- Attached to CICA (Interdisciplinary Center for Chemisty and Biology), Daniel Nieto is an Oportunis researcher and has a Consolidator Grant awarded by the European Council
- This alliance with the North-West University of South Africa will serve to transfer knowledge and resources between both laboritories, promoting innovation in biomanufactoring and focusing on areas such as tissue engineering, 3D bioprinting and regenerative medicine.
A Coruña, May 14, 2025 – The Oportunius researcher and coordinator of the Advanced Biofab group of CICA of the University of Coruña, Daniel Nieto, has just inaugurated the DNietolab-NWU
Biofabrication Research Unit at the North-West University of South Africa, within the Center of Excellence for Pharmaceutical Sciences.
This unit, which is currently made up of six students and two principal researchers, Lissinda Du Plessis and Chrisna Gouws – both renowned experts in pharmaceutical and biomedical research -, will serve as
a satellite laboratory for the group created in Coruña, becoming a reference in the study of biomedical technologies in an African country.
This collaboration, which is motivated by the interest of promoting the transfer of knowledge between the two research groups, will allow strengthening synergies between both units to promote the exchange of students and the transfer of technology and resources.
Within the agreement signed between the parties and which will have a minimum duration of five years, a series of conditions are established to develop this work network, among which stands out the mobility
of cement; Therefore, the CICA research group will receive three master's and doctoral students each year to carry out a stay at UDC, as well as to carry out joint publications.
Daniel Nieto emphasizes the importance of complementing each other, since “while the North-West University specializes in the field of basic science, in the Advanced Biofab group of CICA, we dedicate ourselves
to applied science.” A combination that aims to ensure that students working in both countries can be present throughout the entire process.
In the next few weeks, Biomedical Education graduate, Kara van Zyl, will join the Advanced Biofab group as a pre-doctoral student. This incorporation into the group led by Daniel Nieto will serve as a link between
both laboratories, with the objective of strengthening the network and complementing the work that will be carried out in Coruña.
The transfer of technology also establishes the conditions for the functioning of this collaboration, to carry out research that can be applied outside of CICA. One of the 3D bioprinters from the Advanced Biofab
group has been found in the satellite laboratory.
Furthermore, they are also studying holding an annual workshop to bring together the two teams. It will first take place in Coruña around the month of February.
About CICA
The Interdisciplinary Center for Chemistry and Biology (CICA) was created in 2015 as a research center for advanced sciences that has more than 200 researchers belonging to three scientific areas: Biomedicine;
Food, Pollution and Health; e Nanoscience e Advanced Materials.
Since 2024, CICA has had CIGUS recognition from the Xunta de Galicia, which accredits the quality and impact of its research.
Research excellence, technological transfer and transmission of knowledge to society form the three pillars on which the research center is based. It is recognized for the attraction of talent, the visibility of scientific
research and the promotion of gender equality, with female presence greater than 50%.
Posted by:
UDC Communications Office