Paula Alves, PhD iBET

Paula Alves is the CEO of iBET, the Head of the Animal Cell Technology Unit at iBET and Professor at NOVA University of Lisbon (ITQB and FCT).

She received her Ph.D. at Biochemical Engineering from the NOVA University of Lisbon, in 2001, and her B.S in Biochemistry from the Sciences Faculty of the University of Lisbon, in 1991.

Working in Animal Cell Technology since 1990, her PhD contributed to the establishment of 3D in vitro models of Brain Cells for metabolic trafficking studies.

She did part of her PhD studies at the NMR Center-Sintef, Trondheim Hospital, Norway and at the NMR Laboratory of the Chemistry Department of Bremen University. Professor Alves' research integrates cell metabolism understanding with biochemical engineering for the improvement of bioprocesses’ efficiency, also focusing on the development of new tools and technologies for pre-clinical research.

Professor Paula Alves is currently the Chairperson of the ESACT (European Society for Animal Cell Technology) and Member of the IMI (Innovative Medicines Initiative) Scientific Council and of EURL-ECVAM (EU Reference Laboratory for Alternatives to Animal Testing).

She was a member of the Advisory Board of Horizon 2020 Societal Challenge 1 - European Commission, between 2013 and 2018. She has published over 230 papers, 32 book chapters and supervised 35 PhD students, 18 post-docs and several master theses.

In 2009, she received the Scientific Merit Award from NOVA University of Lisbon and in 2017, she was recognized as one of the 100 Top Portuguese Women in Science.