The Pharmaceutical Sciences Graduate Program (PPGCF) was created in 2005 and approved by the CNE in 2006 (Ordinance No. 2,000 - DOU 12/21/06 - Report 165/2006 of December 20, 2006), aiming to build a space to develop research strategies, train human resources to work in the region, and establish technical-academic cooperation with regional, national and international institutions aiming at understanding the health-disease process and the exploitation of biodiversity to improve the quality of life of the Amazónian.
PPGCF Concentration Area is "Drugs and Medicines" and the Research Lines are: Biological Evaluation of Natural and Synthetic Active Principles; and Development and Evaluation of Natural and Synthetic Medicines. In these two structuring lines, PPGCF proposes to help clarify pathophysiological mechanisms of diseases prevalent in Amazónia, to evaluate the biological activity of native plant species, as well as to perform the chemical characterization of native plant species, to develop phytotherapics and phytocosmetics, their control of quality and evaluate their use forms, besides using computational tools to propose chemical modifications in molecules derived from plants or synthetic, contributing to the rational use of the Amazónian biodiversity.
In this way, PPGCF aims to train professionals in order to achieve the following specific objectives:
1. To train highly qualified human resources to carry out teaching and research activities in the area of drugs and medicines in order to meet the demands related to the rational use of the natural resources of the Amazon, making them apt to formulate research strategies in the area of Sciences Pharmaceuticals in the region, as well as in other Brazilian Regions and other countries;
2. To take advantage of the Amazónian biodiversity for the purpose of technological development of medicines as therapeutic alternatives;
3. Promote ongoing dialogue with undergraduate students, with a view to training researchers committed to the development of Pharmaceutical Sciences in the region.
4. To integrate the different activities of research and teaching generating an innovative perspective of investigation of the Pharmaceutical Sciences in the Amazon that will constitute the basis for the formation of new researchers;
5. To catalyze the formation of knowledge production centers in other states of the Amazon and encourage cooperation between the Program Professors and international institutions, based on the articulation of research networks.
Since the first selective process, in August 2006, PPGCF has graduated more than 160 masters in pharmaceutical sciences, undergraduate in several courses, such as Pharmacy, Dentistry, Chemistry, Nursing, Physiotherapy, Chemical Engineering among others, from other states of Brazil. North, South and Southeast regions of the country, including other continents, including Africa, who chose the Amazon to carry out their research, indicating the importance and strategic role of the Program for the training of human resources for the Amazon region. Currently, the Program has 20 CAPES scholarships and 6 CNPq scholarships. In 2018, the teaching staff is composed of 20 professors, of which 14 are permanent researchers, 05 invited and 1 visiting researcher. Of these, 13 are allotted at the Faculty of Pharmacy, Faculty of Chemistry (2), Faculty of Chemical Engineering (1) and Institute of Biological Sciences (3), 1 visiting researcher UFMG. In 2017, the permanent teaching staff had five Research Productivity Scholars and three Technological Development Fellows. The professors are specialists in the different lines of research of the Pharmaceutical Sciences, with exclusive dedication and belonging to the UFPA framework, which allows the obligatory and complementary credits required for the degree to be obtained in the different disciplines taught in the Program. Exceptionally, and according to counselor recommendations, students take courses in other graduate programs. All professors have experience in Master's advising and a good number of them in Doctorate.