The Professional Master’s Degree Program in Clinical Research (MPPC), established in 2016, is characterized by the integration of clinical research with the realities of the field at local, regional, and national levels.

Mission

To train qualified professionals to contribute to the development of Clinical Research and Innovation in Brazil, preparing them to work in clinical research projects and centers, both in academic and professional settings, with an emphasis on technical-operational strategies and the dissemination of knowledge within the healthcare system.

The Program contributes to the education of technically skilled professionals for effective performance in healthcare services, as its scope goes beyond the specificities of research, encompassing theoretical and conceptual foundations of the health field, such as epidemiology and health technology assessment.

In addition, it includes content related to other areas of knowledge, such as management, administration, accounting, statistics, biomedical engineering, law, bioethics, as well as regulatory aspects and good clinical practices.

Goals

• To train qualified professionals to work in Clinical Research and in the development of Clinical Research Units and Centers at the national level.

• To provide graduate-level education aimed at strengthening the participation of Brazilian Clinical Research Units and Centers in international clinical trials, enabling access of the Brazilian population to innovative treatments not yet commercially available.

• To generate innovative solutions and products for human healthcare.

History

• The offer of professional master’s programs at Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre began in 2014 with the Professional Master’s Program in Addictive Disorders and was expanded in 2016 with the creation of the Professional Master’s Program in Clinical Research. 

• Initially focused on the prevention and care of individuals with alcohol and other drug use disorders, the Master’s Program in Addictive Disorders brought together cohorts of professionals from several Brazilian states through a partnership with National Secretariat for Drug Policy and Asset Management (SENAD). In 2019, the program broadened its scope and was renamed the Professional Master’s Program in Prevention and Care in Mental Health and Addictive Disorders (MPTA), reaching a total of 10 cohorts offered. 

• The Professional Master’s Program in Clinical Research (MPPC), initially developed in partnership with Brazilian Hospital Services Company (Ebserh), has offered 9 editions untill now. 

• In 2025, the programs were unified, with the incorporation of the Master’s Program in Addictive Disorders into the Professional Master’s Program in Clinical Research, alongside the transfer of the program’s academic area from Medicine I to Medicine II. 

Research Lines

1 - Bioethics, Law, and Good Clinical Practices

2 - Management, Translation, Innovation, and Evaluation of Health Technologies

3 - Mental Health: Care, Innovation, and Research

1-Bioethics, Law, and Good Clinical Practices

This research line addresses the ethical, bioethical, normative, regulatory, Good Clinical Practice (GCP), and quality management aspects involved in clinical research. It provides the ethical and legal foundation for the conduct of scientific research, which is essential to the implementation of clinical studies. Its primary focus is on the regulatory framework that ensures patient safety and data integrity. It encompasses the study of applied bioethics, health law, and compliance with Good Clinical Practice. In addition, it is dedicated to quality governance and the protection of intellectual property, ensuring that the development of new products and processes is conducted in accordance with the highest national and international regulatory standards. 

2- Management, Translation, Innovation, and Evaluation of Health Technologies

This interdisciplinary and integrative research line encompasses the entire life cycle of a health technology, from its conception to its clinical validation. Its scope is structured to: develop products that support research management in healthcare services and research centers; apply methods for planning, monitoring, and evaluating healthcare actions and services, with a focus on management, quality, and productivity indicators; design and conduct clinical studies and clinical trials; and perform studies aimed at improving the quality of healthcare practices and processes, as well as conducting Health Technology Assessment (HTA).

To achieve these objectives, it integrates the strategic and financial management of research centers, the application of data science tools, and the methodological design of clinical trials. Its central focus is the translation of scientific knowledge into innovative products—including pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and software—and the conduct of HTA studies to ensure the sustainability, safety, efficacy, and cost-effectiveness of proposed interventions for both public and private healthcare systems.

3 - Mental Health: Care, Innovation, and Research

Dedicated to generating solutions for the challenges of mental health—recognized as a priority area within healthcare systems—this research line aims to develop innovative products that enhance comprehensive patient care. Its primary focus is the development of reproducible clinical care protocols that can be implemented across different settings to support best clinical practices. In addition, it encompasses the creation of technological tools for the assessment, monitoring, and treatment of mental health disorders, as well as the optimization of administrative processes to improve management efficiency and promote excellence in mental healthcare delivery.

The Professional Master’s Program in Clinical Research is composed of required and elective courses, as well as other activities with a theoretical–practical focus, to be completed in a minimum of three semesters.

The minimum course load is 270 hours. To complete the program, students must prepare a dissertation that includes the development of at least one product.

Required Courses
Applied Bioethics in Health Research - Course syllabus  
Fundamentals of Biostatistics – Introduction 
Fundamentals of Epidemiology - Course Syllabus  
Clinical Research and Good Practices -
Introduction to Clinical Research - Course Syllabus  

Research Seminar I - Course Syllabus  
Supervised Internship - 

Elective Courses and Research Lines
Administrative and Financial Management of Clinical Research - Course Syllabus  
Clinical Research and Law
Planning and Design of Clinical Trials  - Course Syllabus
Development and Validation of Health Education Materials/Products - Course Syllabus
Quality Management and Implementation Science - Course Syllabus
Well-Being and Mental Health
Non-Pharmacological Treatment Techniques I  - 
Contemporary Substance Use Disorders - Course Syllabus
Violence and Mental Health -  Course Syllabus
Topics in Psychiatry - Course Syllabus
Psychosocial Care Networks – RAPS - Course Syllabus 

The Professional Master’s Program in Clinical Research benefits from the hospital’s comprehensive infrastructure, with emphasis on the following components:

1. Administrative Infrastructure

The Program is supported by the Teaching Directorate (DENS) of the Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre (HCPA), located on the 6th floor of Block C. Expanded in 2022, this structure provides an integrated environment combining teaching, healthcare, and research, fostering training aligned with best clinical practices, patient safety, sustainable management, and scientific knowledge production.

Student records are managed through the AGHUse corporate system, which also provides access to the AGHUse Research module for project registration and submission to the Research Ethics Committee (REC). The Program is further supported by institutional areas including financial management, legal advisory, communication, and information technology.

A key partnership with the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS) supports diploma registration and the publication of dissertations in the institutional repository (LUME).

2. Physical Infrastructure

The Program’s physical infrastructure includes spaces dedicated to teaching, research, and extension activities, such as:

• 8 classrooms equipped with multimedia resources (capacity up to 30 students);

• meeting rooms, teleconference rooms, computer labs, study areas, and coworking spaces;

• common areas for faculty and students;

• an auditorium with capacity for 190 people, used for academic and scientific events.

A highlight is the HCPA/FAMED Teaching and Simulation Center, with approximately 500 m², equipped with high-fidelity simulators, virtual reality tools, and simulated consulting rooms with audiovisual recording, enabling the use of active learning methodologies.

Additionally, as a teaching hospital, HCPA provides access to its clinical infrastructure, including inpatient units and outpatient services, allowing students to engage in real-world practice settings.

3. Technological Infrastructure

The Program utilizes institutional digital platforms to support academic activities, including:

• Google Classroom and Google Meet for communication and remote learning;

• Solis GE system for academic management (enrollment, records, evaluations, and document issuance);

• Institutional intranet and the “Research Pathway,” which provides guidance for research project development.

Students have access to institutional networks (Wi-Fi and EDUROAM), data analysis software (SPSS, NVivo), and data collection tools such as REDCap.

Access is also provided to scientific databases and evidence-based resources, including UpToDate and the CAPES Journal Portal.

4. Research Directorate

The Research Directorate (DIPE), located on the 5th floor of Block C, provides institutional support through services in research support, clinical research, experimental research, and biomedical engineering.

Key resources include:

• Clinical Research Center (CPC), with dedicated infrastructure for conducting clinical studies;

• Research Support Service, offering biostatistics consulting and methodological guidance;

• Research and Events Incentive Fund (FIPE), which finances institutional projects upon ethical and scientific approval.

All projects developed within the Program are registered in the AGHUse Research system.

5. Information Technology Resources

The Information Technology Management Office (CGTI) is responsible for institutional IT infrastructure, ensuring data security and compliance with the Brazilian General Data Protection Law (Law No. 13,709/2018).

Key systems include AGHUse for hospital and academic management, and the Moodle platform for institutional training.

6. Data Science Center (CCD)

The Data Science Center supports institutional data analysis, promoting data-driven decision-making in healthcare, management, and research.

7. Innovation and Technology Transfer Center (NITT)

The NITT supports activities related to technological innovation, intellectual property, and technology transfer, in alignment with national science and innovation policies. Its activities are integrated into the Program through courses and academic projects.

8. Office of Strategic Projects and Partnerships (EPPE)

The EPPE is responsible for identifying, evaluating, and implementing strategic projects and partnerships, fostering institutional collaboration and the development of research and innovation initiatives.

9. Library

The Program has access to the UFRGS Library System, which comprises 31 libraries. Dissertations are deposited in the institutional repository (LUME).

Students have access to national and international databases (CAPES Portal, PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, among others), as well as technical support for literature search and academic formatting.

The faculty is composed of an interdisciplinary team that brings together diverse areas of expertise, including professors from UFRGS with academic production and research and/or professional experience in clinical research; HCPA staff professionals with a minimum of five years of experience in the development, structuring, and organization of clinical research services in public institutions; and HCPA researchers holding doctoral degrees, with academic production and research and/or professional experience in the field of clinical research.

This multidisciplinary profile meets the demands and objectives of the Program, aiming to provide a practice-oriented training that enables students to propose and lead changes within their institutions.

Ana Luisa Petersen Cogo - Lattes CV

Anne Orgler Sordi - Lattes CV 

Félix Henrique Paim Kessler - Lattes CV 

Fernanda D Athayde Rodrigues - Lattes CV 

Fernanda dos Santos de Oliveira - Lattes CV 

Helena Barreto dos Santos - Lattes CV

Ingrid Hartmann -  Lattes CV 

Isabel Cristina Echer - Lattes CV

Jose Roberto Goldim - Lattes CV 

Leila Beltrami Moreira - Lattes CV 

Leo Sekine - Lattes CV

Lisieux Elaine de Borba Telles - Lattes CV 

Luciano Palmeiro Rodrigues- Lattes CV

Maria Angélica Pires Ferreira - Lattes CV

Maria Paz Loayza Hidalgo - Lattes CV 

Marcia Santana Fernandes - Lattes CV 

Miriam Garcia Brunstein - Lattes CV 

Paulo Roberto Stefani Sanches - Lattes CV 

Pedro Domingues Goi - Lattes CV 

Rafael Leal Zimmer - Lattes CV 

Silvia Chwartzmann Halpern - Lattes CV 

Thiago Pianca - Lattes CV 

Valter Ferreira da Silva - Lattes CV

Vanessa Maria Panozzo Brandão - Lattes CV

Vania Naomi Hirakata - Lattes CV 

Wendy Beatriz Witt Haddad Carraro - Lattes CV

Coordinator: 

Prof. Dr. Leila Beltrami Moreira – lbmoreira@hcpa.edu.br

Program Coordination Committee:

Prof. Dr. Leo Sekine – lsekine@hcpa.edu.br
Prof. Dr. Luciano Palmeiro Rodrigues – lucianorodrigues@hcpa.edu.br
Prof. Dr. Maria Angélica Pires Ferreira – mpiferreira@hcpa.edu.br

Alternate Members:

Prof. Dr. Fernanda dos Santos de Oliveira – fesoliveira@hcpa.edu.br
Prof. Dr. Rafael Leal Zimmer – rzimmer@hcpa.edu.br

Student Representatives:

Paula Steger – psteger@hcpa.edu.br

Selection Committee:

Prof. Dr. Fernanda dos Santos de Oliveira – fesoliveira@hcpa.edu.br

Prof. Dr. Luciano Palmeiro Rodrigues – lucianorodrigues@hcpa.edu.br

Prof. Dr. Pedro Domingues Goi – pgoi@hcpa.edu.br

Alternate Members:

Prof. Dr. Maria Angélica Pires Ferreira – mpiferreira@hcpa.edu.br

Scholarship Committee:

Prof. Dr. Anne Orgler Sordi – asordi@hcpa.edu.br

Prof. Dr. Leo Sekine – lsekine@hcpa.edu.br

Prof. Dr. Vania Naomi Hirakata – vhirakata@hcpa.edu.br

Regulations: 

• RMPPC Regulations (until 2024)

• MPTA Regulations

• MPPC Regulations (after 2024 – under revision) 

Forms: 

Internship: 

👉 Internship Information: click here

👉 Internship Schedule: click here

👉 Attendance Record Sheet: click here

👉 Internship Report Template: click here 

Qualification Exam (EGQ): 

👉 Guidelines for the General Qualification Exam: click here

👉 EGQ Request Form Template: click here 

Defense: 

👉Guidelines for Dissertation Defense and Diploma Request: click here

👉Dissertation Defense Request Template:  click here

👉Dissertation Template: click here

👉Confidentiality Agreement: click here

Useful Links 

• Password Reset 

• Student Portal

Tuition Fees 

The total investment is R$ 35,778.73 for a one-time payment at enrollment, or it may be paid in installments of 24 monthly payments of R$ 1,671.87, totaling R$ 40,124.88. 

Payment Information

Scholarship Policy: 

HCPA offers a scholarship program that includes 50% tuition waivers for hospital staff and full scholarships for external candidates (based on socioeconomic criteria or for persons with disabilities). The aim is to broaden community access and support students who may face financial barriers to covering the full cost of tuition.

When available, scholarship selection takes place after the admission process.

Selected candidates may apply according to the criteria outlined in specific calls, which will be published on the program’s website.

Full scholarship policy details:  Click here

To be awarded the Master’s degree, students must:

• Successfully complete 18 academic credits, with a minimum attendance of 75% in each course.

• Complete the required internship.

• Demonstrate proficiency in a foreign language.

• Pass the General Qualifying Examination.

• Successfully defend their Master’s dissertation in a public session before an examining committee.

• Deposit the approved dissertation in the UFRGS School of Medicine (FAMED) Library.

• Complete all degree requirements within a maximum period of 24 months.

The Program encourages the offering of and participation in shared courses with other Graduate Programs, with the aim of broadening students' interdisciplinary education, promoting academic integration, and strengthening collaborative teaching and research initiatives.

Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS) – Graduate Program in Administration

• ADP552 – Health and Society

The selection process for admission to the Master’s program takes place annually through a public call for applications.

The call for applications is expected to be released in the second quarter of 2026.

The Internatlization of the program encompasses academic and scientific cooperation initiativies with foreign instituitions, aimed at joint production of knowledge, academic mobility, the strengthening of research networks, and the expansion of the program’s international engagement. 

click here

Being more than a hospital means advancing excellence in healthcare, education, and research while generating a direct impact on population health. This guiding principle has shaped the Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre (HCPA) since its establishment: to contribute to transforming healthcare through the generation of knowledge, the education of highly qualified professionals, and the continuous pursuit of innovation.

HCPA develops a wide range of initiatives that reflect its commitment to high-quality patient care, scientific advancement, and academic excellence, reinforcing its role as a teaching hospital affiliated with the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS) and as a leading institution within Brazil’s public healthcare system.

Within this context, the Graduate Program plays a strategic role in generating scientific, technological, and social impact through the development of applied research and the production of knowledge that addresses the needs of the healthcare system. The master's dissertations, technical products, and research projects developed within the program contribute to improving healthcare processes, fostering innovation, enhancing management practices, and developing solutions with strong potential for practical implementation in healthcare services.

Beyond its academic output, the impact of the Master's Program is reflected in the education of highly qualified professionals who are equipped to work critically, collaboratively, and in an evidence-based manner, contributing to improvements in healthcare delivery, decision-making, and health policy. In this way, the Program strengthens the integration of education, research, innovation, and patient care, enhancing the institution’s capacity to address the contemporary challenges of public health and healthcare delivery.

Learn more about our Master’s program outputs. 

Aline Gonzaga de Santana - Lattes CV

Antônio Lucas de Oliveira Góis Almeida  - Lattes CV

Camila Oliveira Bandeira - Lattes CV

Cristiano Augustro Franke - Lattes CV

Filipe Adriel Medeiros Aguirre - Lattes CV

Giórgio Franciscatto Pereira - Lattes CV

Izabel Cristina Aquino Hernandes - Lattes CV

Layan da Silva Dill - Lattes CV

Luana Holz Hass - Lattes CV

Marcela Santiago Biernat - Lattes CV

Paula Juliana Silva Bittencourt - Lattes CV

Paula Steger - Lattes CV

Renata da Fonseca Paixão Sperry  - Lattes CV

Sidia de Mari - Lattes CV

Access dissertations from our Graduate Program and explore the research projects and products developed by our students. 

Access here

The program’s self-evaluation process is conducted continuously through both qualitative and quantitative approaches, aiming to identify internal actions that enhance its strengths and reduce its weaknesses. The process is based on the analysis of broader institutional indicators and the Strategic Management and Business Plan, as well as on the perceptions of the internal community, always through a participatory approach.

As part of the evaluation of the program’s pedagogical proposal, students assess each course taken during the semester and also complete a self-evaluation form through the course management system.

Alumni are periodically monitored in order to assess the economic and social impacts of the program, mapping their professional and academic trajectories after graduation.

For professionals from Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre who participate in the program as students, the outcomes are reflected in improvements implemented within their own work areas, including protocols, instructional materials developed during the course, and participation in strategic institutional projects, among others.

Through the development of technological products with potential practical application within the Brazilian Unified Health System (SUS) and the creation of innovative solutions to national challenges, the program is expected to have a significant impact on healthcare delivery.

The Professional Master’s Program in Clinical Research (MPPC) at the Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre (HCPA) trains qualified professionals to work in clinical research, with a focus on the practical application of knowledge across different healthcare settings. The Program has a multidisciplinary profile, bringing together graduates from diverse fields, which fosters integrated work within multiprofessional teams.

Graduates predominantly work in clinical care, clinical research, management, and technology, in both public and private institutions. Some pursue further academic training in doctoral programs, as well as engage in teaching and collaboration with the Program itself.

Alumni follow-up is conducted through surveys, direct contact, and analysis of the Lattes Curriculum, enabling monitoring of their professional placement. In this context, the MPPC contributes to the qualification of professionals and to strengthening clinical research and innovation in healthcare.

The Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre (HCPA), through its Office of Education, welcomes partnerships with companies and institutions interested in enhancing the qualifications of their professionals through the Professional Master's Program in Clinical Research.

Partner organizations can provide their employees with access to a high-quality graduate education that integrates theory and practice, offers interaction with leading researchers, and provides access to HCPA's research and innovation infrastructure.

Partnerships are tailored to the objectives and specific needs of each organization, with a focus on developing strategic competencies, strengthening a culture of innovation, and generating institutional impact.

Is your organization interested in investing in the professional development of its workforce?

Contact us to learn more about partnership opportunities.

Email: mppesquisaclinica@hcpa.edu.br
Phone / WhatsApp: +55 (51) 3359-6259

The Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre (HCPA), through its Office of Education, welcomes partnerships with companies and institutions interested in enhancing the qualifications of their professionals through the Professional Master's Program in Clinical Research.

Partner organizations can provide their employees with access to a high-quality graduate education that integrates theory and practice, offers interaction with leading researchers, and provides access to HCPA's research and innovation infrastructure.

Partnerships are tailored to the objectives and specific needs of each organization, with a focus on developing strategic competencies, strengthening a culture of innovation, and generating institutional impact.

Is your organization interested in investing in the professional development of its workforce?

Contact us to learn more about partnership opportunities.

Email: mppesquisaclinica@hcpa.edu.br
Phone / WhatsApp: +55 (51) 3359-6259