Advanced Course on Organoid Models | 5th Edition

24-27 November 2026 | i3S, Porto, Portugal

The 5th Edition of the Advanced Course on Organoid Models offers a practical-oriented introduction to state-of-the-art 3D in vitro systems, with a particular emphasis on organoid technologies. These approaches are reshaping how we investigate human biology and disease, enabling more physiologically relevant and predictive in vitro models.

Designed for Master’s and PhD students, as well as early-career researchers, the course combines essential theoretical foundations with practical insight into widely used methodologies. Participants will explore the full experimental pipeline – from extracellular matrix design, to organoid culture and maintenance, integration with microfluidic platforms (organ-on-a-chip), and downstream analyses including advanced microscopy and histochemical techniques.

Participants will gain guidance on experimental design, model selection, and data interpretation. By the end of the course, participants will have a solid grounding in organoid technologies and the confidence to begin integrating these powerful tools into their own research.

Target audience: Master students, PhD students, young researchers

Course duration: 36 hours (approximate)

Requirements: Labcoat

Prior knowledge required:
- Handling of animal cells and tissues
- Basic training in cell culture techniques

Course organizers: Filipe Pinto, i3S; Cristina Barrias, i3S; Anna Olsson, i3S

Language: Suitable for English-speaking participants (if all participants speak Portuguese, the course will be in Portuguese)


Poster >>

- Understand the fundamental principles underlying organoid models and their applications in biomedical research.

- Establish and/or maintain cultures of adult stem cell derived organoids from intestinal, breast, pancreatic, gastric and brain tissues.

- Design, plan, and execute experiments using organoid systems.

- Develop competencies in advanced microscopy and histochemical analysis of organoids.

- Set up and operate organ-on-a-chip platforms.

- Use different types of extracellular matrices as 3D substrates for organoid culture.

Ana Sofia Ribeiro, Cancer Metastasis

Anna Olsson, Laboratory Animal Science

André Maia, BioSciences Screening

Bruno Pereira, Differentiation & Cancer

Cristina Barrias, Bioengineered 3D Microenvironments

Estrela Neto, Neuro & Skeletal Circuits

Filipe Pinto, Bioengineered 3D Microenvironments

Jorge Lima, Cancer Signalling & Metabolism

Maria Azevedo, Advanced Light Microscopy

Nuno Mendes, Histology and Electron Microscopy

Paula Sampaio, Advanced Light Microscopy

Rossana Correia, Histology and Electron Microscopy

Sandra Tavares, Cytoskeletal Regulation & Cancer

Sónia Melo, Intercellular Communication and Cancer

Registration fee includes lunch ticket and coffee breaks.

Fees:

Pre-registration form >>

Please note that your pre-registration does not confirm your selection for the course.
Instructions for fee payment will be provided after confirmation of acceptance.

Certificate of attendance will be issued at the end of the course to participants that meet the following: presence in 90% of the theoretical classes; presence in all practical and theoretical-practical classes.


Cancelation policy:

Cancellation by the course participantIn case a registered participant wishes to cancel a payed registration or does not attend the course, the registration fee will not be refunded.
Substitutions will only be made in exceptional circumstances at the discretion of the course organisers.

Cancellation by the InstitutionThe i3S reserves the right to cancel the course, in case of an insufficient number of participants, organizational reasons, or other unforeseeable events that render the execution of the course impossible. In case of cancelation by the organization the fee will be refunded.
In addition, i3S reserves the right to amend course times, dates or published prices if absolutely necessary. The organizer shall immediately inform the pre-registered participants of these alterations. Any cancellation or substitution requests should be requested by e-mail.

More information:
Advanced Training Unit | E-mail: training@i3s.up.pt | Tel: +351 226 074 900