The Institute of Otorhinolaryngology & Head and Neck Surgery – IOU was born from a dream of the Otorhinolaryngology – Head and Neck Division at Unicamp, which, after five decades of superior service, took the challenge of further enhancing its purpose of promoting high-quality healthcare throughout the country.

Expanding to an Institute of great size and international scope was necessary to improve its highly specialized care, and to create a revolutionary new healthcare center in the country.
Construction was financed through funds destinated by the Public Labor Ministry – (MPT) (Ministério Público do Trabalho). The financial resources came from an indemnification agreement for collective moral damage, resulting from public civil action filed in 2007 by the MPT in the Shell-BASF case that resulted in compensation for contamination in an industrial pesticide plant, in the city of Paulínia, State of São Paulo. It is the highest compensation agreement in Brazilian history.

This model action of the use of public money in the benefit of the population resulted in the construction of the Institute and equipment acquisition. Built on 36.000 square feet of land donated by the University of Campinas (Unicamp), construction work begun in March 2020 – in the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic – and finished 18 months later, in September 2021.

A Unique and Innovative Project

IOU is innovative both in its management and sustenance. IOU’s budget is not part of Unicamp’s budget, but instead of the Campinas Healthcare Area Foundation – Fascamp (Fundação da Área da Saúde de Campinas). As a non-profit organization it’s an institution with social commitment and dedication to the healthcare of the population.

Founded on the tradition and history of the Unicamp School of Medical Sciences – FCM (Faculdade de Ciências Médicas), the Institute already rises with its unquestionable national and international recognition in the medical education of undergraduate, graduate and post graduate levels.

IOU boasts a state-of-the-art Education and Training Complex. The Institute is dedicated to the preparation of experts and offering cutting-edge continuing education at the frontiers of science and technology. This project is unique in the public university environment.

As part of Unicamp, as well as the International Hub for Sustainable Development – HIDS, the Institute has partnered with the Innovation Agency INOVA Unicamp (Agência de Inovação INOVA Unicamp), with the Technology Park of Unicamp (Parque Tecnológico da Unicamp) and other institutes and colleges of the University with access to the top research and development centers of the High Technology Hub (Polo de Alta Tecnologia), such as CPqD – the National Synchrotron Light Laboratory (Laboratório Nacional de Luz Síncrontron), and the Eldorado Institute (Instituto Eldorado).