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15 July 2026

Cellularis Biomodels joins European doctoral network aiming to advance research

Cellularis Biomodels joins European doctoral network aiming to advance research

Cellularis Biomodels is among the partners of VirION – Inter-organelle crosstalk in viral infections: identifying peroxisome-related targets for novel broad-spectrum antiviral strategies, a new European doctoral network that has secured more than €4 million under the Marie Skodowska-Curie Actions – Doctoral Networks programme.

Coordinated by Daniela Ribeiro, researcher at the Institute of Biomedicine (IBIMED) and the Department of Medical Sciences of the University of Aveiro, VirION will develop innovative host-directed strategies to combat viral infections by identifying new therapeutic targets within human cells rather than targeting viruses directly. The project aims to establish the foundations for broad-spectrum antiviral therapies capable of overcoming the challenges posed by the rapid evolution of viruses.

Cellularis Biomodels joins a consortium of leading European universities and research institutes, including the University of Aveiro, Amsterdam University Medical Centre, KU Leuven, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Leiden University Medical Centre, The Pirbright Institute, the University of Southampton, and Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg.

As the industrial partner in the consortium, Cellularis Biomodels, a CICECO/University of AVeiro spin-off created from the COMPASS Research Group, will contribute its expertise in developing advanced human-based three-dimensional (3D) disease models. The company's proprietary bioengineering technologies enable the creation of physiomimetic in vitro models that closely reproduce the architecture and biological complexity of human tissues, providing highly relevant platforms for pre-clinical evaluation of new therapeutic candidates.

The participation of Cellularis Biomodels will strengthen the network’s translational capacity by supporting the development and validation of innovative experimental models that bridge fundamental discoveries and future clinical applications. These advanced platforms are expected to accelerate the identification and assessment of novel antiviral strategies emerging from the project.

Beyond its scientific objectives, VirION will train 15 doctoral researchers in an interdisciplinary environment combining virology, cell biology, systems biology, advanced microscopy, multi-omics technologies, artificial intelligence, and entrepreneurship. Through the collaboration between academic institutions and industry partners such as Cellularis Biomodels, the programme will equip a new generation of researchers with the skills required to address current and future challenges posed by viral diseases while fostering innovation with real-world impact.

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