Natura's EMBRACE Study Marks Milestone in Brazilian Menopause Research with UNIFESP and USP Involvement

The recent announcement of the EMBRACE study by Natura in partnership with Science Valley represents a significant advancement in menopause research within Brazil's higher education landscape. This initiative, dubbed the largest scientific investigation into climacteric and menopause ever conducted in the country, involves over 1,500 participants from all 27 state capitals. Importantly, it features collaborations with researchers from leading universities such as Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) and Universidade de São Paulo (USP), underscoring the critical role of Brazilian higher education institutions in translational research.

EMBRACE, or Endocrine Mapping in the Broad Range of Aging and Climacteric Experiences, is an observational cross-sectional population-based study designed to map the multifaceted impacts of hormonal changes during this life stage. By integrating clinical evaluations, molecular analyses, and neuroscience assessments, the project aims to address longstanding data gaps influenced by Brazil's unique miscegenation, socioeconomic diversity, and regional climates.

Understanding Menopause in the Brazilian Context: Insights from University Studies

Menopause, defined as the permanent cessation of menstruation after 12 consecutive months without menses due to ovarian follicle depletion (typically occurring between ages 45-55), affects millions in Brazil. According to a landmark study from Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), the median age for natural menopause in Brazil is 50 years, based on a nationally representative sample from the ELSI-Brazil cohort involving adults aged 50+ across 70 municipalities. This research highlighted modifiable factors like smoking (associated with earlier onset), sufficient physical activity, excess body weight, and healthy eating habits (linked to later menopause).

Estimates suggest around 30 million Brazilian women are in the climacteric phase (40-65 years), with prevalence varying by region. Universities like USP and UNIFESP have long contributed to this field, with UNIFESP's gynecology sector specializing in perimenopause and postmenopause care, both natural and premature. These institutions provide foundational data that private initiatives like EMBRACE build upon, fostering a robust academic ecosystem for women's health research.

Research Gaps in Brazilian Higher Education: Why EMBRACE Matters

Despite progress, Brazilian higher education has faced challenges in menopause research, including limited national-scale studies accounting for ethnic diversity and environmental factors. Previous university-led efforts, such as UFMG's ELSI-Brazil analysis, offered valuable snapshots but lacked the integrated multi-omics approach of EMBRACE. The new study fills this void by examining how hormonal decline correlates with skin barrier integrity, mental health, and systemic well-being—areas underexplored in academic literature.

This gap is particularly acute given Brazil's diverse population: Indigenous, Afro-Brazilian, and mixed-race women experience climacteric differently due to genetic and socioeconomic influences. Universities have published on prevalence (e.g., 87.9% symptom reporting in some cohorts), but comprehensive endocrine mapping remains scarce, making EMBRACE a catalyst for future university grants and CNPq/FAPESP projects.

The Methodology of EMBRACE: A Model for University-Industry Collaboration

EMBRACE employs a rigorous protocol: participants (cis women and trans men) undergo clinical exams via SUS and private health systems for heterogeneity. Molecular profiling includes hormone levels and biomarkers, while neuroscience components assess brain impacts via validated scales. Data security and analysis are overseen by Science Valley, with UNIFESP and USP researchers ensuring methodological excellence.

Timeline spans from April 2026 announcement to December 2027 conclusion, generating real-world evidence to update SUS protocols and National Guidelines for Climacteric Care. This step-by-step integration—recruitment in capitals, stratified sampling, multi-modal data collection—sets a benchmark for higher ed research partnerships.

Key Roles of USP and UNIFESP in Advancing the Study

USP and UNIFESP, Brazil's premier medical research hubs, provide national coordination. UNIFESP's expertise in endocrinology and gynecology ensures precise population profiling, while USP's neuroscience strengths support brain health assessments. Leaders like Priscila Moncayo (Natura) and Leandro Agati (Science Valley) praise these universities for elevating data quality.

Such involvement exemplifies public university impact: UNIFESP's climacteric sector has trained generations, and USP's longitudinal studies inform policy. EMBRACE could spawn theses, postdocs, and FAPESP-funded extensions.

Diversity and Inclusion: Capturing Brazil's Varied Climacteric Experiences

With 1,500+ participants, EMBRACE prioritizes diversity across SES, ethnicity, and geography. Regional physicians optimize care lines, addressing how Amazonian humidity or Northeastern aridity modulates symptoms. This mirrors university efforts like USP's ethnic health cohorts, promoting inclusive research in higher ed.

• Biological factors: Hormonal profiles varying by ancestry.
• Social: Access to SUS vs. private care.
• Environmental: Climate impacts on vasomotor symptoms.

Clinical, Molecular, and Neuroscience Dimensions Explained

Clinically, it tracks symptoms like hot flashes (affecting 70-80% per uni studies). Molecularly, endocrine mapping reveals gene-environment interactions. Neuroscience explores cognitive fog and mood via EEG/neuroimaging proxies. Step-by-step: screening, bloodwork, questionnaires, advanced assays—yielding holistic data for unis to publish.

Implications for SUS Guidelines and Public Health Policy

Findings will inform SUS updates, potentially standardizing care. Unis like UNIFESP advocate for evidence-based protocols; EMBRACE's scale amplifies this. Economic impact: Symptoms cost billions in productivity losses, per recent reports.

Strengthening Private-Public Partnerships in Brazilian Higher Education

EMBRACE exemplifies industry-university synergy: Natura funds, unis validate. Similar to FAPESP-industry projects, it boosts research output. Benefits: More /research-jobs, postdocs, international collaborations.

Future Outlook: Elevating Women's Health Research in Brazil

By 2027, EMBRACE data could spawn uni spin-offs, AI models for prediction. Calls for expanded funding via CNPq, more menopause centers at unis. Actionable: Unis recruit for trials via research positions.

Photo by Kawê Rodrigues on Unsplash

Stakeholder Perspectives and Next Steps

Moncayo: "Commitment to regenerative science." Agati: "Excellence via UNIFESP/USP." Unis poised to lead post-EMBRACE era.