Handbook of the Extracellular Matrix

Dr. F. Raquel Maia obtained her Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Porto, in collaboration with the University of Nevada and University of Lisbon, in March 2014. In the same year, she started as a postdoctoral fellow at 3B’s Research Group, University of Minho. In 2017, she was awarded an FCT postdoctoral fellowship, which gave place to a Junior Investigator contract. She is currently focused in the development of bioengineered materials to model 3D native microenvironments for Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine and the development of physiologically relevant in vitro models-on-chip for cancer research.  Dr. J. Miguel Oliveira is a Biochemist and holds a PhD in Materials Science and Technology (2009). Currently, he is a Principal Investigator with habilitation (Permanent staff) and Vice-President of the Institute of Biomaterials, Biodegradables and Biomimetics (I3Bs), University of Minho (PT). He has been internationally recognized in the field of biomaterials, tissue engineering and in vitro models. In Nov. 2023, he was appointed Fellow Biomaterials Science and Engineering (FBSE) for the excellent professional standing and high achievements. He is also member of the National Ethics Committee for Clinical Research (CEIC) from the Portuguese National Health System (SNS, PT). Prof. Rui L. Reis is a Full Professor, Founding Director of 3B´s Research Group and Dean of the Institute of Biomaterials, Biodegradables and Biomimetics (I3Bs), University of Minho (UMinho). He is Director and Scientific Coordinator of the Associate Laboratory ICVS/3B´s (with UMinho Medical School) since 2011 and the CEO of the European Institute of Excellence on Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine (TERM) since 2008. He is specially recognized for the introduction of several natural origin scaffolds and hydrogels with unique properties into the TERM field. He is one of the most well established, accomplished, and productive and highly-cited researchers in the World in the field of TERM and Biomaterials.

• Extracellular matrix composition.- The role of fibrous networks on the extracellular matrix mechanical properties.-  Extracellular matrix structural features.- Extracellular matrix bioactive molecules and cell behavior modeling.- Mechanotransduction role at gene expression levels.- Extracellular matrix structure regulates local cell-matrix biomechanics.- Extracellular matrix isolation: sources and methods.- Extracellular matrix and its involvement in tissue generation.- Strategies for mimicking extracellular matrix.- Extracellular matrix remodeling on cancer progression.