The Program is based at the Heart Institute (InCor) of the Hospital das Clínicas of the University of São Paulo Medical School (HCFMUSP), one of the largest cardiology centers in the world.
InCor stands out as a center of excellence in cardiology due to its cutting-edge infrastructure and international recognition in specialized rankings. According to EduRanking, FMUSP’s Cardiology ranks 58th in the world. It has a robust infrastructure that includes approximately 500 beds distributed across 7 inpatient wards, 170 of which are dedicated to high-complexity Intensive Care Units (ICUs).
Surgical and Diagnostic Centers: 14 operating rooms, 7 interventional cardiology rooms and electrophysiological study rooms, 12 high-complexity diagnostic rooms including CT, MRI, and nuclear medicine.
Intensive Care Units: 170 ICU beds equipped with advanced technology for hemodynamic monitoring, ventilatory, circulatory, and neurological support. InCor is the only public university hospital in Brazil to offer advanced circulatory support technologies such as extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) and artificial ventricles.
Research Laboratories: Laboratories in bioengineering, molecular biology, medical informatics, immunology, hemodynamics, electrophysiology, imaging (echocardiography, radioisotopes, CT, MRI), respiratory function, vascular biology, and pathology.
Human and Academic Resources: InCor has a staff of approximately 3,300 employees and a library with a collection of 1,782 books.
Each year, InCor receives around 125 residents in areas such as cardiology, cardiovascular surgery, pulmonology, thoracic surgery, and anesthesiology, as well as 134 health area interns.
Its international recognition is evidenced by its position in the Newsweek magazine’s “World’s Best Specialized Hospitals” ranking. In 2024, it was ranked the 22nd best hospital in the world in cardiology, and in 2025, it advanced to 19th in cardiology and 37th in cardiac surgery. InCor is recognized as the leading cardiology institution in Latin America, reflecting its ongoing commitment to excellence in patient care, education, and research.
The combination of advanced infrastructure and high rankings reaffirms InCor’s role as a global reference in cardiology, contributing to advancements in cardiovascular medicine and the training of highly qualified professionals.
Graduate Program Research Infrastructure
The graduate program benefits from a strong research infrastructure and a dedicated research area (Scientific Committee) that supports and supervises institutional projects.
Laboratories:
Beyond its clinical infrastructure, InCor provides laboratories that support clinical, research, and teaching activities, functioning as a platform for graduate-level investigations.
Approximately 10% of InCor’s 75,000 m² are dedicated exclusively to research activities, including the following laboratories, a Translational Research Center, and a Preclinical Research Support Center:
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Medical Informatics Laboratory
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Immunology Laboratory
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Genetics and Molecular Cardiology Laboratory
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Cardiac Pathology Laboratory
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Lipid Metabolism Laboratory
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Pulmonary Ventilation Laboratory
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Exercise Physiology Laboratory
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Translational Cardiovascular Biology Medical Research Laboratory
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Organ and Tissue Research Laboratory
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Experimental Research Laboratory of the Cardiomyopathy Clinic
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Medical Research Laboratories of FMUSP (LIM)
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Genetics and Molecular Cardiology Laboratory
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Pulmonology Laboratory
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Cardiovascular Surgery Laboratory
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Histocompatibility and Cellular Immunity Laboratory
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Thoracic Surgery Research Laboratory
All laboratories are linked to the Department of Cardiopneumology.
The 170 ICU beds are equipped with state-of-the-art hemodynamic monitoring systems as well as advanced ventilatory, circulatory, and neurological support.
A multi-user research vision is inherent to the structure of Hospital das Clínicas, which promotes interdisciplinary integration of services and research platforms across its institutes (InCor, Central Institute, Cancer Institute, Orthopedics Institute, Pediatrics Institute, Psychiatry Institute, Radiology Institute, Rehabilitation Institute, and support hospitals).
Scientific Committee:
The Scientific Committee coordinates research and innovation efforts, secures funding, and oversees regulatory aspects. Located on the 1st floor of InCor, it occupies 1,000 m², including clinical consultation rooms, translational research areas, telemedicine facilities, and emergency services. The committee includes a multidisciplinary team of 40 fellows and dedicated staff members. Currently, 224 projects are underway, with an average annual funding of R$ 8.3 million.
Key initiatives include telemedicine programs such as Tele-ICU and TAC, which promote remote care and technological innovation. The committee also works closely with CAPPesq (Ethics and Research Committee) to ensure ethical and technical review of research projects.
Library:
The “Prof. Luiz Venere Décourt” Library at InCor houses a specialized cardiology collection, provides access to essential scientific databases, and maintains partnerships with international institutions. A weekly bibliographic alert is sent to professionals in the field.
Students have access to the SiBi/USP portal and ABCD (https://www.abcd.usp.br/). The library’s collection can be accessed online through its website.