accelerator used to produce radiopharmaceuticals. One of the features of the facility is the thickness of the walls, which are around two meters thick. A three-meter door mounted on rails is needed to access the facility.

2012

The dream is now a reality. The first section of the Brain Institute at PUCRS opened on June 6. It occupies over 2,500 square meters, which is about 25% of the initial planned project.

That month, InsCer also organized the first hands-on course in Neuroimaging and Nuclear Medicine in partnership with Georgetown University, in the United States.

2013

InsCer started producing the radiopharmaceutical 18F-FDG in this year. This is used in neurology and oncology exams. Since then, the Institute has been supplying hospitals, clinics and specialist centers in Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina and some clinics in Paraná, too.

2015

The radiopharmaceutical 11C-PK11195, used to research multiple sclerosis in patients, is produced.

That year, InsCer also organized the CAPES High Studies School on Biomarkers in Neurodegenerative Diseases”.

2016

InsCer started the Zika Virus project, in partnership with the Teaching Hospital of the Federal University of Alagoas, in a swift response to the microcephaly outbreak, related to the zika virus. Over 40 children who were born with this malformation took part in the study.

The Brain Institute also started to produce the short half-life radiopharmaceutical 11C-PIB for the differential diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease, in 2016.

2018

In March, the General Council of the Marist Institute, in Rome, Italy, authorized the construction of the second stage of the Brain Institute. The expansion work began, three months later, in August..

2019

The foundations for the expansion works begin to be laid in January.

2020

Once again, InsCer responded to the needs of the wider world -the coronavirus pandemic. The institute provided an RT-PCR diagnostic test to people, which had been developed by its researchers.

Also that year, the Brain Institute is authorized by the National Health Surveillance Agency (Anvisa), exceptionally, to produce and sell the radiopharmaceutical PSMA-1007 (18F), which is used to diagnose prostate cancer.

In November of 2020, InsCer delivered Phase II, which completed the original project (9,335 square meters).

2021

On December 16, the National Health Surveillance Agency (Anvisa) authorized the Brain Institute to market Flobertaben, a radiopharmaceutical used for the differential diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease. This was the first time that Anvisa allowed a radiopharmaceutical to be produced and sold for this purpose.

2022

InsCer launched Florbetaben in April, a radiopharmaceutical used in the differential diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease, as part of its commitment to providing solutions for people. The institute also offered an exam as part of the launch of the product.