IIR Retreat 2025
23 May 2025 | Fundação Engenheiro António de Almeida, Porto
The 2025 Annual Retreat of the Infection, Immunity and Regeneration Integrative Program (https://www.i3s.up.pt/integrative-programs.php#host) of i3S will take place on May 23rd at Fundação Engenheiro António de Almeida (Porto), with "Communication" as its overall theme, under its diverse aspects and scales - from intra and intercellular communication, to communication between organisms or with the environment, all the way to science communication and communication between scientists.
This year’s theme, "COMMUNICATION: from the cell to the universe," will bring together leading researchers to discuss the crucial role of communication across multiple scales—from molecular and cellular interactions to the broader impact on society and beyond.
Hal Drakesmith from the MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, will present "Iron, the master communicator." This talk will set the stage for an interdisciplinary exchange of ideas on how communication influences biological and environmental systems. Then “Communication Within Our Body», will explore intracellular communication mechanisms and the effects of microbial interactions on human health. Talks will include Duarte Barral (CEDOC-Nova Medical School) discussing "Communication through Membrane Trafficking" and Nuno Empadinhas (CIBB, University of Coimbra) addressing "Silent environmental microbial threats echo through gut dysbiosis into chronic diseases."
The second session, «Communication Beyond Our Body», will feature insights into cellular responses to mechanical signals, biosignatures in space, and the societal challenge of vaccine hesitancy. Speakers include Pere Roca-Cusachs Soulere (IBEC, Barcelona), Diogo Gonçalves (IBB, Lisbon), and Henrique Barros (ISPUP, University of Porto).
Lastly, «About Science and Scientists», will focus on the broader implications of scientific communication, including a keynote by Alexandre Quintanilha (i3S & ICBAS, UPorto & Academia Europæa) on "The Role of Communication in the Empowerment of Knowledge."
The retreat will also include an interactive session, "Who better knows the IIR group leaders?" moderated by Júlio Borlido Santos (i3S), followed by a networking dinner at 20h30.
Venue
The meeting will take place at Fundação Engenheiro António de Almeida (Porto).
Rua Tenente Valadim, 231/ 325
4100-479 Porto
Organization
Graça Porto
Pedro Pereira
Nuno Santos
Bruno Sarmento
Program
TITLE: “COMMUNICATION: from the cell to the universe”
09h30 - 10h00 REGISTRATION
10h00 - 11h00 OPENING CONFERENCE
Chair: Graça Porto
“Iron, the master communicator”
Hal Drakesmith, MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford
SESSION I: COMMUNICATION WITHIN OUR BODY
Chair: Pedro Pereira
11h00 - 11h30 “Communication through Membrane Trafficking”
Duarte Barral, CEDOC- Nova Medical School, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Lisbon
11h30 - 12h00 “Silent environmental microbial threats echo through gut dysbiosis into chronic diseases”
Nuno Empadinhas, CIBB - Centre for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology, University of Coimbra
12h00 - 14h00 LUNCH BREAK
SESSION II: COMMUNICATION BEYOND OUR BODY
Chair: Bruno Sarmento
14h00 - 14h30 “Interfaces between cells and mechanical signals”
Pere Roca-Cusachs Soulere, IBEC, Barcelona
14h30 - 15h00 “Biosignatures in space”
Diogo Gonçalves, IBB Institute for Bioengineering and Biosciences, Lisbon
15h00 - 15h30 “Communicating human risks: how to tackle vaccine hesitancy?"
Henrique Barros, ISPUP, University of Porto
15h30 - 16h00 GENERAL DISCUSSION
16h00 - 16h30 COFFEE BREAK
SESSION III: ABOUT SCIENCE AND SCIENTISTS
Chair: Nuno Santos
16h30 - 17h30 “The Role of Communication in the Empowerment of Knowledge”
Alexandre Quintanilha, i3S and ICBAS, UPorto & Academia Europæa
17h30 IIR FUN SESSION: Who better knows the IIR group leaders?
All participants & moderator: Júlio Borlido, i3S
20h30 DINNER
Registration
i3S members only.
The registration link will be disseminated by email.
Sponsors
Information
More information:
Events Management Unit | Rua Alfredo Allen 208 | 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
Email: events@i3s.up.pt | Tel: +351 226 074 900
