Paula Videira, leader of the Glycoimmunology Research lab at UCIBIO - NOVA FCT is a key partner in a national consortium selected for competitive funding under the COMPETE 2030 program to establish the first Portuguese platform for the development and production of CAR T cell therapies for cancer treatment. The project, entitled “CAR T-Matters – Transforming the Landscape of CAR T Cell Therapy in Portugal,” is coordinated by the biotechnology company Stemmatters, in collaboration with the Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto (IPO Porto) and researchers from UCIBIO - NOVA FCT and LAQV-NOVA FCT.
The initiative aims to address critical gaps in Portugal's ability to independently develop and manufacture CAR T therapies, an innovative and personalized form of cancer immunotherapy that has shown remarkable success, particularly in treating hematological malignancies.
Paula Videira’s Lab will lead the scientific research component of the project, applying UCIBIO’s expertise in glycobiology and immunology to improve the therapeutic potential of CAR T cells. The research team includes also the researcher Florbela Pereira, an expert in cheminformatics from LAQV, another research unit at NOVA FCT, the researcher Zélia Silva and the PhD student Patrícia Sobral, reinforcing the multidisciplinary collaboration essential to the success of this initiative.
The team will use advanced computational and experimental tools to identify molecules capable of enhancing the anti-tumor efficacy and specificity of CAR T cells, thereby contributing to the development of safer and more effective therapeutic strategies.
“We will screen thousands of molecules using machine learning algorithms to discover those most capable of boosting the anti-tumor function of CAR T cells,” explains Paula Videira, leader of the study at UCIBIO-NOVA FCT. “Our approach allows the modeling of innovative therapeutic targets that go beyond conventional strategies, contributing to the evolution of precision immunotherapy.”
CAR T-Matters represents a pivotal step in reducing Portugal's dependence on foreign production centers for advanced therapies. Currently, Portuguese patients eligible for CAR T treatment must have their immune cells shipped abroad for processing, a costly and time-intensive process. By creating national capacity in this field, the project aims to streamline access, reduce costs, and foster biomedical innovation within Portugal.
On the industrial front, Stemmatters will develop and implement production and quality control systems for CAR T therapies in accordance with European regulatory standards. IPO Porto, a pioneer in the clinical application of CAR T therapies in Portugal, will coordinate clinical protocols and support integration into hospital systems.
“This project offers a unique opportunity to integrate scientific discovery with clinical and industrial capacity-building, accelerating the development of next-generation immunotherapies in Portugal,” adds Paula Videira.
CAR T-Matters began in February 2025 and will run for three years. It is co-financed by the COMPETE 2030 initiative through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). The consortium combines scientific excellence, clinical leadership, and industrial capacity to establish a sustainable national infrastructure for CAR T cell therapy research, development, and application.
UCIBIO’s participation in CAR T-Matters highlights its ongoing commitment to translational research and the development of advanced biomedical solutions with direct societal impact.
In the news:
"Consórcio português quer produzir terapias inovadoras com células CAR-T", In Observador Online| 06-06-2025
"Consórcio português quer produzir terapias inovadoras com células CAR-T para responder ao cancro", In Correio da Manhã Online| 06-06-2025
"Consórcio português quer produzir terapias inovadoras com células CAR-T", In HealthNews Online| 06-06-2025
"Consórcio português quer produzir terapias inovadoras com células CAR-T", In Netfarma Online| 06-06-2025
"IPO do Porto integra consórcio português que quer produzir terapias inovadoras com células CAR-T", In Porto Canal Online| 06-06-2025
"Consórcio português quer produzir terapias inovadoras com células CAR-T", In S+ Online| 06-06-2025