On June 14, the second symposium of the Networked Biofabrication Institute for Healthy Aging (IBEROS+) took place at the Faculty of Biotechnology, Universidade Católica Portuguesa - Porto, highlighting significant advances in inter-regional scientific collaboration.
Coordinated by the University of Vigo, the consortium, composed of 14 public-private entities from Galicia and Northern Portugal, including five universities, five research centers, and four companies, aimed to innovate in addressing aging-related diseases through bioengineering and personalized medicine. Ana Leite Oliveira, leader of the Biomaterials and Biomedical Technology Research Group at the Centre of Biotechnology and Fine Chemistry, Universidade Católica Portuguesa - Porto, emphasized: " "We are developing new technologies that offer innovative, safe, and sustainable solutions to understand and treat age-related diseases."."
Manuela Pintado, director of the Centre of Biotechnology and Fine Chemistry, also highlighted the importance of this field: "Biomedical engineering is a cornerstone of our research. We have researchers in our center who have enhanced the quality, value, and consolidation of biomedical engineering."
During the event, promising results were presented, including 3D Bioprinting by Patricia Díaz from the University of Santiago de Compostela, Supercritical CO2 technology by Ana Oliveira from UCP, Organ-on-a-chip devices by Laura Vázquez from BFlow, and Organoids by Immacolata Maietta from UVigo.
The IBEROS+ strategy focused on research and development in biofabrication to address socio-health challenges associated with aging in the Galicia-Northern Portugal Euroregion and the European Union in general. The project aims to promote high-level international applied research, with goals such as publishing a White Paper on biofabrication and tissue engineering, in addition to collaborations between knowledge centers and companies. According to Ana Leite Oliveira, " The increase in chronic diseases coupled with a growing demand for tissue and organ transplants is significantly driving the development of these fields, and therefore constitutes the focus of the IBEROS+ project."
The consortium, funded with 2.2 million euros by the Interreg Spain-Portugal Cross-Border Cooperation Operational Program and co-financed by the ERDF, aims to improve the health and quality of life of the population by 2026, with a special focus on aging-related diseases.
For more information about the IBEROS+ project, visit
