Biomaterials Engineering: working at crossroads of physiology, biochemistry and pharmacology for advancing knowledge of biological systems and developing treatments of diseases

5 September 2025 | i3S, Porto, Portugal

Abstract book >>

We are pleased to welcome you to the Early Career Life Scientists (ECLS) Symposium, hosted by the i3S - Institute for Research and Innovation in Health, on September 5th. The ECLS symposium is entitled Biomaterials Engineering, which focuses on the crossroads of physiology, biochemistry and pharmacology for advancing knowledge of biological systems and developing treatments of diseases. Innovations in biomaterials, such as tissue scaffolds, drug delivery systems, and biosensors, enhance research capabilities with 3D models and smart systems, ultimately aiming to improve healthcare outcomes.

The ECLS symposium is organized by early career scientists for early career scientists by offering an outstanding scientific program, a round table session focusing on career paths in Science, a workshop seminar entitled ‘How to elevate your career in research?’ and networking opportunities.

We hope that through your active participation in the oral/poster presentation and chairing a session, we can deliver a great ECLS symposium.

We acknowledge the funding societies for their support: Biochemical, British Pharmacological, Physiological Societies and MOBILIsE project.

Poster >>

Joana Silva, Molecular Biomaterials Group, i3S

Karen Galle, Molecular Biomaterials Group, i3S

Sara Silva, Molecular Biomaterials Group, i3S

Vijay Pal, Molecular Biomaterials Group, i3S

09h00 - 09h20 Registration

09h20 - 09h30 Opening Session

09h30 - 10h30 Plenary Lecture 1: Biomaterials engineering for bioprinting living constructs
Rúben Pereira, i3S

10h30 - 10h45 ECM-enriched Self-Healing Alginate Hydrogel for Skeletal Muscle Regeneration
 Inês Vilela, i3S / FEUP

10h45 - 11h00 Multimaterial strategies for the development of highly bioactive constructs for osteochondral regeneration
Ana Marta Godinho, University of Aveiro

11h00 - 11h30 Coffee Break sponsored by the MOBILIsE project and Poster Session

11h30 - 11h45 Bioactive cotton textiles with silver nanoparticles and polyphenol-rich acorn shell extracts: a synergistic strategy to enhance antimicrobial and antioxidant activity for dermal applications
Andreia Fernandes, Centro de Biotecnologia e Química Fina Laboratório Associado

11h45 - 12h00 Short Multifunctional titanium coated with Dhvar5 and MSI78 peptides: effective against MRSA, immune-modulating, and osteogenic
Bruna Costa, i3S

12h00 - 13h00 Plenary Lecture 2: Supramolecular biomaterials – from scientific curiosity to application
Patricia Y. W. Dankers, Eindhoven University of Technology

13h00 - Group photo

13h00 - 14h30 Lunch

14h30 - 14h45 In vitro modelling of Annulus Fibrosus using ECM-derived approaches
Ana Luísa Castro, i3S

14h45 - 15h00 Paper based sensor for protease activity detection
Cláudia Silva, University of Minho - CMEMS

15h00 - 16h00 Round Table – Career Paths in Science
Invited panelists: Mariana Simões, Patricia Y. W. Dankers, Patrícia Henriques, Bárbara Pinho and Sérgio Marinho

16h00 - 16h30 Coffee Break sponsored by the MOBILIsE project and Poster Session

16h30 - 18h00 Workshop Session: Navigating Career Development
hosted by Paula Lopez Perez

18h00 - 18h30 Prizes and Closing Session

19h30 Social Dinner (For registered participants only)

Patricia Y.W. Dankers

Professor Dankers is a full professor in Biomedical Materials and Chemistry at Eindhoven University of Technology, with outstanding academic and professional background. For around 16 years Professor Dankers has established herself as a leading research group in the field of biomedical materials. She completed her studies in chemistry at the Radboud University of Nijmegen, the Netherlands and during her PhD in natural sciences/chemistry at the Eindhoven University of Technology in the group of Prof. Dr E. W. (Bert) Meijer, she combined her fascination for biochemistry and supramolecular chemistry. Throughout her career, she was awarded the Veni and Vidi laureates (2008 and 2017), an ERC Starting Grant (2012), the DSM Science & Technology Award, the Pauline van Wachem Award for the best thesis in biomaterials research and tissue engineering, and the Journal of Polymer Science Innovation Award at the ACS (2019). Professor Dankers’ pioneering research in supramolecular bioactive biomaterials for cardiovascular treatments, and her progression with her dual PhDs, exemplifies her dedication to academic and scientific advancement. Her presence will undoubtedly provide valuable insights to all attendees.

Rúben Pereira

Rúben is an Assistant Professor in biomaterials and bioengineering at the Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar (ICBAS, University of Porto) and researcher at the Biofabrication Group at i3S. During his PhD in Biomedical Sciences, he specialized in the design and synthesis of biofunctional biomaterials capable of instructing skin morphogenesis within bioprinted 3D cell microenvironments. During his postdoctoral research at i3S, he focused on advanced biofabrication strategies to create hierarchical 3D in vitro tissue models for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine applications. As a result of the impact of his research in the field of biomedical engineering, Rúben Pereira was awarded the prestigious "Professor Francisco Pulido Valente Prize 2018" by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) and Fundação Professor Francisco Pulido Valente. Moreover, Dr Pereira has been involved in +10 research projects supported by the industry, and national and international agencies in the fields of bioengineering, 3D bioprinting, tissue engineering and medical engineering. He has also been invited as a consultant for the pharmaceutical industry, providing advice on the design of novel biomaterials for skin repair. Overall, his research attracted more than 1400 citations (h index = 15; source: G. Scholar). His research aims at developing bioengineered hydrogels that closely mimic the biophysical and biochemical features of cell microenvironment as biomimetic platforms for biomedical applications.

Paula Lopez Perez

Paula Lopez Perez is currently the Team Coordinator of the Career Development Unit at i3S, where she plays a key role in supporting researchers through tailored training and career guidance. Paula has been actively involved in designing and implementing initiatives to empower researchers, including mentoring programs, skills development workshops, and strategic collaborations with international partners. She holds a background in Chemistry, with a PhD in Biomedical Engineering. Her academic journey also includes three Postdoctoral international experiences. Paula has also gained experience in the biotech and pharmaceutical industries, working as a Production Manager/Senior Research Assistant at TiKa Diagnostics. She leverages her interdisciplinary knowledge from academic and industrial backgrounds to connect researchers with the tools, networks, and mindsets needed for success in diverse career paths.

Patricia Henriques

Patrícia Henriques is a Bioengineer with a PhD in Biomedical Engineering, and currently a Project Manager at i3S. Patrícia is co-inventor of two patents, received 7 awards, and participated in several initiatives for enhancing public awareness of science, being part of the GreenLab initiative at i3S. She also participated in the tech transfer training program Hitech One and Two (2020).
After finishing her PhD and attending some career changing workshops at i3s, she decided to actually make a shift on her career to technology transfer and project management. She co-founded a startup, GOTECH Antimicrobial, in 2021, after participating in the EIT Jumpstarter and receiving the second prize in the Health sector. Patrícia participated in the Caixa Research Validate program, consolidating her training with the Tech Transfer Leadership in Life Sciences program from Barcelona School of Management (UPF).
Patrícia’s interests include biomaterials, microbiology, and surface modification towards the design of antimicrobial surfaces. She is also very interested on the process of translating lab developed technologies to the market, and all that it takes to accomplish that – IP protection, regulatory affairs, interaction with stakeholders, company creation, business plan development, marketing, pitch presentation, and so on. She wants to take their graphene-based light-activated catheter cap to the market, and make it the gold standard for patients dealing with the suffering of hemodialysis catheter-related infections.

Mariana Simões

Mariana Simões, PhD is an accomplished research manager and scientist currently serving as the Project Manager for MOBILIsE, an ERA Chair project funded by H2020 and coordinated by INEB/i3S. Previously, she held the position of Project Manager for the Twinning project SymbNET, coordinated by Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência (IGC) in Oeiras, and worked as a Development Manager and Project Leader at Native Scientist in Germany. Mariana's educational background includes a Bachelor's Degree in Biology from the University of Evora and a PhD in Biomedicine from the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Lisbon, where she conducted research at the Instituto de Medicina Molecular (IMM) in Lisbon. Furthermore, she completed two postdoctoral fellowships at Naturkundemuseum and Max del Bruck Centrum in Berlin, Germany.

Sérgio Marinho

Sérgio Marinho is a Research Technician and Laboratory Manager in the Immune Sensing and Signaling Dynamics group at i3S, University of Porto. He has a background in Anatomical Pathology, Cytology, and Thanatology, and holds a master’s degree in Molecular Medicine and Oncology from the Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto.
His professional activities involve the management and supervision of laboratory operations, including the implementation of experimental protocols, ensuring the biosafety and quality standards, as well providing technical support for research projects. Sérgio possesses extensive expertise in molecular and cellular biology, with a particular focus on molecular techniques, assay development, and mammalian cell culture. In addition to his technical contributions, he is actively engaged in the training and mentorship of students and early-stage researchers, thereby supporting both the scientific and educational missions of the institute.

Bárbara Pinho

Bárbara Pinho is a freelance science writer based in Porto, Portugal. She explores the nuanced yet tangible ways scientific progress shapes society, with a particular focus on agriculture, health, climate change and the environment. Her work has appeared in international publications such as New Scientist, Scientific American, Discover, and others. In addition to journalism, she has experience writing and editing reports, articles and newsletters for institutional clients, including the European Space Agency and Wetlands International.

5^th September 2025 | 19:30 | Dinner at Torreão Restaurant

Address: Rua das Virtudes 37, 4050-630 Porto

The call for abstracts will be open until 21^st July 2025 (notification of acceptance until 25^th July). The abstract will be evaluated and selected either for oral communication or poster communication.

Abstracts should be structured according to the following template:

Abstract template >>

Abstract submission form >>

Registration fees:

• Bachelor or Master students: free registration (includes lunch and coffee breaks; meeting dinner not included)
• Others: 50€ (includes lunch, coffee breaks and meeting dinner)

Registration deadline: 30^th July (Payment deadline: 30^th July)

Registrations are closed.

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More information:
Events Management Unit | Rua Alfredo Allen 208 | 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
Email: events@i3s.up.pt | Tel: +351 226 074 900