This thematic line encompasses activities aligned with three main areas – Health, Biosciences and Biotechnology, as well as with their wide range of intersections. These activities are oriented towards Goals 2 (Zero Hanger), 3 (Good Health and Well-Being) and 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and make use of some of the new paradigms in Chemical Engineering, such as Nanotechnologies, Green Chemistry & Engineering, Sustainable Products and Processes, Zero-Pollution, Multi-scale Molecular Simulation and Data Science. Additionally, it incorporates the new challenges of Biotechnology in the development of new bioprocesses, bioproducts, and biotech-based solutions. TL4 includes multidisciplinary approaches focused on innovation, sustainability and creativity focused on the transition to a circular bioeconomy. The current R&D activities in Health-, Pharmacy-, Biomedicine-, and Biotechnology-related areas, including Well-Being and Nutrition, are supported by skilled researchers in these domains.
These researchers established R&D collaborations and industrial partnerships within the current highly dynamic local, regional, and international academic & industrial frameworks. The key topics addressed in the projects include green and blue biorefineries for the production of chemical compounds and bio-derived products using microorganisms, plant cells, and animal cells. It also involves the production of biopharmaceuticals (e.g., proteins, vaccines) and other products of pharmaceutical and cosmeceutical interest (e.g., natural pigments, PUFAs, MUFAs, structured lipids). Furthermore, the research also focuses on identifying new sources of proteins and other food ingredients, developing functional formulations, and creating biopesticides and biofertilizers using biotechnological approaches. Notably, the establishment of Biotechnology companies has emerged as a significant highlight within the Centre, particularly with the recent creation of two start-ups (INEYE and TimeUp), which have witnessed substantial growth.
In the near future, this thematic line is expected to be further reinforced by attracting researchers specialized in key strategic subjects, such as blue and pharmaceutical biotechnology. The aim is to extend the research goal towards the "one-health" concept, encompassing all domains that contribute to overall health and well-being.