MicroPhysiological Systems: Advancing Human-Relevant Biomedical Research | MPS_NOVA EU Twinning

Can we study human health and disease without relying on animal models? MicroPhysiological Systems (MPS) are transforming biomedical research, offering human-relevant models that improve our understanding of physiology, disease mechanisms, and drug responses. In this interview, Dr. Sarela Garcia Santamarina, Coordinator of MPS_NOVA, shares how the EU-funded Twinning project is strengthening MPS research capacity in Portugal through training, collaboration, and innovation. 🔬 What you’ll learn in this video: • What MicroPhysiological Systems are and why they matter • Why traditional animal models often fail to predict human biology • How MPS_NOVA is building capacity at NOVA Medical School and ITQB NOVA • Key achievements: 20 exploratory research projects, international exchanges, training workshops, and more • How MPS technologies benefit academia, industry, and EU strategic goals • The project’s long-term vision for Portugal and European research collaborations 🔹 About MPS_NOVA EU Twinning Project MPS_NOVA is an EU Horizon Twinning project led by ITQB NOVA in collaboration with NOVA Medical School (NMS) in Portugal. 🌍 International Partners: • Uniklinikum Jena (Germany) • Human Technopole (Italy) • Max Delbrück Center — MDC (Germany) 💡 Learn more: https://mpsnova.itqb.unl.pt/ 📩 Follow us here and on LinkedIn (mps-nova-twinning) for updates 🎥 Produced by: Eleonora Tulumello 🧬 Interview with: Dr. Sarela Garcia Santamarina 🔍 Featuring: Joana Cavada, Inês Correia, Maria França 🔬 Microscopy images courtesy of: Raquel Portela, Alexander Mosig 💡 Special thanks: Bacterial Imaging Cluster (BIC), ITQB NOVA Funded by the European Union (Twinning Programme).