To engineer life is to explore the very foundations of existence and creation, moving from reading the code of living systems to rewriting them. By bridging science, ethics, and imagination, the discussion will highlight and what this growing capacity reveals about our role as innovators, creators, and custodians of the living world.
Ana Couto
Ana Couto, PhD in Biology from Porto University, developed her research in collaboration with CIIMAR and the Norwegian School of Veterinary Sciences. She is currently an Assistant Professor at Porto University and Senior Researcher at the Fish Nutrition and Immunobiology Group (Nutrimu) at CIIMAR. Her main research interests include nutrition-health dynamics, intestinal health, and functional ingredients like algae, extracts, and probiotics to enhance animal welfare. She also works on identifying new biomarkers and developing machine learning models to detect malnutrition through histological features. Ana has co-authored over 60 papers, participated in 25 research projects, and supervised more than 20 students. She is an associate editor for Frontiers in Veterinary Science and Animals (Aquatic Animals).
Rui Miguel da Costa Martins
Rui Costa Martins, PhD Eng - obtained his PhD in a complex food systems simulation from the Catholic University of Portugal. He is a prolific inventor with over 44 patents in healthcare, veterinary, and agricultural technologies. He has received 25 national and international scientific awards. As a senior researcher, he specializes in Bioengineering, Biosensing, and artificial intelligence, leading innovations in non-invasive point-of-care diagnostic systems using spectroscopy for blood analysis. His work extends to high-end spectroscopy POC reagent-less technologies applied to precision agriculture, clinical analysis, and medical diagnostics.
Ideas once seen as science fiction are becoming technically feasible, bringing major opportunities and ethical challenges. This panel explores these emerging innovations and asks how to balance imagination, responsibility, and innovation in shaping the future.
Susana Magalhães
Susana Magalhães is the Coordinator of the Responsible Conduct in Research Unit (URCR) at the Institute for Research and Innovation in Health (i3S) of the University of Porto. She holds a PhD in Bioethics from the Portuguese Catholic University and is a researcher in the fields of Narrative Medicine, Bioethics, and Research Ethics and Integrity. She is an Assistant Professor at the Universidade Fernando Pessoa and a Collaborator at the Ethics Forum of Católica Porto Business School. She is a founding member of the Portuguese Network for Scientific Reproducibility, a member of the European Narrative Medicine Society (EUNAMES), and a Certified Trainer of the European VIRT2UE Train the Trainer Program. She is also the Coordinator of the Study and Reflection Group on Narrative Medicine – GERMEN: https://www.facebook.com/GermenMedicinaNarrativa/
Pilar Valinhas Morais
Professional with industrial experience in the food sector, having worked at Frulact, Amyris, and Biorbis.
Helena Ferreira
PhD student at i3S – Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto
Nuno Azevedo
Research Group Leader
Vasco Dias
Data Protection Officer, Lawyer and a Patent and Trademarks Attorney
LBIO, MIB and MEB alumni return home to tell their journey after graduation! It’s an inspirational panel for current Bioengineering students and everyone who aims to pursue this field of work. It’s also a tribute to those who paved the way and helped build, brick by brick, the Bachelor and Masters in Bioengineering.
Isabel Veiga
Isabel Veiga is principal investigator and research line team coordinator at the Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS); School of Medicine at the University of Minho, Portugal Isabel holds a degree in Biotechnology Engineering and PhD in Medical Sciences from Karolinska Institute, Sweden. With an extensive postdoctoral background at esteemed institutions like the Karolinska Institute, Columbia University, and the University of Minho, she presently leads a dynamic research group, benefiting from support through national and international research grants. For 20 years, Isabel Veiga's research has been dedicated to unraveling the factors of the malaria parasite that contribute to resistance against antimalarial drugs. Her work involves a deep exploration of the physiological changes and biological processes within the parasite in response to drug exposure, with a specific focus on advancing drug development and pioneering malaria diagnostic tools. Her significant contributions to the field are reflected in more than 50 peer-reviewed articles, holding an h-index of 21 (Web-of-Science), and protecting two inventions through patent. In recognition of her impactful work, Isabel was honored with the L'Oréal Portugal/UNESCO Medal for Women in Science. In the Dominican Republic, she received the 'Honorary Titular Researcher Category' from the Ministry of Higher Education Science and Technology, acknowledging her efforts in promoting science in the country. This year 2024, nominated ASM country ambassador to Portugal by the American Society of Microbiology.
Willy Verstraete
W. Verstraete graduated as engineer at the Ghent University and subsequently obtained a PhD degree in the field of microbiology at the Cornell University, Ithaca (USA). He then returned to Ghent , where he became professor and started the Laboratory of Microbial Ecology and Technology (LabMET - Faculty of Bioscience Engineering). Since October 2011, he is emeritus professor. His R&D has as central theme: Microbial Resource Management; ie the design, operation and control of processes mediated by mixed microbial cultures, more specifically by microbiomes. Willy Verstraete has been instrumental in the creation of several spin-offs of the Ghent University in the field of applied microbial ecology (environmental technology; food and feed). In 2005, he was chosen by an international jury to receive the highest scientific prize in his country i.e. the Excellence in Science Prize, awarded by the National Science Foundation (FWO). In 2006, he was awarded by the International Water Association (IWA) the Imhoff Award for his contribution in the domain of water biotreatment. In 2015, he became nominated as advisor of the Dutch Water Institute KWR, to deal with the aspects of water and cyclic economy. In September 2018; the Dutch Water Institute KWR proclaimed Honorary Fellow for his invigorating resource recovery science and application work. From 2014 to 2021, he ranked in the list of Highly Cited Researchers. In 2016 , he served for 8 years as President of the board of the National Science Foundation FWO Flanders, Belgium.In januari 2024 he was nominated Honorary President of the FWO. In march 2023, he was awarded the 5-yearly Honorary Doctorate of the Wageningen University. Willy Verstraete is particularly proud of his long list of master and doctoral students which today are taking the lead in the domain of sciences in general and environmental engineering in particular.
Rodney Guimarães
As a university professor of optics and electromagnetism, he extensively researched the interaction between light and matter. He worked mainly with image analysis and spectrophotometry at the European Organization for Astronomical Research in the Southern Hemisphere (ESO). As a guest researcher at the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG), he is co-inventor of Preemie-Test. Graduated in Theoretical and Experimental Physics from the University of São Paulo (1992), specialization in electrical engineering - electronic systems from the University of São Paulo (1994), master's degree in Astronomy from the University of Nice Sophia Antipolis (2002), PhD in Astronomy from the Observatory National and Institute of Astrophysics of Paris (IAP) (2007) and Post-Doctorate in biomedical engineering from the Polytechnic University of Valencia (2015). He worked as a teacher in basic, fundamental, secondary, technical, higher education and postgraduate education, having 30 years of teaching experience. Supervised and co-supervised undergraduate, master's and doctoral theses in various areas such as physics, computational modeling and medicine. He has experience in the areas of Physical Optics, Image Processing, Spectroscopy and Signal Processing, with an emphasis on astronomical image processing and spectroscopy.
By examining the brain’s influence on perception and behavior, the panel highlights how advances in bioengineering are turning neuroscience into innovative therapies and deeper understandings of human health and identity.
Luísa V. Lopes
Luísa V. Lopes is a neuroscientist and Group Leader at the Gulbenkian Institute for Molecular Medicine in Lisbon, where she leads a translational research program focused on the mechanisms driving early aging of cognitive function. Her work centers on hippocampal circuitry and behavior, using rodent models to study preclinical aging and neurodegeneration. Over the past decade, her laboratory has identified key mechanisms underlying early synaptic degeneration, uncovered a neuro-immune link in short-term memory, and demonstrated how circadian disruptions accelerate cognitive decline, with publications in Nature Neuroscience, Science Immunology, Molecular Psychiatry, Cell Reports, and other leading journals. Lopes earned her PhD in Neurosciences/Biomedical Sciences through training at the Karolinska Institute, the University of Cambridge, and the Faculty of Medicine in Lisbon, followed by a postdoctoral fellowship at the Nestlé Research Center in Switzerland. She completed her Habilitation in Neurosciences in 2021. Since founding her laboratory in 2008, she has secured continuous national and international funding from agencies including FCT, the Michael J. Fox Foundation, the EU Horizon programs, La Caixa, and the National Academy of Medicine. She has supervised numerous trainees - seven PhD graduates, multiple postdoctoral researchers, and more than a dozen MSc students - and currently leads a multidisciplinary team of researchers and clinician-scientists. Her publication record includes more than 60 peer-reviewed papers with over 3,500 citations. Lopes has held several academic and institutional leadership roles, including service on the Scientific Board of the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Lisbon, coordination of the Translational Neuroscience module, and leadership of the Lisbon Chapter of the Society for Neuroscience, which she founded. She is also a frequent evaluator for European and international funding agencies and serves on multiple editorial and scientific advisory boards. Her research has been recognized with prestigious awards, including the Pfizer Basic Research Award, the Healthy Longevity Catalyst Award from the U.S. National Academy of Medicine, the Interstellar Initiative Award, and multiple distinctions from the University of Lisbon and the BIAL Foundation.
Pedro Pissara
With over 27 years of experience in the Biotech industry, mainly in biopharmaceutical drugs development, Pedro Pissarra is a seasoned entrepreneur and business executive who is passionate about developing innovative solutions for human health. He is the CEO of Chrysea Limited, an early-commercial synthetic biology company that develops functional nutritional interventions to restore molecular deficiencies that emerge during the ageing process. Pedro has a background in biotechnology, computer science, bioengineering, biochemistry, genetics and molecular biology, having obtained his BSc and Ph.D. from King's College London, and conducted research at MIT, Technical University of Denmark, and Técnico Lisbon. He also has a 12 months master's degree in management from the University of Texas at Austin. He also lectured biopharmaceutical sciences at the Catholic University of Oporto. He co-founded Biotecnol Limited (UK) (Sold to Chiome Bioscience), and Rodon Biologics (PT) (Sold to the Iberfar Group).
Rudi Tielemans
Rudi Tielemans is an entrepreneur and expert in digital health and medtech. With a master's degree in Human Movement Sciences and a background in medicine, he has served as an assistant professor in medical informatics and biostatistics. As the founder of UniWeb Health BV and Efor to Health Inc., Rudi is at the forefront of innovation in healthy aging. His work focuses on creating accessible solutions for monitoring physical reserves and vitality capacity, including the groundbreaking Eforto Vitality device. Passionate about blending science and technology, Rudi is dedicated to transforming healthcare and improving lives worldwide.
Scientific knowledge is shaped by social, cultural, technological, and economic forces. This roundtable discusses how science is produced, shared, and interpreted today, highlighting the roles of institutions, funding, and the challenge of effectively connecting research with society.
Diogo Mosqueira
Diogo graduated in Bioengineering – Molecular Biotechnology (UP) in 2012. Research in Sweden and Japan led him to a PhD in Regenerative Medicine (Nottingham, UK), focusing on cardiovascular disease models. In 2021, he became a Senior Bioassay Scientist at Cellomatics Biosciences, later joining Boehringer Ingelheim (Germany) as a Research Scientist, working on anti-obesity drugs. Now, he leads teams developing therapies for sarcopenia. With 20+ publications, awards, and a patent, he shares his path to inspire future bioengineers.
Eduardo Pinho
Eduardo earned his Master’s in Bioengineering – Biological Engineering (UP) in 2020. In 2021, he joined Lonza (Switzerland) as a Manufacturing Specialist, later becoming a Team Lead. By mid-2023, he transitioned to MSAT as a Process Expert in Mammalian Single-Use Technology, bridging science and manufacturing. He has contributed to five drug candidates advancing through regulatory filing and trials, driven by the impact of bringing life-saving biopharmaceuticals to patients.
Catarina Lopes
Catarina Lopes, a Bioengineer specializing in Biomedical Engineering, is a PhD Fellow at FEUP, researching non-invasive computer-assisted navigation for knee arthroplasty. She won the 2024 Idea Puzzle Prize for her research design. She has collaborated with institutions across Europe, including Politecnico di Milano, INESC TEC Porto, and the University of Twente. Beyond research, Catarina is an Invited Assistant Professor at FEUP and a Researcher at INEGI, mentoring future bioengineers. Passionate about medical devices, surgical navigation, and interdisciplinary collaboration, she is committed to healthcare innovation.
With this panel we will show the participants that their entrepreneurial minds have an important place in this world of bioengineering, where they can make a palpable change in society.
João Cortinhas
João Cortinhas, graduated from the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Porto in 2019 with a Master’s degree in Bioengineering, specialized in Molecular Biotechnology, worked for several years as a Research Fellow in the NanoBiomaterials for Targeted Therapies group at i3S, focusing on Nucleic Acid Nanotechnology, novel Oligonucleotide Therapeutic modalities, and their application in the Central Nervous System. Now at Neurolentech, he works as a Research Scientist, utilizing the company’s proprietary iPSC-derived cell models to develop disease-relevant assays, aiming to accelerate drug discovery for epilepsy and autism spectrum disorder.
Ziva Cooper
Dr. Ziva Cooper is the Director of the UCLA Center for Cannabis and Cannabinoids and a Professor in Psychiatry, Biobehavioral Sciences, and Anesthesiology. Her research focuses on the therapeutic effects and risks of cannabis and cannabinoids, with an emphasis on sex, age, and potency-related differences. With a background in biopsychology and human behavioral pharmacology, she conducts placebo-controlled studies to translate preclinical findings into clinical applications. She has contributed to major reports on cannabis for the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine and has held leadership roles in key research societies and journals in the field.
Patricio Riva Posse
Dr. Patricio Riva Posse, an Argentine-American neurologist and psychiatrist dedicated to improving treatments for patients with severe depression. Dr. Riva Posse sees the promise of new technologies, such as implanted devices, as a way to enhance treatment accessibility and efficacy. His research focuses on the use of deep brain stimulation to treat cases of depression where all other treatment options have failed.
Between the crime scene and the courtroom, bioengineering plays a silent but decisive role. This panel explores how forensic science uses biological and technological tools to analyse evidence, reduce uncertainty, and uncover the truth.
Sónia Ferreira
Sónia Ferreira, MBA, is a leading expert in healthcare solutions, with over 12 years of experience in health-focused entrepreneurship and more than a decade in business management. She is the founder and CEO of BestHealth4U, a MedTech company pioneering biobased adhesive technologies for medical applications, with a strong commitment to patient-centred innovation and sustainability. Born in Guimarães, Portugal, Sónia has lived with an ostomy from a very young age due to a bladder malformation. Her personal experience with medical adhesives and the challenges of ostomy care ignited her passion for developing better solutions for patients facing similar struggles. From an early age, she worked in her family businesses, which helped her build a dynamic and strategic skill set. In 2006, she moved to Lisbon to pursue Biomedical Engineering and later completed an MBA in Health Services, equipping her with the tools to develop innovative healthcare solutions. She further specialized in medical device regulations and worked in healthcare and medical industries for over seven years, gaining firsthand experience in the challenges of bringing MedTech innovations to market. Recognizing the global need for safer, skin-friendly medical adhesives, she founded BestHealth4U in 2017. Her company has since gained international recognition, securing funding from the EIC Accelerator, EIT Health, Lince Capital, and Portugal Ventures, and attracting the interest of major healthcare companies in Europe and the U.S.. In 2022, Sónia was invited by the Portuguese Minister of Economy and Maritime Affairs to represent nearly 300 Portuguese health startups in the "Economy and Health Working Group," an initiative promoted by the Portuguese government to drive healthcare innovation. She continues to use her business acumen, strategic vision, and patient-centric approach to establish key partnerships, develop biomedical devices, and advance material science solutions that improve patient outcomes. Beyond her entrepreneurial achievements, Sónia is a passionate advocate for ostomy patients, particularly young women. She understands the physical, emotional, and social challenges of living with an ostomy, especially regarding self-esteem, body confidence, and motherhood. Through her work as a speaker and mentor, she aims to raise awareness, break stigmas, and empower young women to feel confident and capable, regardless of their circumstances. As a mother of a seven-year-old daughter, Sónia embodies resilience, innovation, and leadership. She ensures that BestHealth4U remains at the forefront of MedTech innovation, always maintaining a strong link between product value and market needs—keeping patients at the heart of every development.
João Afonso Pereira
João Afonso has a background in Bioengineering, with a specialization in Biomedical Engineering, where he focused in AI, data science and software development. After 3 years collaborating in research projects, he worked 2+ years as a data scientist in a multi-national IoT company and then in a med-tech startup. For the past 2+ year, he has been leading an engineering team in a startup focused on AI solutions for renewable energy. A big part of his personal life for the past 4 years has been Suki, his tiny and energetic dog, which he adopted at only 5 weeks old and taught how to eat and even drink water from a bowl. Suki's complicated relationship with eating led him to found Full Belly, with the goal of making natural food convenient and accessible. The company was already launched in the market and they are now aiming to develop new products, grow our presence in Portugal and expand internationally.
Célia Cruz
Célia is Founder and Chief Regulatory Affairs Officer at Complear, supporting digital health and medtech companies with software and AI solutions. She was one of the winners of Women in Tech EU in 2025, with Complear. Célia has over 10 years in innovation in healthcare and over 5 years of experience in software as medical device. She holds a PhD in Chemical and Biological Engineering and an MSc in Bioengineering, specialised in Biomedical Engineering. She is also an Invited Professor at the University of Porto on Management and Innovation in -Bioengineering.
