Advanced Training Course in Molecular Bioengineering 2025

Biomolecular interactions modelling: in silico and experimental approaches for molecular self-assembly and medicine

Welcome

The Advanced Training Course in Molecular Bioengineering is designed to provide a training platform for educating the next generation of leaders in Molecular Bioengineering, a rapidly growing field that explores the most recent advances in chemical, biological, and engineering sciences to develop advanced molecular-level solutions to complex medical problems. This year, on its 3rd edition, the course focuses on “Biomolecular Interactions Modelling: in silico and experimental approaches for molecular self-assembly and Medicine”.

Peptides and proteins mediate many physiological and bioengineering-relevant phenomena, playing a crucial role in drug design and discovery, whether as therapeutic or delivery agents. Also, peptide epitopes play a key role in driving communication between cells and their extracellular matrix, offering opportunities for controlling cell adhesion, differentiation, immunomodulation and matrix turnover. A deeper understanding behind the biophysical interactions responsible for these functions offers the possibility to improve biomolecular affinity and biomaterials’ fabrication reproducibility, which can lead to the fabrication of high-precision biological scaffolds, smart/functional medical devices, sustainable nanoelectronics and biosensors.

This Course will cover the fundamentals of biophysical techniques relevant for the in silico and experimental assessment of molecular interactions, including three-dimensional structure, self-assembling capability and solubility predictions of peptides and proteins, being relevant for a range of biomedical applications, such as drug discovery, biosensing, functional biomaterials design, tissue engineering, among others.

POSTER (pdf)

Venue

i3S – Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde
Rua Alfredo Allen, 208 | 4200-135 Porto, Portugal

Date

13-17 October 2025

Organising Committee

Helena Azevedo, Carlos Redondo, Mariana Simões – i3S

Course duration

Complete course: Monday – Friday (whole day) | 27.5 hours

Theoretical part only: Monday – Thursday (mornings) | 8.5 hours

Course language

English

Requirements

Laptop and labcoat for the practical classes

Target audience

The course is designed for those interested in modelling the structure and interactions between peptides and proteins in solution, the science and enabling technologies supporting the advancements in the area, and their biomedical applications (drug discovery and formulation, biomaterials design, biosensing, among others).

It can be attended by:
– Postgraduate students: Master’s and PhD students enrolled in Biomedical Engineering or Bioengineering master’s and doctoral programmes, or related areas.
– Researchers working on peptide/protein and biomolecular interactions in general for different biomedical applications.
– Industrial professionals developing biomaterials, drugs, and biomedical devices.