Paula Alves distinguished with 2024 Cell Therapies Award

We are proud to announce that Paula Alves, iBET’s CEO and Professor at NOVA University of Lisbon (ITQB NOVA and FCT NOVA), has been distinguished with the 2024 Cell Therapies Award.

This prestigious award recognizes outstanding contributions to the advancement and commercialization of cell-based therapies and is given biannually at the ECI Advancing Manufacture of Cell and Gene Therapy Conference.

According to the award announcement, the key contributions of Paula’s work to the field include:

• Establishing 3D culture systems for expansion and differentiation of stem cells in bioreactors, with applications in cell therapy, drug development and pre-clinical research.
• Improved understanding of the complex interplay between cell metabolism and stem cell differentiation and maturation.
• Determining key factors in the “Cell Density Effect” for improved viral vector yields through manipulation of host cells energy metabolism.
• Developing bioanalytical tools for bioprocess understanding and cell- and viral- based products characterization.

Paula Alves now joins a distinguished group of past recipients, including Bob Nerem, Kim Warren, Peter Zandstra, and Greg Russotti.
The Award Lecture entitled “R&D Supporting Translation of Cell Based Biotherapeutics” will be given by Paula at the Advancing Manufacture of Cell & Gene Therapy Conference VIII, on February 7tt in Coronado, USA.

On behalf of the entire iBET community, congratulations to our CEO Paula Alves for this remarkable achievement!