iBET - Instituto de Biologia Experimental e Tecnológica
Catarina Brito is a highly experienced researcher in the field of biochemistry, currently serving as Principal Investigator at ITQB NOVA since 2015 and leading the Advanced Cell Models Lab. With a long-standing association with iBET since 2007, Catarina heads the Advanced Cell Models lab, focusing on translational research that examines the cell microenvironment's role in disease progression and drug response through advanced cell-based models. Previous roles include Senior Scientist and Post-doctoral Fellow, primarily involved in developing 3D cell culture systems for pre-clinical research. Catarina's academic background includes a PhD in Biochemistry from Universidade Nova de Lisboa and involvement in several research projects at the Laboratory of Glycobiology, exploring protein glycosylation and neuronal differentiation.
iBET - Instituto de Biologia Experimental e Tecnológica
iBET is a private non-profit research institution specialized in biotechnology research and bioprocess development. iBET acts as an interface between academia and industry while also creating and organizing autonomous knowledge. Our expertise includes the development of bioprocesses for complex biopharmaceuticals and advanced therapies, including vaccines, recombinant proteins, and viral vectors for gene and onco- therapy, stem cells for cell therapy applications; development of in-vitro cell models and protocols for pre-clinical research; analytical tools for quality control of biologics; and structural biology for assisted drug design. Within Food and Health, we develop new solutions for the detection of food frauds, food and water-borne pathogens, and work on the discovery of new bioactive food supplements. To address some environmental issues, we also develop new sustainable, energy saving, processes for both food and water industries. iBET’s infrastructure comprises more than 20 R&D laboratories, a GMP certified Analytical Services Unit, a Mass Spectrometry Unit and a Late-Stage R&D and Bioproduction Unit (2000m2). The new iBET Biofarma building added 29 laboratories to its research and analytical platform infrastructure, including one BLS3 Lab. As an R&D institution, iBET has coordinated over 30 international projects and participated as work-package leader in more than 100 EU-funded projects. iBET has also been involved in some of the most prestigious RD&I and technology transfer projects, with remarkable international impact and has several well established collaborations in Networks of Excellence and with international pharmaceutical companies, such as Bayer, Novartis, Merck, Abbvie, Sanofi, Apceth, AstraZeneca, Glaxo-Smith-Kline , Merck & Co., among others. iBET’s success relies heavily on its large staff of over 250 people, of which about 110 have a PhD degree, and who contribute with advanced skills and experience to our areas of expertise.