The Centre of Biotechnology and Fine Chemistry (CBQF) of the Faculty of Biotechnology at the Universidade Católica Portuguesa hosts the ALICE project – Advancing the vaLorIzation of rabbit skIn by-produCt: dEcellularized dermal matrices for burn wound treatment, coordinated by researcher Viviana Pinto Ribeiro.
The project proposes an innovative and sustainable approach to the treatment of deep burns, through the valorisation of a by-product of the agro-food industry, rabbit skin, as raw material for the development of human skin substitutes.
Every day, approximately 5,000 rabbit skins are processed in Portugal for fur extraction, generating a by-product with high structural and biochemical integrity: the dermis. The ALICE project aims to transform this undervalued resource into highly preserved decellularised dermal matrices with properties similar to human skin.
These matrices will be developed through an ecological and minimally invasive process and validated in ex vivo burn wound models. The objective is to contribute to more effective skin regeneration, with a lower risk of rejection and adverse immune response.
The research also includes the recellularisation of the matrices with human cells and their evaluation in laboratory platforms that simulate the clinical environment, allowing validation of these structures as skin substitutes. This solution may represent a safe, effective, and sustainable alternative to autologous grafts or currently available commercial substitutes.
The ALICE project results from a collaboration between CBQF/ESB-UCP, the company Cortadoria Nacional de Pêlo S.A., which provides the raw material and potential for industrial scalability, and the São João University Hospital Centre, a partner in providing human samples and scientific validation.
Funded with €49,566 under the RESTART programme of the Foundation for Science and Technology, the project promotes the resumption of scientific activity by researchers following parental leave. The name ALICE was chosen in honour of the researcher’s daughter, symbolising the importance of balancing family life and scientific career.
With a duration of 18 months, the project foresees the submission of patent applications, publication of scientific articles in high-impact journals, participation in international conferences, and training of master's and doctoral students.
ALICE aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly in the areas of health, industry and innovation, and sustainable production.
Through this initiative, the Universidade Católica Portuguesa reinforces its commitment to excellence in research, the valorisation of natural resources, and the promotion of scientific solutions with positive social, economic, and environmental impact.
