The Court of Campinas (SP) overturned two injunctions that suspended Administrative Disciplinary Processes (PADs), initiated by the State University of Campinas (Unicamp), against the research couple Soledad Palameta Miller and Michael Edward Miller, investigated for the theft of viruses from the university.
With the decisions of the 3rd Public Court, the last of which will be on Tuesday (3), Soledad and Michael will once again be investigated by the university. Administrative procedures may result in warning, suspension or dismissal - understand below.
The injunctions had been granted in April and May 2026 after requests from the couple's defense, which claimed a short deadline to express themselves in the PADs and the seizure of equipment and documents in the criminal investigation, which is being carried out in secrecy.
In a statement, Unicamp highlighted that the Court accepted the arguments presented by the university and highlighted that it will "continue the investigation of the facts", "in compliance with institutional norms and guaranteeing the right to defense of those involved".
g1 contacted the researchers' lawyer, Rubens Luiz Schmidt Rodrigues Massaro, who did not respond until the last update of this report.
The investigation and the disciplinary administrative process are distinct stages of internal investigation in public administration.
Inquiry: is a preliminary investigation to determine facts and collect evidence. It may result in dismissal or the opening of disciplinary proceedings.
Disciplinary administrative process (PAD): this is a more formal phase, when there are already signs of irregularity and defense and contradiction are guaranteed.
If irregularities are confirmed, penalties may include:
warning
suspension
dismissal (in the case of public servants)
The Federal Police (PF) is investigating professor Dr. Soledad, and her husband, veterinarian and doctoral student Michael, for the theft of virus samples from a biosafety level 3 laboratory (NB-3) at the Unicamp Biology Institute, which occurred in March this year.
Soledad and Michael are partners in the company Agrotrix Biotech Solutions, whose main activity is research and experimental development in physical and natural sciences.
At least 24 different strains of viruses were taken from the Virology Laboratory to other laboratories within the university - among them, structures at the Faculty of Food Engineering (FEA), where Soledad worked.
According to the Federal Police, the virus samples were recovered in Unicamp buildings, with no signs of external contamination or biological terrorism. Unicamp is conducting an internal investigation into the case.
In its only statement on the case, Soledad's defense stated that there was no material theft, maintaining that the researcher used the laboratory at the Institute of Biology because it did not have its own structure to carry out her research.
The Federal Public Ministry (MPF) initiated a procedure to determine whether Unicamp failed to control and inspect sensitive biological material, following the theft of viruses from an NB-3 laboratory.
Among the 24 different strains of viruses taken from the Virology Laboratory were samples of dengue, chikungunya, zika, herpes, Epstein-Barr, human coronaviruses and other lesser-known coronaviruses, in addition to 13 types of viruses that infect animals. There were also samples of type A flu viruses.
According to the MPF, the objective of the procedure is "to determine the regularity of the packaging, control and inspection of sensitive biological material within the institution, as well as the possible existence of structural or procedural failures that have contributed to the disappearance of samples, with potential repercussions on public health".
The MPF explained that it issued a letter to Unicamp and that the procedure is intended to collect information and verify the existence of elements that justify the possible opening of a Civil Inquiry.
