By the end of the 19th century, after the advances in surgical asepsis and the understanding of the role of microorganisms in the etiology of many infectious diseases, research institutes in the public health area were created worldwide with the objectives of undertaking "scientific research into the causes, prevention and treatment of disease in man and animals and to prepare and supply protective and curative materials such as vaccines and antitoxins". To pursue these objectives the institutes hired the best scientists from everywhere. This was an exhilarating period for research in which discoveries proliferated. After that, institutes got into depression and even insolvency. Most recovered, many not. Many are still suffering from an "identity crisis". In this paper we analyze the fate of the health research institutes in Brazil, the causes of their success and eventual failures and the possible ways to get out of their current difficulties.
Research; Microorganisms; Pathogens; Infections agents; Vaccines; Anti-sera; Butantan; Manguinhos; Scientific policy; Funding; funding agencies