About ITQB NOVA

The Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António Xavier (ITQB NOVA) is a Research Institute of NOVA University of Lisbon, a public university created in 1973, hosting more than 20000 students, 1800 teaching and research staff, and 41 Research Units, distributed by 9 Schools of the Lisbon metropolitan area.

ITQB NOVA’s mission is to carry out scientific research and postgraduate teaching in life sciences, chemistry, and associated technologies, while serving the community and promoting science and technology. ITQB NOVA has a strong expertise in Molecular Biosciences – including Cellular, Molecular and Structural Biology, Biotechnology and Chemical Biology. This expertise drives research with impact in strategic challenges: the well-being of human societies and the environment. ITQB NOVA coordinates two funded Research Units – MOSTMICRO-ITQB and GREEN-IT - and is involved in a third one (iNOVA4HEALTH), all rated “Excellent” by the Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, I.P., the Portuguese public agency that supports science, technology and innovation.

In ITQB NOVA, researchers benefit from first-rate equipment, research facilities and support services to carry out competitive research. Currently with 55 independent labs, the ITQB NOVA hosts approximately 500 researchers. With a track record of scientific excellence and a focus on internationalization, ITQB NOVA is a leading center for advanced researcher training that is also part of the “Associate Laboratory Life Sciences for a Healthy and Sustainable Future” (LS4FUTURE), which is one of the top-rated Associate Laboratories in Portugal. ITQB NOVA’s research units conduct well defined research programs involving cross collaboration between researchers. At the MOSTMICRO-ITQB Research Unit, research is focused on selected microorganisms from Bacteria, Archaea and Eukarya domains and addresses biological questions that will not only improve our understanding of microorganisms but also contribute to the identification and design of novel compounds with therapeutic or biotechnological potential. As such, this unit advances fundamental knowledge of living organisms towards improving human health and sustainability.

ITQB NOVA has been strongly involved in the development of a National CryoEM Infrastructure and these efforts resulted in the creation of the CryoEM-PT Network - National Advanced Microscopy Network for Health and Life Sciences. The central node of this National network will be in the International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory in the city of Braga and will host a 200 kV Thermofisher Glacius cryoelectron microscope capable of single particle, cryo tomography and micro-crystal electron diffraction experiments. ITQB NOVA will be an important node in this network and will be equipped for sample preparation and data processing. It is expected that the new CryoEM lab at ITQB NOVA will use these facilities to carry out cutting-edge research, as well as to train Master and PhD students in different CryoEM methodologies.