Microfluidics takes centre stage at the 13th Polymers and Medical Applications Conference
On 16 May, Leartiker – a technology centre that forms part of the Basque Government’s BRTA (Basque Research and Technology Alliance), will host a new edition of its annual Polymers and Medical Applications conference at its facilities in Markina-Xemein. This year’s focus will be on microfluidics: a multidisciplinary field drawing on physics, chemistry, engineering and biotechnology. Microfluidics explores the behaviour of fluids at the microscale, enabling the design of components that manage very small volumes of liquid, making them significantly easier to handle.
The 13th edition of the event will delve into the development and manufacturing of Point-of-Care and Organ-on-a-Chip microfluidic devices, as well as sensor technologies for biological parameter detection. The conference will provide a forum for sharing the latest advances and fostering discussion around these transformative technologies. The programme begins at 9 a.m. with a welcome from Jose Javier Egurrola, Scientific and Technological Director of Leartiker’s Polymer Technology Division. He will be followed by María Aguirre, Head of Health and Social and Healthcare Transition at SPRI, who will outline the Basque Country’s strategic R&D&I initiatives in the health sector.
Expert speakers will include Joaquim Miguel Oliveira, Principal Researcher at the 3B’s Research Group (Biomaterials, Biodegradables and Biomimetics); Ana Miriam Pareja, Principal Researcher at the Laboratory of Nanoelectronics, Graphene and 2D Materials (CITIC-UGR, University of Granada); and Irene Varela, Researcher and PhD candidate in Health Specialisation at Leartiker. Kicking off the technical talks, Oliveira will present new advances in flexible biomaterials for building in vitro chip models. Pareja will then highlight the creation of sensorised microfluidic platforms for detecting biological parameters. Finally, Varela will showcase the potential of femtosecond laser technology for the scalable production of microfluidic devices.
To close the day, Miguel Ángel Campanero, CEO of A3Z Advanced, will address the regulatory landscape governing these devices.
Microfluidic technology presents clear and significant advantages, which is why lab-on-a-chip systems are becoming increasingly prevalent in near-patient diagnostics. Similarly, organ-on-a-chip devices, combining biology with tissue engineering, allow researchers to replicate complex, dynamic 3D environments that closely mimic the structure, function, and mechanical properties of human tissue.
Leartiker has an active research line dedicated to microfluidics as part of its Health specialisation, and this event offers a valuable opportunity to share the progress and impact of its work in the field. Thanks to the Basque Government’s ongoing collaboration, the 13th edition of the Polymers and Medical Applications conference is now a reality.
Free registration: https://www.leartiker.com/divulgacion-cientifica/118
