- The Alicante institute already participates in three of the four scientific-technological hubs of the Carlos III Health Institute network
- This integration reinforces the institute’s role in emerging areas such as biofabrication, organoids, and advanced bioprinting
Alicante (27/05/26).- The Alicante Institute for Health and Biomedical Research (ISABIAL) has strengthened its participation in one of Spain’s main biomedical research networks, the ISCIII Biobanks and Biomodels Platform of the Carlos III Health Institute, after incorporating several of its scientific units into the Biobanks and Biomodels Platform.
With this incorporation, ISABIAL becomes present in three of the four major scientific-technological areas of this national network, specializing in biobanks, organoids, animal models, and 3D printing and biofabrication.
The platform brings together resources, technologies, and specialized centers to advance the development of new therapies, medicines, and innovative medical technologies applied to health research.
The scientific deputy director of ISABIAL and director of the Biobank and Biomodels platform, Cristina Alenda, highlighted that “being part of three of the four major areas of this national network places ISABIAL as a reference center in biomedical research in Spain and strengthens our capacity to collaborate with other groups, promote new projects, and continue advancing in excellence research.”
One of the incorporated units is the Joint Research Unit in Biomedical Design and Manufacturing (BioFab), led by Javier Esclapés, which focuses on the field of 3D printing and biofabrication. This unit, shared between the University of Alicante and ISABIAL, works on the development of technological solutions that enable the design and fabrication of personalized medical tools to improve the planning and precision of complex surgical interventions, with direct applications in improving healthcare.
Likewise, the Joint Research and Innovation Unit in Bioprinting, Organoids and Organs-on-Chip for Functional Biomodels, led by Antonio Ferrer Montiel and promoted together with the Institute of Research in Biotechnology and Health of Miguel Hernández University and ISABIAL, is incorporated. This line of research develops experimental organ models and technologies capable of simulating their functioning in chip-sized devices (organs-on-chip) to reduce the use of animals in research.
These new additions build on the integration, in 2024, of the ISABIAL Biobank Platform into this same national network, completing the institute’s presence in three of its four strategic areas.
As explained by Cristina Alenda, this participation “represents recognition of the work being carried out in Alicante in cutting-edge areas of biomedicine and opens the door to new opportunities for collaboration with research centers throughout the country.”
In addition, she emphasized that this integration will “provide access to larger-scale projects, enable networking with other scientific teams, and accelerate the arrival of these advances to the healthcare system and society.”
ISCIII Biobanks and Biomodels Platform
The ISCIII Platform for Biomodels and Biobanks of the Carlos III Health Institute is a strategic infrastructure aimed at promoting scientific and technical excellence in the use of biomodels and biological resources applied to biomedical research. Its activity is focused on developing projects with high scientific and translational impact in areas such as personalized medicine, advanced therapies, and emerging biomedical technologies.
In addition, in May 2025, Spain formalized the adhesion of this platform to the European Research Infrastructure Consortium BBMRI-ERIC (Biobanking and BioMolecular Resources Research Infrastructure) as a full member. This incorporation strengthens the presence of the Spanish biomedical scientific system in one of the main European research networks in biomedicine and personalized medicine, facilitating international cooperation and access to scientific infrastructures and resources.
