This distinction is granted to professionals and authorities who stand out for their contributions to strengthening bioethics, justice, and ethical medical practice in Brazil. The medal is named after one of the country’s greatest exponents of Legal Medicine, Professor Genival Veloso de França, a national and international reference in the field.
A biologist with a PhD in Biomolecular Physical Sciences, Daniela Trivella completed postdoctoral studies in Brazil, the United States, and England. She works on research into new bioactive natural products and allosteric modulators of proteins with pharmaceutical potential. At CNPEM, she leads projects that combine scientific innovation and practical application in the discovery of new drugs, in collaboration with academic institutions and the productive sector. The award recognizes her outstanding work in the field of biomolecular research, with direct impact on the ethics of medical practice and the development of therapeutic solutions in the country.
“I am very honored by this award! It motivates me even more to contribute to inclusive technological development in Brazil. I receive it on behalf of an entire team of determined professionals from different areas of knowledge. We work hard, always trying to apply the best of science to strengthen national sovereignty in the health sector, ensure access to healthcare for our population, and open new sustainable economic sectors based on our biodiversity, knowledge at different levels (from scientific to traditional and vice versa), and above all, on the creativity and perseverance of us Brazilians.”
About CNPEM
The Brazilian Center for Research in Energy and Materials (CNPEM) is home to a state-of-the-art, multi-user and multidisciplinary scientific environment and works on different fronts within the Brazilian National System for Science, Technology and Innovation. A social organization overseen by the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MCTI), CNPEM is driven by research that impacts the areas of health, energy, renewable materials, and sustainability. It is responsible for Sirius, the largest assembly of scientific equipment constructed in the country, and is currently constructing Project Orion, a laboratory complex for advanced pathogen research. Highly specialized science and engineering teams, sophisticated infrastructure open to the scientific community, strategic lines of investigation, innovative projects involving the productive sector, and training for researchers and students are the pillars of this institution that is unique in Brazil and able to serve as a bridge between knowledge and innovation. CNPEM’s research and development activities are carried out through its four National Laboratories: Synchrotron Light (LNLS), Biosciences (LNBio), Nanotechnology (LNNano), Biorenewables (LNBR), as well as its Technology Unit (DAT) and the Ilum School of Science — an undergraduate program in Science and Technology supported by the Ministry of Education (MEC).
