"The conductor is pediatrics"

initial notes on expertise, associations, and scientific networks during the zika virus epidemic in Recife, Brazil.

Abstract

Currently, the hypothesis that the Zika virus crosses the placental barrier, infects fetuses, and causes congenital anomalies is widely accepted by the scientific community. However, this consensus emerged from an intense effort by local scientists. In 2015, when the rising number of microcephaly cases in maternity hospitals in Pernambuco drew the attention of the medical and scientific community, various hypotheses were proposed—ranging from infectious agents to environmental factors. The urgency of the response required scientists to form associations, creating interdisciplinary networks that mobilized expertise, funding, and infrastructure. A key element in conducting these studies was the ability to access and recruit participants. This article examines how a research group, internationally recognized in the field, structured itself to carry out clinical-epidemiological studies on Zika. Based on interviews conducted in 2023, I analyze the relationship between science and healthcare, highlighting how partnerships with pediatric clinics were essential for enabling these studies. I argue that, in a context where biomedical research takes place primarily within the Brazilian Unified Health System (SUS), family participation cannot be dissociated from healthcare access conditions. While these partnerships ensured knowledge production for scientists, for families, research often represented an alternative pathway to specialized care. Understanding the construction of this network allows us to reflect on the limits and possibilities of science in times of health emergencies.