25 years of Science and Innovation
LEPABE is a research unit operating in the fields of Chemical, Environmental and Biological Engineering at the Faculty of Engineering of Porto (FEUP). With a large majority of young researchers, LEPABE is focused on generating scientific knowledge through interdisciplinary research, and on establishing successful university–industry collaborations for effective technology transfer. [...]
LEPABE research featured on 90 Seconds of Science
Posted on July 15th 2026
Dr. Artur Pinto, Senior Researcher from the Process, Products and Energy group of LEPABE, was featured on 90 Seconds of Science, a science communication programme broadcast by Antena 1 that showcases the work of Portuguese researchers and their latest scientific advances.
In this episode, Artur Pinto presents the development of an innovative nanomaterial combined with an LED-based system designed for the selective treatment of several types of cancer. The technology aims to improve treatment precision by targeting cancer cells while minimizing damage to healthy tissue.
You can listen to the full podcast here.
LEPABE/FEUP organizes seminar on “7 years of Legionella legislation in Portugal”
Posted on July 10th, 2026
On 16th June 2026, the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Porto (FEUP) hosted the seminar "7 Years of Legionella Legislation: Lessons Learned, Challenges and Future Perspectives", bringing together experts from a wide range of sectors to promote a multidisciplinary discussion on the prevention and control of Legionella in Portugal.
Throughout the day, representatives from public health authorities, regulatory bodies, inspection agencies, laboratories, industry, the hospitality sector, consultancy and academia shared their knowledge and experiences, discussing the main challenges associated with the implementation of the current legislation and identifying priorities to address emerging Legionella-related risks.
The seminar was organised within the framework of the LegioFilms Project, coordinated by Prof. Ana Alexandra Pereira, from the LEPABE Biotechnology Research Group. The event highlighted the importance of collaboration between the scientific community, regulatory authorities and stakeholders across different sectors, reinforcing the role of science in driving innovation and developing effective solutions to protect public health.
Know more here.
LEPABE research published in prestigious scientific journal
Posted on July 7th, 2026
The article "The future of sustainable lithium-ion batteries: Ecodesign recommendations for solid-state technologies" has been published in Energy Storage Materials (Vol. 90), a leading Elsevier journal with an Impact Factor of 19.3 (JCR 2025).
The publication is the result of the PhD research carried out by Joana Gouveia under the supervision of Prof. Belmira Neto, from LEPABE's Environmental Sciences and Technologies research group. The study proposes a comprehensive ecodesign framework for solid-state lithium-ion batteries by integrating insights from scientific literature, regulatory requirements, and interviews with battery experts. This triangulated approach enabled the development of validated ecodesign recommendations aimed at supporting the sustainable development of next-generation battery technologies.
Energy Storage Materials is an international multidisciplinary journal dedicated to publishing high-quality research on materials and devices for advanced energy storage and energy conversion.
Access here to the published paper.
Adélio Mendes receives the Galp – Academy of Engineering Career Award
Posted on July 2nd, 2026
Adélio Mendes, Professor and researcher in the Processes, Products and Energy group at LEPABE, has been honoured with the second edition of the Galp – Academy of Engineering Career Award, a distinction that recognises outstanding individuals for their excellence in the field of Engineering in Portugal.
The jury unanimously selected Adélio Mendes for the award, highlighting his remarkable contributions to applied research, industrial innovation, and patent development. With an internationally recognised career, Professor Mendes has conducted pioneering research in the fields of energy, the environment, and chemical engineering, successfully bridging scientific excellence with practical industrial applications. He is the author of around 500 scientific publications and the inventor behind more than 35 patent families. He also leads a research team of more than 50 researchers, from which 11 technology-based startups have emerged.
The Galp – Academy of Engineering Career Award, reinforces the commitment of both institutions to promoting talent and research as key drivers of innovation and the energy transition in Portugal.
Congratulations!
Know more about this here.
PhD Thesis by Ana Rita Marques on low-cost hydrogen production by PEM electrolysis
July 3rd, 2026
LEPABE would like to congratulate Dr. Ana Rita Marques for her PhD thesis of the Doctoral Program in Chemical and Biological Engineering, entitled “112GreenH2 - Low-cost hydrogen production by PEM electrolysis: innovative electrode designs with ultra-low noble metal loadings”, supervised by Adélio Mendes, defended on July 3rd, 2026 FEUP.
PhD Thesis by Filipa Silva on cancer photothermal therapy and immunotherapy
June 16th, 2026
LEPABE would like to congratulate Dr. Filipa Silva for her PhD thesis of the Doctoral Program in Biomedical Engineering, entitled “Two-Dimensional Nanoscale Materials for Cancer Photothermal Therapy and Immunotherapy”, supervised by Artur Pinto defended on June 16th, 2026 FEUP.
PhD Thesis by Miguel Leitão on biofilm infections treatment
June 9th, 2026
LEPABE would like to congratulate Dr. Miguel Leitão for his PhD thesis of the Doctoral Program in Chemical and Biological Engineering, entitled “Development of innovative multi-target directed agents for biofilm infections treatment”, supervised by Anabela Borges, defended on June 9th, 2026 FEUP.
PhD Thesis by Tiago Taborda on optimization and modeling of photobioreactors
May 29th, 2026
LEPABE would like to congratulate Dr. Tiago Taborda for his PhD thesis of the Doctoral Program in Refining, Petrochemical and Chemical Engineering, entitled “Static Optimization and Dynamic Modeling of Closed Photobioreactors”, co-supervised by José Carlos Pires, defended on May 29th, 2026 IST-UL.
- LEPABE meeting 2023
- LEPABE was granted new Ph.D scholarships in the FCT 2025 call
- LEPABE was granted new exploratory projects in FCT 2024 call
- PhD Student awarded EES Solar best oral presentation
- LEPABE Researchers Win iUP25k 2026 with Innovative Solution to Decarbonize Industry
- PhD Student Receives Honorable Mention at U.Porto 3MT® 2026 Competition
- Bárbara Nunes receives the Paul Ehrlich MedChem Euro-PhD Network Award of Excellence
- LEPABE Researcher Selected in IACOBUS Program - Scientific Papers 2025/2026
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