Instituto de Biofísica e Engenharia Biomédica

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Instituto de Biofísica e Engenharia Biomédica

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O Instituto de Biofísica e Engenharia Biomédica da Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa é financiado pela FCT.

The Institute of Biophysics and Biomedical Engineering in the Faculty of Sciences, University of Lisbon is funded by FCT. Ensino
No âmbito do ensino, o IBEB tem vindo a assegurar, desde 1992, o Mestrado (e Programa Doutoral desde 1996) em biofísica e engenharia biomédica, e a orientar estudantes de doutoramento em áreas ligadas à biofísica. Desta actividade resultaram 56 teses de mestrado e 29 teses de doutoramento. O IBEB formou grande parte dos recursos humanos em Portugal nestas áreas, que têm sido contratados por numerosas instituições nacionais e estrangeiras. O IBEB está actualmente envolvido no ensino de Engenharia Biomédica e Biofísica a todos os niveis de formação universitária:
Na Licenciatura e no Mestrado em Engenharia Biomédica e Biofísica, da responsabilidade do Departamento de Física da FCUL. No Doutoramento (3º ciclo segundo o acordo de Bolonha) em Engenharia Biomédica e Biofísica. Investigação
A investigação no IBEB explora a interface da Engenharia Biomédica com a Biofísica e com a Medicina, com especial destaque para as seguintes áreas:
-imagem molecular e reconstrução de imagem
-aquisição e processamento de sinais electrofisiológicos (electroencefalografia, magnetoencefalografia, electrocardiografia)
-imagens por ressonância magnética nuclear
-estimulação magnética transcraniana
-processamento de imagens médicas
-dinâmica da actividade cerebral e cardíaca
-interface homem-computador

Somos financiados pela Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia UIDB/00645/2020 e UIDP/00645/2020.

30/10/2026

🔬Can 3D breast imaging and artificial intelligence help to better characterize breast cancer in a noninvasive way?

Identifying breast cancer molecular subtypes is crucial for guiding treatment decisions.

A new study published in Biomedicines explores the use of 3D convolutional neural networks (CNNs) to predict molecular subtypes directly from 3D breast tomosynthesis images, investigating how different volumetric representations influence prediction performance.

The research was conducted by Raquel Tavares, as part of her Master's research in Biomedical Engineering and Biophysics at Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa, under the supervision of Ana Margarida Mota (Instituto de Biofísica e Engenharia Biomédica - Institute of Biophysics and Biomedical Engineering), in collaboration with Eunice Carrasquinha (Centro de Estatística e Aplicações da Universidade de Lisboa).

🔗 Read more at https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9059/14/11/2411

29/10/2026

✨ On September 25, IBEB participated with two activities at European Researchers' Night at Museu Nacional de História Natural e da Ciência, in Lisbon.

👏 Medical Microwave Imaging for Breast Cancer Detection (Daniela Godinho, Henrique Lopes, Rafaella Coelho and Raquel Conceição): Besides being used to heat food, microwaves can also be used for medical imaging, such as for breast cancer detection. In this activity, we will present a simplified version of our device of medical microwave imaging and show how microwaves can be used to detect breast tumours. Microwave Imaging is a painless and comfortable technique which can be used for breast cancer screening and monitoring.

👏 Exploring the Brain with Technology: 3D Models and Non-Invasive Electrical Stimulation (Leonor Pires and Sofia Fernandes): Did you know that we can simulate the human brain using MRI scans? And that it's possible to apply treatments in specific areas without surgery, using only weak electrical currents? In this activity, we’ll showcase real 3D models built from medical image and predict the effects of non-invasive brain stimulation with direct current (tDCS). You’ll get the chance to visualise and interact with the models, and see how this new technology is transforming neuroscience and medicine.

26/10/2026

🎉 The paper “Pilot Study of an Axillary and Breast Microwave Imaging Prototype in Healthy Volunteers and Patients” was recently published in IEEE Open Journal of Antennas and Propagation. This study was a result of several years of work in the research group of professors Raquel Conceição and Daniela Godinho, in collaboration with Dr. Luís Ramos and Dr. Arymar Andrade Junior from Hospital Vila Franca de Xira and with contributions from NOVA-FCT Master student Mónica Alfaiate and CIÊNCIAS students Afonso Simões, Gonçalo Canastra, Inês Correia, Joana Saraiva and Rodrigo Dias.

✨ This paper presents an evaluation of an Microwave Imaging prototype to image both the breast and the axillary region with 22 healthy volunteers and 5 breast cancer patients. The prototype operates in a monostatic configuration, using monopole antennas operating in the frequency band from 2 to 4 GHz. The breast imaging part consists of 10 antennas arranged in a circular configuration with an adjustable radius in a single plane, while the axillary region is imaged with 9 antennas in a planar 3×3 configuration. The findings from the five cancer cases provide preliminary feasibility evidence for the potential of the prototype for cancer detection. The axillary imaging tests showed the challenges of repeatability and correct positioning of the axillary region in the prototype, illustrating the complexity of conforming to the axillary region. Future work comprises improving hardware components in line with the observations drawn in this study.

🔗 Read more at https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/abstract/document/11698795

14/10/2026

🎉 IBEB full member Tânia Gonçalves attended the 48th Annual International Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine & Biology Society (EMBC 2026), held in Toronto, Canada, where she was awarded 3rd Place in the 2026 Young Professional Paper Competition for the work entitled “Functionalized gold nanoparticles for breast cancer photothermal therapy: physicochemical design and preliminary in vitro and in vivo studies”.

👥 The work was co-authored by IBEB full members João Coelho and Hugo Ferreira, together with IBEB collaborators Catarina Pinto Reis and Manuela Gaspar, among others.

✨ This work was presented at the conference both orally and in poster and showcased the development of a photothermal therapy strategy involving the combination of gold nanoparticles and laser irradiation as a promising approach for breast cancer treatment.

07/10/2026

🎉 The paper “Machine Learning Classification of Axillary Lymph Nodes Using Microwave Signals” was recently published in the journal Sensors. This study emerged from the PhD research of Daniela Godinho, supervised at the time by Raquel Conceição, and explores the use of machine learning algorithms to support the assessment of axillary lymph nodes, which are key structures in breast cancer staging.

✨ In this work, the researchers demonstrated, for the first time, the feasibility of classifying healthy and metastatic lymph nodes directly from microwave signals, without the need for image reconstruction. To achieve this, 80 three-dimensional lymph node models were developed based on anatomical characteristics described in the scientific literature, enabling the simulation of different clinical scenarios of increasing complexity.
In addition to being the first study dedicated to the classification of axillary lymph nodes using microwave signals, the research addresses challenges specific to the axillary region, particularly the limited field of view available for signal acquisition, a constraint that is not present in other microwave imaging applications, such as breast or brain imaging.

🔗 Read more at https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/26/14/4466

07/10/2026

✨ As part of the 3BAtwin project, coordinated by IBEB, several researchers participated in the "Training School on Clinical Trial Design and Management", which took place from 22 to 26 June in Galway, Ireland, and was organized by the University of Galway.

🌎 The school brought together a total of 30 participants, including researchers and students from the project's partner institutions. Representing the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Lisbon, the researchers Daniela Godinho, Raquel Conceição, Sofia Fernandes, and Tânia Gonçalves attended in person, together with the PhD students Henrique Lopes, Leonor Pires, Rafael Esteves, and Rafaella Coelho. Several other participants joined the training online. The programme also featured invited speakers from various Irish institutions.

✨ Over the course of an intensive week, participants received training in research ethics, medical device regulations and standards, clinical evaluation of medical imaging devices, clinical study design, data and research management, as well as statistics and data analysis. The initiative also provided valuable opportunities for participants to exchange experiences with researchers involved in the development and implementation of clinical trials for their products.

🔗 More information about the project: https://3batwin.campus.ciencias.ulisboa.pt/

29/09/2026

👏 The paper “Localized gold nanoparticles–mediated photothermal therapy for head and neck cancer: in vivo proof-of-concept” was recently published in the journal International Journal of Pharmaceutics.

👥 This work, developed by PhD student Mariana Amaral, was carried out under the supervision of IBEB’s full members João Coelho, and Hugo Ferreira, in collaboration with Catarina Reis and Manuela Gaspar from Faculdade de Farmácia da Universidade de Lisboa (FFUL).

✨ This study evaluates the potential of gold nanoparticles-mediated near-infrared photothermal therapy for head and neck cancer as a proof-of-concept. For this, the physicochemical and optical properties of the nanoparticles were characterized. They demonstrated long-term stability, for up to one year, and photothermal stability, maintaining performance throughout four irradiation cycles. The efficacy was assessed in vivo using two murine models differing in tumor location (neck or flank). Following intratumoral administration of the gold nanoparticles and repeated laser irradiation cycles, a clear photothermal effect was observed, associated with increased tumor necrosis and a trend toward reduced tumor progression. Biodistribution studies revealed an accumulation of the nanoparticles at the tumor. Importantly, safety assessments showed no significant alterations, indicating the absence of systemic toxicity following treatment. Overall, the developed gold nanoparticles demonstrated long-term physicochemical stability, robust photothermal performance, strong intratumoral accumulation and a favorable safety profile. These findings support their potential as a localized and minimally invasive therapeutic strategy for head and neck cancer. Further studies will include the assessment of the long-term therapeutic outcomes to advance this approach towards clinical translation.

🔗 Read more at https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378517326006046?via%3Dihub

23/09/2026

Na próxima sexta-feira, dia 25 de setembro, poderá visitar-nos das 17h às 00h no Museu Nacional de História Natural e da Ciência, em Lisboa, no contexto da European Researchers' Night (Noite Europeia Investigadores).

📍 Museu Nacional de História Natural e da Ciência, Galeria Nascente, Piso 0, Atividade 51

✨ 𝐈𝐦𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐦 𝐌é𝐝𝐢𝐜𝐚 𝐩𝐨𝐫 𝐌𝐢𝐜𝐫𝐨-𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐬 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐚 𝐃𝐞𝐭𝐞çã𝐨 𝐝𝐞 𝐂𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐫𝐨 𝐝𝐚 𝐌𝐚𝐦𝐚
Além de serem usadas para aquecer comida, as micro-ondas podem ser usadas para imagem médica, como é o caso da deteção de cancro da mama. Nesta atividade, vamos apresentar uma versão simplificada do nosso equipamento de imagem médica por micro-ondas e mostrar como as micro-ondas podem ser utilizadas para detetar tumores da mama. A Imagem por Micro-ondas é uma técnica indolor e confortável que pode ser usada como rastreio ou para monitorização.

✨ 𝐄𝐬𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐚𝐫 𝐨 𝐂é𝐫𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐨 𝐜𝐨𝐦 𝐓𝐞𝐜𝐧𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐢𝐚: 𝐌𝐨𝐝𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐬 3𝐃 𝐞 𝐄𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐮𝐥𝐚çã𝐨 𝐄𝐥é𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚 𝐍ã𝐨 𝐈𝐧𝐯𝐚𝐬𝐢𝐯𝐚
Sabias que é possível simular o cérebro a partir de imagens de ressonância magnética? E que se pode tratar zonas específicas sem cirurgia, apenas com correntes elétricas de baixa intensidade? Nesta atividade, vamos mostrar modelos 3D do cérebro construídos a partir de imagem médica e como estes podem ser usados para prever os efeitos da estimulação elétrica não invasiva por corrente contínua (tDCS). Terás oportunidade de visualizar e interagir com os modelos em 3D, e perceber como esta nova tecnologia está a transformar a neurociência e a medicina.

08/09/2026

🎉 Professors and full members Nuno Matela and Ana Margarida Mota, together with PhD student João Mendes, represented IBEB at the 18th International Workshop on Breast Imaging (IWBI), held in Thessaloniki, Greece.

🗣️ During the event, Ana Margarida Mota presented the work:
"Deep Learning for Aggressive Breast Cancer Classification Using Breast Tomosynthesis and Patient Age"

🗣️ PhD student João Mendes presented a poster entitled:
"When Normal is Not Safe: Predicting 2-year Breast Cancer Risk using prior mammograms"

🎉 Their participation in this international workshop reinforces IBEB's commitment to developing innovative Artificial Intelligence-based solutions to support early breast cancer diagnosis and risk stratification.

🎉 Congratulations to everyone for their excellent representation of IBEB and for their valuable contribution to advancing research in this field.

07/09/2026

🎉 The research paper “Assessment of the In Vitro Radiosensitivity of Pancreatic Cancer Cell Lines Using Two Cell Survival Models” is now available in Phys Med Biol.

✨ The study investigated the in vitro response of pancreatic cancer cell lines to radiation therapy by comparing two cell survival models: the widely used Linear Quadratic (LQ) model and a nonlinear Log-Logistic (LL) regression model. While the LQ model remains a robust clinical tool for assessing cellular radiosensitivity, its susceptibility to experimental heterogeneity calls for caution when interpreting the α/β ratio. In contrast, the LL model demonstrated significantly lower heterogeneity and a superior ability to distinguish radiosensitivity differences between the tumour cell lines investigated.
✨ The results underscore the need for a greater standardization of clonogenic assay protocols, encompassing both experimental setups and comprehensive reporting standards to improve reproducibility, while the derived radiosensitivity parameters set a benchmark enabling meaningful comparisons across independent studies. Ultimately, these findings have the potential to support the development of more accurate predictive models for radiation therapy response and contribute to the optimization of more personalized treatment strategies for pancreatic cancer patients. Finally, establishes a robust framework adaptable to other cancer types.

🔗 Read more at https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1361-6560/ae7cd2

Endereço

Instituto De Biofísica E Engenharia Biomédica, Faculdade De Ciências Da Universidade De Lisboa. Campo Grande
Lisbon
1749-016

Telefone

+351 217 500 177

Website

http://ibeb.ciencias.ulisboa.pt/

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