Not only can bioengineering find innovative solutions for human’s health, it can also help other species, like our dearest pets.
Maria João Maia
Maria João, Co-Founder and CEO of Corium Biotech, holds a PhD in Cellular Biology from Université Côte d’Azur, an MSc in Cosmetics from Université Paris-SUD XI, and an MSc in Pharmaceutical Sciences from Universidade do Porto. She worked in the IP department at Chanel Parfums Beauté and collaborated with L’Oréal during her PhD research on the role of immunity in skin cancer progression. With over 10 years of experience in skin reconstruction techniques for research, she specializes in dermatological and cellular studies.
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.
Differently from other editions, in the XVI Symposium on Bioengineering, there will be a roundtable, hosted by Dr. Susana Magalhães to discuss various topics related to bioengineering along with four guests with very different yet complementary backgrounds.
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
A panel that shows how bioengineering innovations can help the developing countries, where new challenges arise that don’t usually appear in developed societies.
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.
As ageing is something that will inevitably affect us all, bioengineering innovations are being sought to make this process a little bit easier to handle or even postpone it for as many years as possible.
Joris Deelen
Joris Deelen obtained his PhD at the Leiden University Medical Center in The Netherlands in 2014 in the group of Prof. Dr. Eline Slagboom. In 2016, he joined the Max Planck Institute for Biology of Ageing as a postdoctoral researcher in the group of Prof. Dr. Linda Partridge, where he was promoted to independent Research Group Leader in 2020. He recently (January 2025) moved back to the Leiden University Medical Center to take on a position as associate professor. The work in his group is mainly focused on the identification and functional characterisation of genetic variants linked to human longevity. To this end, they make use of the CRISPR/Cas9 system to generate transgenic cell lines and model organisms harbouring the identified variants and subsequently measure their functional effects in vitro and in vivo. This work is supported by both an ERC Starting Grant and a Longevity Impetus Grant. Moreover, his group focuses on the establishment of novel, and collaborate with already existing, human studies to determine the efficacy of previously identified biomarkers of ageing in clinical studies. The main focus is on biomarkers that have been identified in large-scale international collaborations of human studies using omics-based approaches, such as metabolomics.
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.
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.
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.
Given the growing importance of mental health, this panel will showcase how bioengineering innovations can improve mental health well-being, exploring technologies and solutions that contribute to better diagnosis, treatment and overall mental care.
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.
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.
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.
A panel where sport meets bioengineering and shows novel approaches that are being exploited to enhance athletes’ performance as well as prevent injuries or even accelerate their recovery.
Alberto Bulgarelli
Alberto Bulgarelli is a 26-year-old orthopaedics resident with a passion for knee and hip surgery. Driven by curiosity and motivation, he has traveled the world to expand his expertise. Now based in Milan, Alberto's primary focus areas include joint preservation and cartilage regeneration, as well as joint arthroplasty.
Helder Rosendo
Helder Rosendo graduated in Textile Engineering at Beira Interior University (UBI) and did a specialization degree in fibre processing technology at the École Nationale Supérieure des Industries Textiles de Mulhouse (ENSITM), Haute Alsace University. Currently, he serves as the Business Director at TMG Textiles, a vertical woven and knitted fabric producer and apparel manufacturing group that produces and sells for high-end international apparel brands worldwide. Before that he was the Apparel Director and Head of Operations at PROZIS Seamless TEX and General Manager at P&R Têxteis. Prior to that, he served as the Vice General Manager of CITEVE. He has also been the project manager for several national and international R&D projects, and a member of the European High-Level Group for the Textile & Clothing Sector.
Floren Colloud
Floren Colloud is a Full Professor in Human Biomechanics at Arts et Métiers. His research focuses on developing subject-specific 3D musculoskeletal models to enhance the understanding of neuromuscular mechanisms during movement, particularly the role of biarticular muscles in force transmission. Floren has a strong emphasis on cyclic sports and their biomechanical principles. His research is deeply integrated into multidisciplinary collaborations with engineering, clinical, sports, and industry partners. Floren earned his PhD in Mechanics from the University of Lyon in 2003. That same year, he was awarded the prestigious Lavoisier Fellowship by the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, allowing him to conduct postdoctoral research at The University of Sydney, followed by a second postdoctoral position at Université Grenoble Alpes. He later served as a lecturer at the University of Poitiers until 2021. Beyond his academic contributions, Floren has played a significant role in the biomechanics community. He served as Vice President of Public Relations for the International Society of Biomechanics in Sports (2020–2024) and previously held the position of Secretary General of the Société de Biomécanique (2016–2019). He has chaired major conferences, including the 33rd ISBS Conference (2015) and the 23rd SOFOMEA Conference (2025). A former elite rower, Floren brings both scientific expertise and firsthand athletic experience to his work.
