Research Pharmaceutical Technology and Biopharmacy
In our department we focus on four research lines:
- Innovative dosage forms
- Inhalation and classic dosage forms
- Ex vivo models for organ diseases
- Aging research using organoid.
The Pharmaceutical Technology section is led by Dr. Flávia Sousa and is dedicated to advancing innovative drug delivery systems through cutting-edge formulation strategies. The current focus of the group lies in the development of RNA-based therapeutics, particularly non-viral gene delivery platforms that leverage nanotechnology for enhanced targeting, safety, and efficacy. Dr. Sousa’s team is actively formulating nanomedicines designed to deliver a wide range of biotherapeutics, including proteins, peptides, and monoclonal antibodies. These systems are being optimized for precise biodistribution and controlled release, with special emphasis on improving stability and bioavailability.
In parallel, the group is exploring hydrogel-based delivery platforms as injectable or implantable systems that enable localized and sustained release of therapeutic agents. These materials are engineered to respond to physiological cues, offering promising applications in oncology and neurological disorders.
Another important research line focuses on dry powder inhalation technologies, aiming to develop pulmonary delivery systems. The team investigates particle engineering, aerodynamic performance, and stability of inhalable formulations, particularly for the delivery of sensitive biomolecules such as RNA and proteins. Collectively, the Pharmaceutical Technology group bridges pharmaceutical sciences with translational medicine, with the ultimate goal of creating next-generation delivery systems that address current clinical challenges and improve patient outcomes.
The research lines of the Biopharmacy section of Dr Marina Trombetta Lima and Prof Dr Peter Olinga focuses on new (human based) methodologies for disease related to aging and fibrosis.
Life expectancy has nearly doubled over the past century, bringing with it a demographic shift that poses significant socioeconomic challenges due to the rising burden of age-related diseases. The extracellular matrix (ECM), beyond providing structural support, plays a critical role in regulating cellular behavior. Aging is characterized by distinct changes in the ECM’s post-synthetic modifications, altering tissue biomechanics and function. These age-associated ECM changes are often overlooked in human in vitro models, limiting the development of effective therapeutics for aging-related conditions. Our research focuses on genetic and environmental strategies to use cell–microenvironment interactions for modeling the aged organism. By generating advanced in vitro models of aged tissues (focusing on the central nervous system and its communication with organs such as liver, heart, and muscle) we investigate the role of age-related modifications in disease onset and test potential interventions.
Currently, there are no effective drugs available to treat fibrosis — the excessive production of extracellular matrix that impairs the physiological function of an organ. Our research aims to elucidate the pathogenesis of organ fibrosis using precision-cut (human) tissue slices, which closely mimic the in vivo architecture and cellular composition of the organ. We test a wide range of potentially antifibrotic compounds on these viable explants, which are derived from organs such as the lungs, liver, kidneys, or intestines. This approach not only provides a highly relevant human model but also contributes to the reduction of laboratory animal use in pharmaceutical research.
Research Groups
Prof. dr. Peter Olinga
vivo model
The Organ Slice Lab is led by Prof. dr. Peter Olinga and explores precision-cut tissue slices (PCTS) as a highly relevant and translational model to elucidate the pathogenesis, treatment, and biomarker research of organ fibrosis.
We work from the postulate that current therapeutic gaps in fibrosis—the excessive production of extracellular matrix—stem from a failure to account for the complex in vivo architecture and cellular composition of human organs. To address this, we utilize viable tissue explants derived from healthy and diseased human liver, kidney, and intestine to investigate disease pathogenesis, evaluate potential treatments, and conduct biomarker research. This methodology enables precise reconstruction of disease mechanisms while contributing to the reduction of laboratory animal use in pharmaceutical research.
Core pillars:
- Mechanistic Pathogenesis: Decoding the fundamental pathways that drive the progression of organ-specific fibrosis.
- Translational Treatment: Evaluating the efficacy of novel compounds using viable human tissue to improve clinical success rates.
- Advanced Biomarker Research: Identifying and validating molecular markers of tissue damage and therapeutic recovery.
- Ethical Innovation: Prioritizing human-based models to minimize and replace the reliance on animal testing.
Dr. Marina Trombeta Lima
The Matrix Organoid Lab is led by Dr Marina Trombetta-Lima and explores microenvironment engineering as a new conceptual and technological framework to decode aging and different human diseases.
We work with the postulate that aging and metabolic disorders do not arise from isolated organ dysfunction, but from disrupted inter-organ communication embedded within evolving tissue microenvironments. To test this paradigm, we develop next-generation human organoid-based platforms that reconstruct endocrine, inflammatory, and metabolic signaling across organs. Our disease models focus on mechanistic reconstruction allowing precision intervention.
Core pillars:
- Microenvironment engineering as a unifying disease principle
- Human multi-organ organoid systems with controlled inter-organ signaling
- Systems-level dissection of endocrine–immune–neural crosstalk
- Translation toward stratified, mechanism-based therapeutic strategies
Dr. Flávia Moreira de Sousa
Nanomedicine & RNA Therapeutics
The Sousa Lab is an independent research group dedicated to engineering next-generation nanomedicines for cancer treatment, with a primary focus on glioblastoma and immune modulation within the central nervous system.
Led by Dr. Flávia Sousa, the lab develops biodegradable polymeric and lipid-based nanoparticles for the delivery of RNA therapeutics, including self-amplifying RNA (saRNA), circular RNA, and non-viral gene delivery platforms. Our mission is to reprogram the brain tumor microenvironment through precision nanotechnology and to translate innovative formulation strategies into clinically relevant solutions.
Our work integrates:
Core pillars:
Advanced nanoparticle engineering (PLGA, lipid nanoparticles, hybrid lipid–polymer systems)
RNA immunotherapy design and formulation
Tumor endothelial targeting and membrane dynamics
Localized in situ immunomodulation strategies
- Translational nanomedicine and regulatory awareness