The Department of Physics (DFis) hosted a lecture on May 13th, as part of a series of lectures on semiconductors and emerging technologies, dedicated to the theme "Accelerating Personalized Medicine with Optomics Technology". The initiative was supported and associated with Inova-Ria, CICECO – Aveiro Institute of Materials, and other partners, reinforcing the connection between academia, industry, and the technological ecosystem.

The session featured Carlos Gouveia, PhD Head of Systems at ILOF, in an interactive presentation focused on the potential of Optomics technology to accelerate personalized medicine and support the development of treatments for complex pathologies such as Alzheimer's, cancer, and respiratory diseases.

During the presentation, Carlos Gouveia explained how ILOF uses biofluidics and photonic technologies to create "optofingerprints," optical signatures capable of differentiating healthy patients from patients with specific pathologies. Through the collection and training of models with thousands of samples, the company is able to develop support systems that optimize diagnostic processes and clinical trials.

The company also highlighted the growing impact of these technologies in the face of the global increase in neurodegenerative diseases, noting that the number of people with Alzheimer's could rise from 55 million in 2024 to 78 million by 2050.

The session also addressed some of the main challenges associated with the development of these types of solutions, namely:

• protection and management of sensitive data;
• quality and standardization of samples;
• regulatory requirements;
• integration into hospital settings;
• shortage of specialized human resources.

Carlos Gouveia also emphasized the importance of collaboration between technology companies, hospitals, and healthcare professionals to accelerate the adoption of these solutions, highlighting partnerships already developed with some national institutions.

ILOF is currently recruiting in Portugal and the United Kingdom, seeking profiles in the areas of biomedicine, physics engineering, and data science.

The participation of CICECO – Aveiro Institute of Materials in this initiative is part of the ongoing commitment to promoting interdisciplinary research in emerging technologies, photonics, advanced materials, and health, encouraging the convergence of fundamental research, technological development, and clinical application.

The initiative reinforced the importance of collaboration between academia, research centers, and technology companies in discussing emerging trends and developing innovative solutions with a real impact on health and society.

Inova-Ria's association with this initiative aligns with its ongoing work to bring together technology, industry, talent, and knowledge, promoting innovation and knowledge transfer in strategic and emerging areas.