Filipa Lebre: Exploring the Frontier of Nanosafety

Filipa Lebre is a Research Fellow in the Nanosafety Research Group at INL, and her research focuses on the complex interactions among the immunological system and different organs, using novel technologies and in-house developed systems.

Filipa has a background in Pharmaceutical Sciences and holds a PhD in Pharmaceutical Technology from the Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Coimbra, focused on the development and optimization of a polymeric nasal vaccine against hepatitis B to be used for mass immunization. She moved to Ireland during her postdoc to conduct her research at the interface between biomaterial and immunology, studying key aspects of immunomodulation by a relevant spectrum of materials with applicability in the regenerative medicine field.

Could you share with us your professional trajectory and what inspired you to embark on a career in nanosafety?

I’m very curious by nature and always had this passion and interest in science. When I did my degree in Pharmaceutical Science, I was fortunate enough to find a teacher who was working in the vaccine field and made me realize how I could use my passion to impact millions of lives. That was when I started to work with nanoformulations. I obtained my PhD in formulation development, designing vaccines that could be better suited for mass immunization in developing countries. That made me realize the potential that nanomaterials have to impact society, triggering my curiosity and my concern about the effects that engineered materials might have on human health and the environment. Consequently, I spent my postdoc trying to understand more about the immunomodulatory and inflammatory responses generated by biomaterials and their safety profile, which led me to join the Nanosafety group to deepen my knowledge in the field.

Collaboration is crucial in research. Can you discuss your experience working in multidisciplinary teams to address nanosafety challenges?

Multidisciplinary research more often leads to unconventional and creative solutions for fundamental problems. During my academic years, I have worked in distinct fields including formulation development, nanotechnology, immunology, and tissue engineering to develop expertise in more than one area. This has allowed me to build valuable collaborations and constantly learn new things, which excites me.

At the Nanosafety group, we are a very dynamic and diverse team, and for me, that is a great advantage. We combine our expertise in different fields, to engineer something new and improved. For instance, I´m working with the other team members to include immune cells in the novel systems they are developing, so we can have a system that better mimics what happens in our body, and ultimately replace animal testing. In that way, we will have a much more realistic approach to studying the impact of different materials on our health.

What inspires you to pursue a career in research? What guidance would you offer to young women considering a path in science?

My inspiration stems from my curiosity about the world and the impact it can have on society. Science is always evolving and our history is full of revolutionary advances. For instance, vaccination transformed public health, eradicating deadly diseases, and preventing disabilities, while improving quality of life. I want to contribute to scientific progress.  My advice to young women considering a path in science is to embrace your natural curiosity, be confident in your abilities, seek opportunities, and most importantly, never give up.

A career in science can be demanding, but also really rewarding, so persistence is key. Ask questions, seek answers, and never be afraid to fail. I always try to provide guidance and encouragement to young researchers, teach them to accept positive criticism, and give them tools to cope with negative aspects, so their mental health won´t suffer. If you are motivated enough, you will get through more obstacles

Text and Photography by Gina Palha, Corporate Communication and Marketing Officer