“Hello! My name is Tomás Coimbra, and I am a 24-year-old biochemist from Lisbon, Portugal.

I hold a Bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry from the University of Coimbra, where I worked on bioengineered extracellular vesicles for cardiac regeneration during my final-year project. During this time, I also carried out a short research internship at the CHUC Molecular Hematology Lab, gaining experience in molecular diagnostics.

I later pursued a Master’s degree in Biochemistry and Biomedicine at the University of Lisbon. As part of my MSc, I conducted my thesis research at the MERLN Institute in Maastricht where I developed a 3D gut-on-a-chip model to study the role of peripheral innervation under inflammatory conditions. This project involved deriving autonomic and sensory neurospheres from human iPSCs and integrating them into a microfluidic platform with intestinal epithelial cells. During my master’s I also completed an internship at iBET, focusing on iPSC expansion in bioreactors to harvest their therapeutic secretome.

Currently, as part of the MSCA Doctoral Network SECRET, I am a PhD candidate at MIMETAS in the Netherlands. My research centers on creating a 3D heart-on-a-chip model using the OrganoPlate® platform to study cardiac disease and evaluate the regenerative potential of perinatal secretomes. I will also optimize advanced 3D functional assays, including angiogenesis and immune cell migration, for the initial screening of secretome formulations.

Most of my work takes place at MIMETAS, collaborating closely with partners across Europe. I will also actively contribute to training activities, outreach and the dissemination of research findings. This project provides a unique opportunity to apply my background in regenerative medicine and organ-on-a-chip technologies to develop innovative models for cardiac disease and accelerate therapeutic discovery.