Fire at UFPE destroys two decades of research, causes $100 million loss

A major fire on Wednesday night destroyed a laboratory building at the Federal University of Pernambuco (UFPE) in Recife, marking the third blaze on campus in one week. The fire struck the former Innovation and Entrepreneurship Directorate building, which housed pharmacology, computer science, and genetics labs as well as the Therapeutic Innovation Research Center.

Rector Alfredo Gomes estimated damages at R$100 million and described the loss of 20 years of accumulated samples and roughly 100 research lines as irreparable. No injuries were reported.

“It is an inestimable loss, very bad for science. We were working on these data trying to investigate possible factors that could help patients develop biological markers to better treat and prevent cancer.”

Firefighters deployed eight trucks and battled the blaze from around 8 p.m. until 5 a.m. Thursday. The Federal Police opened an inquiry to determine whether the fire was accidental or criminal.

Education Minister Leonardo Barchini visited the site Thursday and pledged federal funds to rebuild the facility and replace equipment. He confirmed the Federal Police are already interviewing suspects.

Fiocruz researcher Luydson Vasconcelos lost ten years of liver-cancer genetic samples from about 200 patients, plus 15 years of work on Covid-19 and severe Chikungunya genetics. Some donors have since died, making recollection impossible.

Despite the destruction, the university's Expo UFPE career fair continued nearby while investigators examined the gutted building after civil defense cleared it for entry.