We are delighted to congratulate Enrique Azuaje-Hualde on his excellent oral presentation at MicroTAS 2026, held in Granada, Spain, from 18 to 22 October!

Enrique presented his work entitled:

“Two-Photon Direct Laser Writing of Functional Microstructures on Cellulose Paper”

This research, carried out during his postdoctoral work at Trinity College Dublin (TCD), in collaboration with Y. Tskhe, T. Faraone, C. Delaney, and L. Florea, explores the use of advanced two-photon laser writing techniques to fabricate functional microstructures directly on cellulose paper, opening exciting possibilities for microfabrication and paper-based technologies.

Although this work was developed independently of our Microfluidics Cluster UPV/EHU, we are particularly happy to see Enrique sharing his research and expertise with the international microfluidics community.

Congratulations, Enrique! It is wonderful to see your scientific career continuing to grow through new experiences, collaborations, and exciting research challenges.

Well done, and keep up the fantastic work!

What an incredible week at MicroTAS 2026 in Granada, Spain!

We are extremely proud of the fantastic participation of our Microfluidics Cluster UPV/EHU, with nine poster presentations and two additional collaborative contributions, showcasing our latest advances in microfluidics, lab-on-a-chip technologies, smart materials, biosensing, and cellular analysis.

A special mention goes to our collaborations with Pablo Pérez-Merino and colleagues from CSIC, focusing on microfluidic technologies for intraocular pressure modulation, and Aurora Hernándes and colleagues from the University of Barcelona, exploring innovative degas-driven microfluidic pumping systems.

These contributions highlight not only the diversity and quality of our research but also the importance of teamwork and scientific collaborations.

A huge congratulations to all our researchers, students, and collaborators! Your enthusiasm, dedication, and excellent work made MicroTAS 2026 a truly memorable experience.

We couldn't be prouder of this amazing team!

Well done, everyone! Keep up the fantastic work!

Congratulations to Isabel Poves-Ruiz for her excellent oral presentation at MicroTAS 2026, held in Granada, Spain, from 18 to 22 October!

Isabel presented the work entitled:

“Autonomous Dual-Readout μPAD for Simultaneous Detection of Ketamine and Benzodiazepines in Beverages”

This research, carried out in collaboration with Enrique Azuaje-Hualde, Irene Corchado-González, Lourdes Basabe-Desmonts, and Fernando Benito-Lopez, introduces an innovative paper-based microfluidic platform for the simultaneous detection of substances associated with drug-facilitated crimes.

The work represents another important step towards the development of simple, portable, and accessible analytical tools with real-world applications.

Well done, Isabel! We are very proud of your achievements and the fantastic way you represented our Microfluidics Cluster UPV/EHU at this international conference.

Congratulations to Isabel and the entire team behind this great work! 👏🔬

Our collaborators recently delivered two oral presentations at leading international conferences in the field of nanomedicine and biomaterials.

•At the 35th Annual Conference of the European Society for Biomaterials (ESB 2026), held in Antwerp, Belgium (7-11 September 2026), they presented “Fucoidan-functionalized Multilayer Nanoparticles for Targeting Activated Endothelial Cells”. The work investigated fucoidan-coated multilayer nanoparticles as a strategy to selectively target activated endothelial cells, employing a range of advanced in vitro approaches, including our SCADA-on-Chip microfluidic platform.

•A second oral presentation was delivered at the 9th Spanish Conference on Biomedical Applications of Nanomaterials (SBAN 2026) in Madrid, Spain (17-18 September 2026). Entitled “Fucoidan-engineered multilayer nanoparticles selectively target activated endothelial cells in microfluidic in vitro blood-brain barrier models”, the study explored nanoparticle targeting and transport across endothelial barriers, with SCADA-on-Chip contributing to the evaluation of nanoparticle performance under physiologically relevant flow conditions.

These presentations highlight ongoing collaborative efforts to advance targeted nanomedicine for vascular and blood-brain barrier applications.

The 30th International Conference on Miniaturized Systems for Chemistry and Life Sciences (MicroTAS 2026) brought together the international microfluidics community in Granada, Spain, from 18 to 22 October 2026.

Granada hosted the 30th edition of MicroTAS, one of the leading international conferences in the fields of microfluidics, lab-on-a-chip technologies and miniaturized systems for chemistry and life sciences. This landmark edition marked the first time the conference had been held in Spain, bringing together more than 1,400 participants from 47 countries and regions.

The event took place at the Granada Conference and Exhibition Centre and featured an extensive scientific programme, alongside an exhibition with 67 companies showcasing the latest technologies, products and innovations in the field.

The Microfluidics Cluster UPV/EHU leads the organisation

A particularly significant aspect of this edition was the involvement of the Microfluidics Cluster UPV/EHU in bringing MicroTAS to Spain. Lourdes Basabe-Desmonts and Fernando Benito-López, researchers at the cluster, served as Conference Co-Chairs, leading the organisation of this international event.

After four years of preparation, hosting MicroTAS 2026 represented an important milestone for the group and a valuable opportunity to showcase the research ecosystem and scientific community working in microfluidics in Spain.

A meeting point for the international microfluidics community

Over five days, MicroTAS 2026 provided a platform for researchers, academics, industry representatives and technology developers to exchange ideas, present advances and establish new collaborations.

The conference covered a broad range of topics, including microfluidics, lab-on-a-chip systems, biosensors, analytical technologies, biomedical applications and emerging miniaturized platforms.

Beyond its scientific programme, the event offered valuable opportunities for networking, knowledge exchange and strengthening connections between academia and industry.

A successful edition and a lasting legacy

The successful organisation of MicroTAS 2026 in Granada marks an important moment for the international microfluidics community and reflects the collective effort of everyone involved in making this edition possible.

The Microfluidics Cluster UPV/EHU would like to thank all participants, speakers, sponsors, exhibitors, organising committee members and volunteers who contributed to making this 30th edition such a memorable event.

Thank you, Granada, for hosting the MicroTAS community. See you in Pasadena!

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!