I am Annalisa Perioli from Italy. I studied Biomedical Engineering at Politecnico di Torino, where I completed both my Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees with a focus on tissue engineering, regenerative medicine, and biomaterials. During my studies, I engaged in various interdisciplinary research projects, including the development of biomimetic hydrogels and the design of bioreactors for tissue culture. My Master’s thesis was carried out at Newcastle University, where I worked on the development of an in vitro model of vascularised skin tissue for drug testing.

After university, I worked in a pharmaceutical company gaining valuable industry experience in a cross-functional and fast-paced environment. During my years of academic and industrial training, I have actively participated in research related to biomaterials design, cell culture, and hydrogel characterization, and have contributed to peer-reviewed publications in the field of regenerative medicine.

In the MSCA DN “Injectable supramolecular hydrogels and microfabricated patches for the controlled release of secretome/EV fractions for cardiac regeneration” project, I will be a PhD student at the 3B’s Research Group, University of Minho. My research will focus on the development of injectable supramolecular hydrogels and microfabricated hydrogel-based patches for the targeted delivery of secretome to promote cardiac tissue regeneration based on amphiphilic glycopeptide able to encapsulate and sustained release bioactive factors.

The majority of my work will be performed at the 3B’s Research Group in Portugal, with planned secondments to consortium partners to enhance collaboration and training. Additionally, my responsibilities entail material synthesis and characterization, in vitro testing, and preclinical assessment of regenerative efficacy.

As a result of my work, I aim to contribute to the advancement of minimally invasive therapies for cardiovascular diseases through biomaterial innovation and interdisciplinary collaboration.

Being a part of the SECRET consortium offers me a unique opportunity to be involved in a vibrant international research network, gain diverse scientific and technical skills, and contribute to cutting-edge regenerative medicine research.