Pursuing my interest in Biotechnology and Bioprocess Engineering, I completed my Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Biotechnology at Federal University of São Carlos (São Paulo, Brazil). During this time, I also acquired experience in the clinical environment. First, after my bachelor’s I worked at a Blood Center Medical School (HCFMRP/USP), monitoring patients with autoimmune diseases after stem cell transplantation. Subsequently, in my master’s I enrolled in a multidisciplinary team at the Research Center Butantan Institute, which aimed at developing a recombinant vaccine against rabies.
In 2016, I embarked on a new challenge in the form of a PhD project based on a Double Doctoral Degree Program between Maastricht University (MERLN Institute) and University of Campinas (School of Chemical Engineering). Under the supervisor of Prof. Lorenzo Moroni and Dr. Carlos Mota from the Dutch side and prof. Ângela M. Moraes and Dr. Jorge V. L. da Silva from the Brazilian side, my research focuses on the use of stem cell spheroids for the biofabrication of cartilage tissues through 3D bioprinting. After that, for 2.5 years I developed my postdoctoral project at MERLN Institute with prof. Lorenzo Moroni, as a key member of the InterLynk consortium. The InterLynk consortium is an integrated group of eight universities and companies from four countries, under the main supervision of Prof. João Mano. I was in charge of developing a strategy for bioprinting very low viscous materials, focusing on the use of human platelet lysates-based hydrogels for interfacial multi-tissue repair. These highly biological hydrogels were intended to be applied for temporomandibular joint regeneration. With this project, I was awarded one of the best oral presentations from the Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine International Society (TERMIS, Manchester, UK, 2023).
From January 2024 onwards, I have started as the new Group Leader in Bioprinting at the Department of Biomaterials & Biomedical Technology at University Medical Center Groningen (BBT - UMCG). Also since January 2024, I have been a fellow in the Catalyst Program of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT – United States), aiming to develop myself in establishing innovative research projects with high potential for healthcare impact.
Based on my 15 years of bench experience and my academic trajectory, I developed a very solid background in bioengineering, regenerative medicine, biotechnology, bioprocess, biopolymers, natural materials, stem cell culture and differentiation. My main specialty in terms of manufacturing processes is bioprinting, with a special emphasis on extrusion-based and embedding bioprinting techniques of several classes of hydrogels.
I really like to inspire students and connect my entrepreneurship and bioengineer skills with education. My career vision in science is to become a full professor in the biomedical translational field, converting science into practice to benefit human health. I want to use my gained scientific expertise/international identity and worldwide network to start an innovative research line in bioprinting of human bioactive molecules at BBT - UMCG and, let it florish!
You can know more details about me and my publications at:
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LinkedIn: Monize Decarli
Twitter: monize_decarli
