We are very happy to congratulate María Azparren Vázquez on her graduation from the Master’s Degree in Forensic Analysis at EHU.

The graduation ceremony for the 2025–2026 academic year took place on 1 October 2026 at the Europa Conference Centre in Vitoria-Gasteiz, bringing together graduates from the Faculty of Pharmacy, including students from the Master’s Degree in Forensic Analysis.

María carried out her Master’s Thesis within our research group, working on the development of a bioelectronic breast cancer model based on an electroconductive scaffold, designed to enable non-invasive electrical monitoring of cell behaviour through impedance spectroscopy.

It has been a pleasure to have María with us during this stage of her scientific training. We warmly congratulate her on this achievement and wish her every success in the next steps of her career.

Congratulations, María!

We are very happy to congratulate Isabel Poves-Ruiz and the entire Microfluidics Cluster team on the publication of their new article in Talanta:

“A microfluidic paper-based device for on-site colorimetric detection of scopolamine in beverages, pharmaceuticals, and plant extracts.”

The work presents an autonomous and portable paper-based microfluidic device for the rapid colorimetric detection of scopolamine, validated in different beverages as well as pharmaceutical and plant samples. The platform enables visual detection with the naked eye and also opens the possibility of smartphone-assisted quantification.

A special congratulations to Isabel, whose PhD research is at the core of this work, and to Enrique Azuaje-Hualde, Laura Lartitegui Elorza, Oihana Diaz-Cantos, Lourdes Basabe-Desmonts and Fernando Benito-Lopez for this excellent team effort.

Great work, team, and congratulations on this new publication!

Lourdes Basabe, Director of the Microfluidics & Biomics Cluster UPV/EHU, participated in BIOSPAIN 2026, one of Europe’s leading international events in biotechnology and life sciences, held at the Bilbao Exhibition Centre (BEC) from 29 September to 1 October.

As part of the BIOSPAIN programme, Lourdes Basabe participated on 29 September in the roundtable “Choosing the Basque Country to Grow Your Business in Life Sciences and Health – Discover the Reasons”, held at the Margarita Salas Auditorium. Link to BIOSPAIN 2026: Home - BIOSPAIN 2026. Bilbao. Spain

The session brought together different perspectives on the factors that make the Basque Country an attractive environment for developing and scaling businesses in the life sciences and health sectors. The discussion addressed the importance of a strong innovation ecosystem, public-private collaboration, scientific and technological capabilities, access to investment, talent and the connection between research and industry.

The roundtable was moderated by María Aguirre, Head of Health and Sociohealth Transition at SPRI, and included Fermín Goytisolo Gil, Partner at Itua Health – Eikonoklastes Therapeutics; Javier García Cogorro, General Partner at Columbus Venture Partners; Idoia Muñoz Lizán, Managing Director of the Basque Health Cluster; and Lourdes Basabe, Director of the Microfluidics & Biomics Cluster UPV/EHU. Link to event: Agenda - BIOSPAIN 2026. Bilbao. Spain

Connecting research, technology and business

During the discussion, Lourdes Basabe contributed the perspective of academic research and deep-tech development, highlighting the importance of creating effective connections between scientific knowledge, technological development, talent, industry and investment.

Her participation also provided an opportunity to showcase the experience of the Microfluidics & Biomics Cluster UPV/EHU in developing innovative microfluidic technologies and translating research results towards applications in biomedicine, diagnostics and other fields.

The Cluster brings together research capabilities in microfluidics, biosensing, functional materials, cell-based systems and the integration of miniaturised technologies. Its activity combines fundamental and applied research with collaboration with companies, healthcare organisations, technology centres and other research institutions, with a strong focus on technology transfer and the development of new applications.

For Basabe, the ability to move from scientific discovery to technological solutions and ultimately to new products, services and companies depends not only on excellent research, but also on the availability of a connected ecosystem capable of supporting the entire innovation pathway.

Euskadi as an environment for life sciences innovation

BIOSPAIN 2026 brings together companies, researchers, investors, public institutions and other stakeholders from across the biotechnology and life sciences ecosystem. The event provides an important international platform for showcasing the capabilities of the Basque Country and for fostering new collaborations and business opportunities.

The Basque life sciences ecosystem currently includes more than 300 companies, supported by a broad network of universities, research organisations, technology centres, healthcare institutions and other innovation actors.

Participation in BIOSPAIN 2026 therefore provided an opportunity to highlight the role of university research and deep-tech technologies within this ecosystem, while reinforcing the importance of collaboration between science, industry, investment and public institutions in transforming research excellence into innovation and economic impact.

For the Microfluidics & Biomics Cluster UPV/EHU, participation in the event represents another step in strengthening its international visibility and its connections with the wider life sciences and health ecosystem, both in the Basque Country and internationally.

Lourdes Basabe-Desmonts, Principal Investigator of the Microfluidics Cluster UPV/EHU, was recently interviewed on Onda Vasca’s Kale Nagusia programme to discuss our research on a simple and portable device for detecting scopolamine (“burundanga”) in beverages.

During the interview, Lourdes explained the motivation behind the development of the technology: to create an easy-to-use test capable of providing a rapid visual warning when an unwanted substance is present in a drink. The device combines plastic and paper-based microfluidic components and works automatically once brought into contact with the sample, producing a colour change in less than ten minutes when scopolamine is detected.

The technology is the result of more than five years of research by the Microfluidics Cluster and was conceived as a portable preventive tool that could contribute to tackling cases of drug-facilitated assault. During the conversation, Lourdes also discussed the challenges involved in moving research of this kind from the laboratory towards large-scale manufacturing and eventual commercialization.

The interview is a great opportunity to bring our research closer to society and to highlight how microfluidic and paper-based technologies can be translated into simple tools addressing real-world problems.

Listen to the full interview with Lourdes Basabe-Desmonts on Onda Vasca’s Kale Nagusia.

Congratulations to Isabel and Enrique for their recent appearance in El Correo, highlighting the work developed by our team on rapid devices for the detection of scopolamine (“burundanga”) in beverages.

The article brings this research closer to the general public and explains how the technology developed within the Microfluidics Cluster can detect the presence of scopolamine in just a few minutes, using a simple and portable approach designed with real-world applications in mind.

This media coverage is also a great opportunity to recognise the work behind the results. Congratulations to Isabel and Enrique for representing the research so well, and a very special thank you to the entire team whose scientific, technical and collaborative work has made this development possible.

Beyond the individual contributions, this achievement reflects the collective effort of researchers working over several years to translate microfluidic technologies into practical tools capable of addressing relevant societal challenges.

We are delighted to see the work of the Microfluidics Cluster receiving this visibility and reaching audiences beyond the scientific community.

Read the full article in El Correo: “Así funcionan los dispositivos que detectan la burundanga en minutos”.

Our research on rapid scopolamine detection featured in Campusa

Campusa, the news platform of the University of the Basque Country, has highlighted the work of the Microfluidics Cluster UPV/EHU on a portable paper-based microfluidic device capable of detecting scopolamine (“burundanga”) in beverages in around 10 minutes.

The research, led by Isabel Poves as part of her PhD work, represents another step towards simple, low-cost and on-site tools for the prevention of drug-facilitated assaults.

Congratulations to Isabel, Enrique and the entire team involved in this work!

EUSKARA

Eskopolamina azkar detektatzeko gure ikerketa, Campusan

Euskal Herriko Unibertsitateko Campusa albistegiak Microfluidics Cluster UPV/EHU taldeak edarietan eskopolamina (“burundanga”) 10 bat minutuan detektatzeko garatu duen paperean oinarritutako gailu mikrofluidikoa nabarmendu du.

Isabel Povesen doktorego-tesiaren barruan garatutako ikerketa honek beste urrats bat ematen du sumisio kimiko bidezko erasoak prebenitzen lagun dezaketen tresna erraz, merke eta in situ erabiltzeko modukoak garatzeko bidean.

Zorionak Isabeli, Enriqueri eta lan honetan parte hartu duen talde osoari!

ESPAÑOL

Nuestra investigación sobre la detección rápida de escopolamina, en Campusa

Campusa, el portal de noticias de la Universidad del País Vasco, se hace eco del trabajo desarrollado por el Microfluidics Cluster UPV/EHU sobre un dispositivo microfluídico basado en papel capaz de detectar escopolamina (“burundanga”) en bebidas en aproximadamente 10 minutos.

El trabajo, liderado por Isabel Poves en el marco de su tesis doctoral, supone un paso más hacia el desarrollo de herramientas sencillas, económicas y utilizables in situ para contribuir a la prevención de agresiones por sumisión química.

¡Enhorabuena a Isabel, Enrique y a todo el equipo que ha participado en este trabajo!

Since August 2026, our colleague Sepi has been carrying out a research stay at Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e), where she has joined the Stimuli-Responsive Functional Materials & Devices (SFD) group led by Prof. Dr. Albert Schenning.

The stay is part of her EHU Postdoctoral Fellowship, awarded by the University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), and gives her the opportunity to combine her expertise in microfluidics with advanced stimuli-responsive materials.

During her time at TU/e, Sepi is working on the integration of cholesteric liquid crystal elastomers into microfluidic platforms, with the aim of developing smart and responsive lab-on-a-chip devices for biomedical applications. In particular, the project explores their potential for future diagnostic systems targeting early-stage cancer biomarkers.

For the Microfluidics Cluster, this stay is also a great opportunity to strengthen our collaboration with TU/e and to open new research directions at the interface between microfluidics, functional materials and biomedical diagnostics.

We are very happy to see Sepi taking on this new scientific challenge and wish her a very successful and productive stay in Eindhoven!

The newspaper El Correo has highlighted the work of Lourdes Basabe and the Microfluidics Cluster UPV/EHU in a major feature devoted to cancer research in Álava.

On Sunday, 27 September, El Correo dedicated its front page and a two-page feature entitled “La vanguardia alavesa contra el cáncer” to research groups in Álava working on new approaches to understand, diagnose and treat different types of cancer.

Among the researchers featured is Lourdes Basabe, Ikerbasque Research Professor and Director of the Microfluidics Cluster UPV/EHU, whose work focuses on the development and application of microfluidic technologies to study biological processes at the cellular scale.

In the article, Basabe explains how microfluidic devices —typically fabricated using materials such as glass or polymers and designed to manipulate very small volumes of liquid— make it possible to reproduce and analyse biological processes under highly controlled conditions. These technologies, which are already present in applications ranging from diagnostic tests to glucose monitoring systems, offer important opportunities for biomedical research.

One of the research lines highlighted by El Correo is the work carried out together with researcher Edurne Alonso, based on the integration of sensors around cells in order to precisely determine which proteins they secrete when exposed to different stimuli. This approach is being applied to the study of different types of testicular germ cell tumours, with the aim of identifying their molecular characteristics, distinguishing between tumour subtypes and helping to understand why some variants show more aggressive behaviour than others.

Microfluidics therefore provides a powerful tool to study cellular behaviour in highly controlled and reproducible environments, while progressively enabling the development of models that can mimic key functions of tissues and organs. In this context, Basabe also refers to the recent award of a European project focused on the development of a “digital twin”, where these technologies may contribute to reproducing biological functions and studying cellular responses in greater detail, with potential applications in therapy optimisation and disease modelling.

The feature places this research within the wider biomedical research ecosystem of Álava, alongside work on early diagnosis, immunotherapy, genetics, microbiome research, artificial tissue models, ultrasound-based approaches and new therapeutic strategies.

Basabe-Desmonts also stresses the high scientific quality of the research currently being carried out in the region, while pointing to the need for sustained institutional and financial support to maximise its impact and ensure the long-term development of local research talent.

The presence of the Microfluidics Cluster UPV/EHU in this special feature by El Correo highlights the growing role of microfluidics and Lab-on-a-Chip technologies in biomedical research, both for advancing fundamental understanding of disease and for developing new diagnostic tools and therapeutic strategies.

Source: El Correo, Álava edition, Sunday 27 September 2026, feature article “La vanguardia alavesa contra el cáncer”.

Last Wednesday, María successfully defended her Master’s Thesis in Forensic Analysis at the Universidad del País Vasco (UPV/EHU), carried out at the Microfluidics Cluster UPV/EHU.

Her thesis, titled “A Biocompatible PEDOT:PSS Bioelectronic Platform for Label-Free Monitoring of Cell Growth and Drug-Induced Cytotoxicity,” focuses on the development of a two-dimensional bioelectronic platform based on the conductive polymer PEDOT:PSS, modified with collagen type I, for the continuous and label-free monitoring of cell growth and cellular responses to pharmacological treatment.

This excellent work was supervised by Lourdes Basabe, Janire Castaño, and Gema López, whose guidance and support contributed to the successful development of the project.

In recognition of her dedication and the quality of her work, Maria was awarded an outstanding grade of 9.5, reflecting her strong performance and commitment throughout the project.

This milestone marks the end of an important academic chapter and the beginning of an exciting new stage filled with opportunities to continue growing as a researcher.

We wish Maria every success in her future career—congratulations!

The Microfluidics Cluster UPV/EHU participated in the 23rd Congress of the Spanish Society of Histology and Tissue Engineering (SEHIT), held from 2 to 4 September 2026 at the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Málaga. The event also hosted the 11th International Congress of Histology and Tissue Engineering and the 12th Ibero-American Congress of Histology.

Our researcher collaborator Edurne Alonso from de department of Celurar Biology at EHU, represented the group and presented the scientific poster:

“Subtype-Dependent PCSK6 Expression, Localization and Secretion in Testicular Germ Cell Tumours.”

The study, listed as P19 in the conference programme, explores the expression, localisation and secretion of PCSK6 in different subtypes of testicular germ cell tumours. This research contributes to the molecular characterisation of these tumours and to a better understanding of the biological differences among their various subtypes.

The work was authored by Naiara Lartitegui Meneses, Aiane Arranz Sobrado, Jon Luzuriaga González, Uxue Carrillo Aldama, Fernando Benito López, Lourdes Basabe Desmonts and Edurne Alonso Arana, reflecting its collaborative and multidisciplinary nature.

Participation in SEHIT 2026 provided an excellent opportunity to share our latest findings with specialists in histology, tissue engineering, oncology, and cellular and molecular biology, as well as to establish new contacts and explore future scientific collaborations.

The Microfluidics Cluster UPV/EHU congratulates the entire team on this contribution and on continuing to enhance the visibility of the research carried out by our group.

Two Ramón y Cajal Fellowships with Roots in Our Group!

We are delighted to celebrate the success of Nico Nazar and Daniel Patko, two former postdoctoral researchers from the Microfluidics Cluster UPV/EHU, who have been selected this year for the prestigious Ramón y Cajal programme.

This achievement recognises their excellent scientific careers and is a source of great pride for everyone in the group. It is wonderful to see former colleagues continue to grow, take on new challenges and achieve such important milestones.

Congratulations, Nico and Daniel! We wish you every success in this exciting new stage of your research careers. It makes us very happy to have shared part of the journey with you!

The Microfluidics Cluster UPV/EHU has secured a new grant from the Basque Government through its programme for Consolidated Research Groups, under project IT1971-26.

This is the third consecutive time our group has received this support, which will allow us to continue developing our research over the next four years in microfluidics, Lab-on-a-Chip technologies, biosensors, cell analysis and diagnostics.

This is wonderful news for the whole team and a recognition of the shared work, enthusiasm and commitment shown over the years. It will also provide the foundation we need to keep doing research, training young scientists, developing new ideas and building collaborations with other groups, research centres and companies.

Congratulations to everyone who is, or has been, part of the group! We look forward to continuing to work, learn and enjoy science together.

​​​​​​We are delighted to announce that the Microfluidics Cluster UPV/EHU, through Lourdes Basabe-Desmonts, will take part in SYNMAC – CSIC Hub in Engineering Synthetic Biological Matter, a new multidisciplinary initiative supported by the CSIC for the 2026–2028 period.

SYNMAC brings together nearly 200 researchers from 29 CSIC institutes and 28 collaborating organisations around an exciting challenge: understanding how biological systems can be designed and programmed to organise themselves, process information and develop functions similar to those found in living organisms.

This collaboration will allow us to contribute our expertise in microfluidics, cellular systems and Lab-on-a-Chip technologies, while sharing ideas and developing new research together with a large scientific network.

We are delighted to congratulate Naiara Lartitegui on the successful defense of her PhD thesis and officially becoming a Doctor!

Her thesis, entitled “CellStudio: A Versatile Platform for Controlled Cellular Microenvironments and Integrated Analysis of Cellular Secretion and Behaviour”, represents an important contribution to the development of advanced platforms for the study and analysis of cellular processes.

Throughout her PhD journey, Naiara has shown great dedication, commitment, and passion for research, contributing valuable work to the field of microfluidic technologies and cellular analysis.

It has been a pleasure to share this journey with you. We hope this achievement marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter full of opportunities, discoveries, and success.

We wish you all the very best in the next steps of your professional and research career.

Congratulations, Dr. Naiara Lartitegui, and good luck in this new stage!

After completing his short research stay at the Microfluidics Cluster UPV/EHU, we would like to warmly thank Ajitesh Dhal for his time, dedication and contribution to the group. Ajitesh joined us from Taipei Medical University, Taiwan, within the framework of an international collaboration. During his stay, he worked closely with our team and contributed to ongoing research activities in biosensing and microfluidic technologies.

It has been a pleasure to have you in the group. We hope that this experience has been scientifically useful and personally rewarding for you, and that his stay in Vitoria-Gasteiz has helped to strengthen future links between our institutions.

We wish Ajitesh all the very best in the next steps of his PhD and future research career.

Thank you, Ajitesh, and good luck!

The Microfluidics Cluster UPV/EHU celebrated its annual Microfluidics Cluster Day, a special occasion to bring together all members of the group, reflect on our scientific progress and discuss the future direction of the Cluster.

It was an excellent moment to share ideas, review recent achievements and discuss how to further strengthen our work in microfluidics, biosensing, smart materials, organ-on-chip systems, environmental analysis and translational applications.

Beyond the scientific discussions, the day also provided an important opportunity to reinforce the human side of the group. After the meeting, we enjoyed games and an outdoor tree-top adventure activity, followed by a lunch, creating a relaxed environment to strengthen team spirit, collaboration and communication among all members of the Cluster.

These moments are essential for building a strong, creative and supportive research environment. Good science is also built through trust, shared motivation and teamwork.

Thanks to everyone who contributed to making this Microfluidics Cluster UPV/EHU Day such a great experience!

May the Microfluidics be with you!

Prof. Lourdes Basabe-Desmonts, PI of the Microfluidics Cluster UPV/EHU, was invited to deliver a keynote talk at the Second Annual Scientific Meeting of the Organs- and Organoids-on-Chip Research Program, PEPR MED-OoC, held on 1 and 2 June 2026 at the Institut Pasteur de Lille, France.

Her keynote talk, entitled “CellStudio: A Modular 2.3D Biosensing Platform for Spatially Resolved Secretomics and Solid-Phase Stimulation”, presented the development and applications of CellStudio as an intermediate physiological platform for studying cellular behaviour, secretion and response to controlled microenvironmental cues.

The PEPR MED-OoC meeting brought together researchers and innovators working at the forefront of organs- and organoids-on-chip technologies. The event provided an excellent forum to discuss recent advances in microphysiological systems, explore new research directions and foster collaborations between academic, clinical and technological communities.

Lourdes’ participation highlights the strong positioning of the Microfluidics Cluster UPV/EHU in the field of organ-on-chip, cell microenvironment engineering and advanced microfluidic platforms for biomedical research.

Congratulations Lourdes on this outstanding invited contribution!

Sukayna Ezquerro-Berdouzi, member of the Microfluidics Cluster UPV/EHU, participated in the Jornada de los Seminarios Avanzados del Doctorado en Química Sintética e Industrial “Perspectives in Organic Synthesis 2026”, held on 15 May 2026 in Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain.

The event was organised by the Departments of Organic Chemistry I and Organic and Inorganic Chemistry, within the framework of the advanced seminars of the Master’s and Doctoral Programme in Synthetic and Industrial Chemistry. These seminars provide a scientific forum for doctoral researchers to discuss recent advances in chemistry, exchange ideas and present their work in an interdisciplinary academic environment.

During the meeting, Sukayna gave an oral presentation entitled “Microfluidic Fiber-Optic LSPR Sensor for VEGF Detection in Mesenchymal Stem Cell Culture”, developed by S. Ezquerro-Berdouzi, F. N. Nazar, R. Catalán-Carrió, L. Hernández Cedillo, P. E. Guevara-Pantoja, J. Villatoro, F. Benito-Lopez, C. Alonso and L. Basabe-Desmonts.

Her presentation focused on the development of a microfluidic fiber-optic LSPR sensing platform for the detection of VEGF in mesenchymal stem cell culture. This work reflects the Cluster’s ongoing research at the interface of microfluidics, optical biosensing, nanomaterials and cell-based analytical systems.

Sukayna’s participation in this doctoral seminar provided an excellent opportunity to share the latest results of the group with the local chemistry community and to strengthen scientific exchange within the UPV/EHU.

Congratulations Sukayna on this excellent oral contribution!

Prof. Lourdes Basabe-Desmonts, PI of the Microfluidics Cluster UPV/EHU, participated as keynote speaker at Future of Microfluidics: SMILS 2026, organised by the Swedish Microfluidics Network and held on 11 and 12 June 2026 at Uppsala University, Sweden.

Lourdes delivered the keynote talk entitled “2.3D Intermediate Physiological Systems: High-Resolution Functional Cell Monitoring”. Her presentation focused on the development of advanced microfluidic and bioengineering platforms for monitoring cell function with high spatial and functional resolution.

SMILS 2026 gathered leading researchers and innovators in microfluidics to discuss recent advances in areas such as microfabrication, rapid prototyping, integrated sensors, drug testing, point-of-care devices and microphysiological systems. The meeting provided an excellent environment for scientific exchange and for strengthening links with the Swedish and international microfluidics community.

This invited contribution further reinforces the international visibility of the Microfluidics Cluster UPV/EHU and its research at the interface of microfluidics, biosensing and cell-based systems.

Congratulations Lourdes on this excellent keynote presentation!

Sukayna and Gemma were selected for the oral presentation at the XII international congress on analytical nanoscience and nanotechnology, which took place in Oviedo, Spain, from the 2nd to the 5th of June of 2026.

Sukayna presented her work entitled: MICROFLUIDIC FIBER-OPTIC LSPR BIOSENSOR BASED ON GOLD NANOPARTICLES FOR VEGF DETECTION IN MESENCHYMAL STEM CELL CULTURE, by Sukayna Ezquerro-Berdouzi, Franco N. Nazar, Raquel Catalan-Carrio, Lucero Hernandez-Cedillo, Pablo E. Pantoja-Guevara, Asier Inchaurraga-Llamas, Joel Villatoro, Fernando Benito-Lopez, Concepcion Alonso and Lourdes Basabe-Desmonts.

Gemma presented her work entitled: DEVELOPMENT OF AN IONOGEL-BASED PAPER SENSOR FOR NAKED-EYE DETECTION OF KETAMINE, by Gemma Trapero-Martinez, Isabel Poves-Ruiz, Enrique Azuaje-Hualde, Fernando Benito-Lopez and Lourdes Basabe-Desmonts .

Also, congratulations to Sukayna for winning the travel grant!!

Congratulations on these great contributions!!