AccelBio joined a Portuguese delegation in the EIT Health InnoStars Mission: Deep Dive into the UK Healthcare Innovation Ecosystem (28–29 April). 

The delegation included partners from Universidade Nova de Lisboa, University of Lisbon, University of Coimbra, ULS de Coimbra, and CoLAB AccelBio, alongside representatives from the Executive Board of NHS Portugal and AICIB. 

Organised by EIT Health InnoStars, supported by the British Embassy Lisbon, and hosted by King’s College London and the London Institute for Healthcare Engineering, the mission provided a high-value opportunity to explore the UK’s healthcare innovation landscape, connect with leading institutions, and identify collaboration pathways. 

Want to explore UK–Portugal collaboration opportunities? Reach out to AccelBio. 

In a groundbreaking project funded by the La Caixa Foundation, AccelBio and Marc Veldhoen’s team, from GiMM, have joined forces to explore a novel strategy for selectively modulating T cell responses. Infectious and inflammatory diseases, whose global prevalence is on the rise, remain among the leading causes of mortality worldwide. Many of these conditions are linked to the activity of T cells, a type of white blood cell critical for coordinating immune responses against pathogens. However, T cells can sometimes become overactive, leading to severe conditions such as fibrosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and asthma.

Current treatments often rely on broad-spectrum immunosuppressive drugs, which, while effective, come with significant side effects and an increased risk of infections. This highlights the urgent need for therapies that can selectively inhibit T cell activity without compromising the overall immune response.

Marc Veldhoen’s team has identified a key factor in T cell activation, which the research will investigate as a new therapeutic target. In collaboration with Silvia Almeida and Vânia Cardoso from CoLAB AccelBio, experts in drug discovery, the team will work to identify drug candidates that modulate T cell response while preserving the immune system’s protective functions. This project aims to develop tools to reduce the side effects commonly associated with current treatments for infectious and inflammatory diseases, potentially leading to safer and more effective therapies.

This innovative approach holds promise for advancing targeted therapies that improve patient outcomes in managing complex immune-related conditions.

CoLAB AccelBio, in collaboration with AICEP Portugal Global, Biocant Park, and supported by EIT Health, is excited to announce the upcoming EIT Morning Health Talks event on “How Open Innovation can Contribute to Healthcare Transformation.” This pivotal event, designed to foster connections and collaborations across the biomedical sector, will bring together leading voices from Portuguese R&D, industry innovators, and investors to explore how open innovation can advance healthcare solutions.

Why Attend? The event will provide a unique platform for interaction among Technology Transfer Offices, top-tier researchers, biotech and pharmaceutical professionals, and investors, encouraging collaborations that are vital for accelerating healthcare innovations. Attendees will gain valuable insights into the latest in biomedical R&D and transformative healthcare practices. An anticipated highlight of the event will be a keynote address by Dr. Pascale Redig from KU Leuven, offering international insights on innovative healthcare approaches and future trends.

Event Details

• Date: November 28, 2024
• Location: Biocant Park, Cantanhede, Portugal (both onsite and online participation options available)

Spaces are limited! Reserve your spot now to participate in this influential gathering.

You can view the full program and register here.

Join us to be part of this transformative discussion on open innovation in healthcare.

CoLAB AccelBio, driven by a commitment to advancing science, attended the BIO International Convention in San Diego. As the largest and most comprehensive event for biotechnology, the convention represents the full ecosystem of biotech with more than 18,500 industry leaders from across the globe. The event aimed to fulfill specific goals, including gathering feedback on R&D capabilities, exploring collaborations, and broadening perspectives through diverse interactions.

After the eligibility check of the proposals submitted to the CoLAB AccelBio - Open Call 2024, 22 proposals were evaluated by three reviewers each. The proposals then moved to the second phase: the interview. Based on the combined grades from both stages, the projects FATLOSS and COMASLINK were selected for support by CoLAB AccelBio. We would like to express our gratitude to all participants for their hard work and innovative ideas. Your contributions are highly valued, and we encourage you to continue pursuing your groundbreaking projects.
The table with the final scores of each eligible project is available here:

CoLAB AccelBio had the privilege of hosting its first International Advisory Board (IAB) Meeting on February 26th, at Instituto de Medicina Molecular. The gathering aimed to set the stage for our organization's future by discussing strategic priorities, defining objectives, and gathering insights from our advisory board members.

The meeting buzzed with engaging discussions as we delved into the heart of CoLAB AccelBio's mission. With our IAB members' invaluable input, we charted a course that aligns our goals with industry trends and best practices. Their diverse perspectives enriched our conversations and provided fresh insights into the evolving landscape of biotechnology.

Throughout the day, lively exchanges of ideas fueled our excitement for the future.We found ourselves so deeply engrossed in the discussions that the notion of capturing a photograph slipped our collective minds entirely. Despite the absence of a snapshot, the memories and outcomes of the meeting remain vivid. We left the meeting with a renewed sense of purpose and a clear direction for advancing CoLAB AccelBio's mission. With our IAB's guidance, we are confident in our ability to drive meaningful progress and innovation in the biotechnology and pharma sectors.

Please check further information about our IAB members here.