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!!

On 25 May, Diario de Noticias de Álava published a special feature on our group, highlighting the development of CellStudio, a technology designed to interact and “dialogue” with cells in real time.

Led by Lourdes Basabe, this platform opens new possibilities in cancer research and regenerative medicine by enabling researchers to dynamically observe how cells respond to specific stimuli.

Read the full article here: “This new technology can be applied to cancer research”

Last week, the CBMS Board of Directors met in Yeosu, South Korea, alongside participation in the BioChip Conference organized by the Korean BioChip Society (KBCS). The visit combined strategic discussions within CBMS with a high-level scientific program hosted by the Korean microfluidics community.

The CBMS Board Meeting brought together directors from the international microsystems community to discuss ongoing activities and future priorities of the society. The following days at the KBCS BioChip Conference provided an excellent platform for scientific exchange in microfluidics, lab-on-a-chip technologies, biosensing, and bio-integrated systems, highlighting the strong synergy between both communities.

Prof. Lourdes Basabe, PI of the Microfluidic Cluster UPV/EHU and CBMS Board Member, actively participated in the board discussions and delivered an invited talk at the BioChip Conference, contributing to the scientific exchange and reinforcing the group’s engagement within the international microfluidics community.

The CBMS community expresses its sincere gratitude to the Korean BioChip Society, and especially to Prof. Yoon-Kyoung Cho, for her leadership and vision in fostering this collaboration. Special thanks are also extended to Prof. Je-Kyun Park, Prof. Yoo-Key Nam, and all organizers and participants for their exceptional hospitality and for making the visit a highly successful and memorable experience.

This joint activity further reinforces the growing collaboration between CBMS and KBCS and the strong complementarity between the BioChip Conference and the global MicroTAS community. We warmly invite the international biochips and microfluidics community, as well as industrial partners and sponsors, to join us at MicroTAS 2026 in Granada, Spain.

Juncal and Gema attended the second session of Pint of Science 2026 to support our colleagues from the EHU, Lidia Maeso and Edurne Alonso. During the event, Lidia introduced us to the fascinating world of bioprinting, while Edurne highlighted the importance of the role of women in the field of histology.

Initiatives like these are essential for bringing science closer to society in an accessible and engaging way, helping to promote scientific outreach and public interest in research. We hope that Pint of Science will continue to thrive in future editions and keep creating spaces where science and society can come together

We are delighted to celebrate a major milestone in our group: Naiara Lartitegui Meneses has officially completed the writing of her doctoral thesis, “CellStudio: A versatile platform for controlled cellular microenvironments and integrated analysis of cellular secretion and behaviour.”

Her work, carried out at the University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), represents years of dedication, innovation, and scientific effort in the field of cellular microenvironments and microfluidic technologies. Throughout her PhD, Naiara has made outstanding contributions to the development of advanced platforms for studying cellular behaviour and secretion in controlled conditions.

This achievement marks an important step toward the completion of her PhD journey, and we are incredibly proud of her accomplishment. Congratulations, Naiara, on this exciting milestone — we look forward to the next chapter and to celebrating your thesis defense soon!

We are pleased to welcome Ajitesh Dhal, PhD student in the International PhD Program in Biomedical Engineering at Taipei Medical University, Taiwan, who has recently joined our group for a short research stay from 12 April to 17 June.

His visit takes place within the framework of an international collaboration with Taipei Medical University. During his stay at the Microfluidics Cluster UPV/EHU, Ajitesh will further develop his research skills in biosensing and microfluidic technologies, contributing to the group’s activities in point-of-care diagnostics, label-free biosensors, and microfluidic systems.

Ajitesh’s research focuses on biosensors, microfluidics, extracellular vesicles, surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy, and non-invasive diagnostic technologies, with a particular interest in translating laboratory developments into practical healthcare applications.

Welcome to the team!

Isabel has started a four-month research stay at the Queen’s University Belfast in North Ireland. From April to July, she Will be working at Dr. Marr’s research group. During this period, she will focus on learning the synthesis and characterization of natural gel systems for the development of metal-doped gels with sensing capabilities.

She will gain experience in the preparation of different gel matrices and ionic liquids, with the aim of developing a gel with the cobalt complex from her doctoral research successfully integrated, enabling optimal conditions for the sensitive and reliable detection of substances related to drug-facilitated crimes.

This stay represents an excellent opportunity to expand her knowledge and gain experience in this field.

We are delighted to share that Prof. Lourdes Basabe-Desmonts attended the II Scientific Symposium of the NyNA Consortium, held on 20–21 April 2026 at the Residencia Universitaria de Jaca. The meeting was organised within the framework of the Thematic Network on Analytical Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (NyNA) and provided an excellent setting to continue building connections in this field.

For the Microfluidics Cluster UPV/EHU, this was a very valuable opportunity to keep working together with colleagues in the area and to further position our research at the interface of microfluidics, analytical nanoscience and nanotechnology. We warmly congratulate Lourdes on representing the group in this important forum and on helping to reinforce the visibility of the Microfluidics Cluster UPV/EHU in such a strategic scientific area.

We are very pleased to share that the work of the Microfluidics Cluster UPV/EHU on CellStudio has been featured in Campusa, the University of the Basque Country’s news platform. The article highlights a technology developed by the team to “dialogue” with cells and understand their behaviour by creating a controlled environment in which cellular responses can be measured in real time. Congratulations to Lourdes Basabe-Desmonts, Enrique Azuaje-Hualde and Naiara Lartitegui-Meneses on this well-deserved visibility for their research.

As reported by Campusa on 20 April 2026, CellStudio opens promising new possibilities for studying cell communication with high precision, with potential applications in biomedicine. The news piece underlines both the scientific value of the work and its translational potential, including compatibility with standard biology laboratory techniques and the broader перспективes of the platform for future biomedical research. We warmly congratulate the authors and the whole team on this media recognition.

Cover Feature in ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces

Our recent work has been featured on the cover of Volume 18, Issue 4 (2026) of ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces.

The article, “Analyzing the Relationship between Solid-Phase Molecular Presentation and Cell Proliferation, Morphology and Secretion Using CellStudio”, developed within our group (including Enrique Azuaje-Hualde), introduces CellStudio, a platform to investigate how the spatial presentation of biomolecular cues on surfaces regulates cell behavior.

The cover artwork visually captures a precisely engineered cellular microenvironment, where solid-phase signals guide cell proliferation, morphology, and secretion—illustrating the core concept of the study.

This recognition highlights the group’s strength at the interface of functional biomaterials, microengineering, and cell-based systems.

👏 Congratulations to the whole team!

Lourdes Basabe-Desmonts, member of the Microfluidics Cluster at the University of the Basque Country (EHU), recently attended an information session on the Innovation Lighthouses (Faros de Innovación) programme launched by the Basque Government.

The session provided an overview of this new strategic initiative, which aims to promote high-impact scientific and technological projects aligned with the main innovation priorities of Euskadi. The programme, running from 2026 to 2030, will support research, infrastructures and innovation strategies through dedicated funding instruments.

The Innovation Lighthouses are part of the Basque Country’s broader science and innovation strategy and are designed to generate cutting-edge knowledge with a clear societal impact, addressing key transitions such as digital, energy, and health challenges.

Participation in this session reflects the Microfluidics Cluster’s active engagement with emerging funding opportunities and strategic initiatives that can foster collaborative research and innovation in microfluidics and related fields.

Today, March 26th, 2026, Joseba Totoricaguena Gorriño, a member of our microfluidics group, successfully defended his PhD thesis at the Faculty of Science and Technology of the UPV/EHU.

His thesis, entitled “Advancing Screen-Printed Electrochemiluminescent Point-of-Care Devices through Laser Activation, Wireless Rectenna Powering, and Chlorine Enhanced L-012 Signal Amplification”, focuses on the development of fast, accessible, and low-cost point-of-care (PoC) diagnostic devices, aligned with the WHO REASSURED criteria.

Joseba carried out his doctoral research at BCMaterials under the supervision of Dr. Fernando Benito and Ikerbasque Professor Javier del Campo.

We are proud of Joseba’s achievement and the work he has accomplished throughout his PhD journey. It has been a pleasure to have him as part of the group, and we are excited to see what comes next for him!

CONGRATULATIONS, JOSEBA! 🎉