Técnico Lisboa students present master’s thesis at John Hopkins University
The HOPTEC Program, a collaborative initiative between Técnico Lisboa and Johns Hopkins University, is empowering students to engage in cutting-edge research. Launched in 2023 with the support of FLAD (Luso-American Development Foundation), HOPTEC aims to strengthen ties between Portugal and the USA by offering students the chance to work on advanced projects in science and engineering.
Two students from Técnico Lisboa, Inês Reis and Alfredo Inostroza, recently completed their master’s thesis research as part of the HOPTEC initiative. Inês focused on Alzheimer’s disease, using advanced mapping techniques to study the connection between the brain and the eye in mice, which could help improve understanding of dementia. Alfredo worked on ovarian cancer research, creating a 3D map of cancer precursors in the fallopian tube, offering new insights into how these precursors form in women without the disease.
Over the past six months, both students conducted their research in Dr. Denis Wirtz’s lab at Hopkins, where they gained hands-on experience with innovative laboratory techniques. They presented their findings at a joint meeting of three research labs at Hopkins and will defend their thesis by the end of October 2024.
In line with the goal of strengthening collaboration between the two institutions, the HOPTEC project will host an annual in-person event – the HOPTEC Annual Symposium – alternating between Técnico Lisboa and Johns Hopkins. The first symposium is set to take place at Técnico on December 18th. Stay tuned to our Linkedin and Instagram for more information on this initiative. Don’t miss the chance to connect with experts in the field of Bioengineering and explore many other exciting opportunities.