A variety of Workshops will be offered on Sunday, 18 October from 09:00 - 17:00.
Each half-day workshop will consist of 3 hours of lectures. Fee includes entrance to one short course, one copy of the course material, and coffee breaks. Attendees must choose the workshop(s) they would like to attend at the time of registration as there will be no in and out privileges and material will only be prepared for those who sign up. Early registration is encouraged as seating is limited and registration is on a first-come, first-served basis.
Morning Workshops (9:00 – 12:00)
Workshop 1 - STREAMLINING THE MICROFLUIDIC PROTOTYPING AND MANUFACTURING PROCESSES: DESIGN, FABRICATION, AND (FLOW) SIMULATIONS
Leader:
Darwin Reyes, National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), USA
Derrick Butler, CNRS, FRANCE
Karina Torres Castro, Stony Brook University, USA
Robert Wille, Technical University of Munich (TUM), GERMANY
Joshua Loessberg-Zahl, University of Twente, NETHERLANDS
Anisha Chowdhury, Technical University of Munich (TUM), GERMANY
Bruno Charléty, Fluigent, FRANCE
Holger Becker, microfluidic ChipShop GmbH, DENMARK
Joris Kaal, University of Twente, NETHERLANDS
Description:
We will present different aspects needed for the designing, prototyping and manufacturing of optimal microfluidic devices. Topics that will be covered include designing microfluidic chambers to obtain optimal flow and shear rate for cell cultures, automation and standard-driven prototyping, reliably mass production for research, and how to seamlessly translate academic research into commercially manufacturable devices.
Objectives:
Anyone involved in microfluidics research and the desire to design and prototype microfluidic systems with automation, optimal flow and channel geometries as well as eager to learn how to develop not only manufacturing processes for research purposes but for larger scale should attend this workshop.
Workshop 2 - (MICROFLUIDIC) PAPER-BASED ANALYTICAL DEVICES - (µ)PADS: FROM BASICS TO APPLICATIONS
Daniel Citterio, Keio University, JAPAN
Description:
The workshop will touch on topics such as microfluidic patterning of paper, use of printing technology in device fabrication and major quantitative and qualitative signal detection methods. Selected examples of (µ)PADs are introduced, including both extremely simple signal readout approaches and highly sensitive (µ)PADs as low-cost alternatives to the use of laboratory scale instrumentation. The lecture is accompanied by some practical demonstrations.
Objectives:
Researchers with no or limited prior knowledge on (µ)PADs who are interested in learning the basics related to principles, device fabrication and simple signal readout approaches.
Workshop 3 - MICRO-ENGINEERED ORGANOTYPIC IN VITRO SYSTEMS FOR PHARMACOKINETICS AND IMMUNE - METABOLIC DISEASE MODELING
Leader:
Qasem Ramadan, Alfaisal University, SAUDI ARABIA
A lecture-based workshop combining didactic presentations, technical demonstrations, and case-study discussions:
- Illustrated lectures on organ-on-chip (OOC) device engineering and microfabrication strategies
- Data walkthroughs covering device architecture, imaging, and characterization (SEM, TEER, permeability, proteomics)
- Application-driven case studies in gut - liver pharmacokinetics and immune - metabolic disease modeling
- Discussion on translating OOC platforms toward regulatory and industrial adoption under New Approach Methodologies (NAMs)
Description:
This interactive workshop facilitates an in-depth and comprehensive discussion of the rapidly evolving field of organ-on-a-chip (OOC) technology and its transformative impact on pharmacokinetics and disease modeling. Beginning with the transition from traditional 2D lab-on-a-chip systems to advanced 3D OOC platforms, participants will explore key engineering milestones and examine the advantages of integrating cells and tissues into biomimetic models, in contrast to conventional cell cultures. The session emphasizes design and fabrication strategies, including material selection, 3D printing, and functional characterization methods for tissue architecture, biological integration, and allometric scaling. Attendees will gain insights into OOC applications in drug permeability, pro-drug metabolism, and bioavailability prediction through interconnected organ models. The workshop also addresses immune-competent platforms for studying intestinal and skin immune responses, alongside disease-specific models for inflammatory, allergic, and metabolic disorders, such as leaky gut, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), contact dermatitis, diabetes, fatty liver disease, and cancer. Discussions will encompass validation, cell sourcing, and the future of multi-organ systems for animal-free drug discovery, disease modeling, precision medicine, and healthcare innovation. The workshop will conclude by examining how OOC technologies are revolutionizing biomedical research and drug development.
Objectives:
Biomedical scientists, pharmaceutical and biotechnology professionals, and researchers from academia and industry who are interested in adopting, developing, or utilizing OOC systems--particularly for pharmacokinetics and modeling metabolic and immune diseases--will find this workshop highly relevant. Engineers and bioengineers specializing in microfluidics, tissue engineering, and the design and fabrication of OOC devices are also encouraged to participate. This multidisciplinary workshop caters to newcomers, PhD students, junior scientists, and mid-career professionals who aim to deepen their knowledge and enhance their practical skills in organ-on-a-chip technologies.
Workshop 4 - PUBLISHING MICROFLUIDICS RESEARCH IN THE AGE OF AI: AN EDITORIAL PANEL PERSPECTIVE
Leader:
Alberto Escarpa, Universidad de Alcalá de Henares, SPAIN
Alice Smallwood, Royal Society of Chemistry, UK
Jelena Romcevic, Micromachines - MDPI, SWITZERLAND
Yuan Wang, Springer Nature, USA
Panel discussion with moderated real-world editorial cases, live audience voting, and open Q&A.
Description:
This workshop aims to bring together editors from the leading journals in microfluidics and miniaturization for a panel discussion structured around real editorial cases and dilemmas. Rather than individual journal presentations, the session is built around scenarios that early-career researchers routinely face, debated in real time by the editors themselves.The session opens with a brief introduction by the Chair contextualizing how AI is reshaping scientific publishing and why this matters particularly for researchers at the start of their careers. Editors then introduce themselves individually (15 min), focusing on their day-to-day work rather than their journals: how many manuscripts they handle, what they look for, what surprises them.The core of the workshop (65 min) consists of three to four editorial dilemmas prepared in advance by the Chair in collaboration with the panel, covering how editors respond to AI-assisted writing, suspected AI-generated data, and suspected AI use in peer review.
After the coffee break, the second part of the session (30 min) is dedicated to dilemmas submitted anonymously by attendees, selected and moderated by the Chair in real time. The workshop closes with an open debate (25 min) on the broader questions facing scientific publishing today. Attendees will gain a candid, comparative view of how editorial decisions are actually made, something textbooks or supervisors do not normally provide.
Objectives:
This workshop is primarily aimed at PhD students and early-career researchers working in microfluidics, miniaturization, and related fields. It is also open to any conference attendee interested in gaining a deeper understanding of the editorial process in specialized journals.
Participants Will Need the Following:
Participants are encouraged to bring their smartphone to participate in the interactive voting and Q&A sessions.
Workshop 5 - SMART MATERIALS WITHIN MICROFLUIDIC DEVICES FOR SENSING AND ACTUATION
Leader:
Enrique Azuaje Hualde, Universidad del País Vasco/Euskal Herriko Unibertsitatea EHU, SPAIN
Pablo Enrique Guevara Pantoja, Universidad del País Vasco/Euskal Herriko Unibertsitatea EHU, SPAIN
Description:
This workshop will introduce smart materials within microfluidic devices, focusing on how responsive materials can be integrated for sensing, actuation, fluid control, and microsystem development. Attendees will learn how chemo-, thermo-, photo-, electrical-, and magneto-responsive materials can be used to create microfluidic pumps, valves, sensors, coatings, membranes, and active surfaces for biological and chemical analysis. By the end of the workshop, participants will understand key design strategies, application areas, and practical advantages of smart-material-based microfluidic systems for point-of-care, environmental, wearable, and bioanalytical technologies.
Objectives:
This workshop is intended for researchers and students, including pre- and postdoctoral researchers, engineers, and professionals interested in microfluidics, smart/functional materials, sensors, actuators, lab-on-a-chip systems, point-of-care technologies, wearable devices, and bioanalytical or environmental applications. The objective is to help attendees understand how smart materials can be integrated into microfluidic platforms to enable fluid control, sensing, actuation, and practical device development for biological and chemical analysis. The workshop will conclude with a brief hands-on activity in which attendees assemble a microfluidic chip with integrated sensors.
Workshop 6 - OPTICAL SPECTROSCOPY IN MICROFLUIDICS
Leader:
Huabing Yin, University of Glasgow, UK
Sadao Ota, University of Tokyo, JAPAN
Julia Gaia de Pablo, University of Leeds, UK
Description:
Optical spectroscopy interrogates intrinsic light - matter interactions and provides rich information on the biochemical composition of samples. This enables label-free analysis of cell phenotypes, metabolic states, and intrinsic features that are often inaccessible through other optical methods, such as fluorescence labelling.
Microfluidics, on the other hand, enables precise control of liquids, droplets and cells. The convergence of these two technologies is creating novel tools capable of high‑content, high‑throughput cell analysis and manipulation. These platforms are driving advances across biology, clinical diagnostics, microbiology, and the pharmaceutical and biomanufacturing industries.
This workshop will first introduce major optical spectroscopic technologies for label-free analysis, including Raman spectroscopy (e.g., spontaneous, enhanced and coherent Raman), UV−vis spectroscopy, infrared spectroscopy, and autofluorescence spectroscopy. We will cover the fundamentals of these technologies and state‑of‑the‑art analysis approaches, powered by machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI).
The workshop will also introduce recent developments in integrating spectroscopic technologies with microfluidic systems for on‑chip assays, flow cytometry, and cell sorting. We will discuss how microfluidic design influences optical sensitivity, signal‑to‑noise ratio, and throughput, and how multimodal analysis and AI can overcome limitations in signal complexity and high noise levels, improving the interpretability of signals.
To illustrate the promise of spectroscopy - microfluidic systems for emerging applications in engineering biology, clinical diagnostics, environmental microbiology, and biomanufacturing, we will showcase autofluorescence flow cytometry and Raman‑activated cell sorting technologies for profiling intrinsic features of cells within complex samples and isolating specific sub-populations of targeted functions.
Overall, the workshop will provide theoretical and practical design principles and highlight future directions in the field, enabling participants to understand the capabilities of these platforms for new applications and to develop novel analytical systems.
Presentations:
- INTEGRATING SPECTROSCOPY AND MICROFLUIDICS FOR BIOANALYSIS: OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES
Huabing Yin, University of Glasgow, UK
- REPRESENTING BIOLOGICAL IMAGING AND SPECTROSCOPIC DATA WITH MACHINE LEARNING FOR DISCOVERY AND ENGINEERING
Sadao Ota, University of Tokyo, JAPAN
- COHERENT RAMAN TECHNIQUES FOR LABEL-FREE CELL AND PARTICLE CHARACTERISATION IN MICROFLUIDICS
Julia Gala de Pablo, University of Leeds, UK
Objectives:
This workshop is relevant to biologists, microbiologists, engineers, and biotechnology professionals, and researchers interested in implementing label-free optical phenotyping technologies and/or microfluidics for analysis of biological samples. It will particularly benefit both engineers specialised in microfluidics, and researchers working on engineering biology, genetic engineering, clinical diagnostics, microbiota and the discovery of nature's untapped biological resources.
Workshop 7 - NOVEL CONCEPTS SENSORS AND ACTUATORS IN ORGAN-ON-CHIP TECHNOLOGY
Leader:
Mathias Busek, Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen, GERMANY and University of Oslo, NORWAY
Caroline Culp, Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen, GERMANY
Michael Mierzejewski, NMI Natural and Medical Sciences Institute, Reutlingen, GERMANY
Stefan Grünzner, Technical University of Dresden, GERMANY
Description:
This workshop should introduce novel pumpless perfusion concepts for both high-throughput and high-complex Organ-on-Chip platforms. The audience should learn how these platforms operate and what the opportunities and limitations are. Another focus is sensor integration and the need for novel fabrication methods. A preliminary agenda is as follows:
- Introduction into the Topic, Presentation of the Pumpless Recirculating Organ-On-Chip
Mathias Busek, Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen, GERMANY and University of Oslo, NORWAY
- Novel High-Throughput Pump-Free Organ-Disc Platform for the Study of Adaptive Immune Response in Lymphoid Tissue Model
Caroline Culp, Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen, GERMANY
- Microelectrode Arrays in Microfluidics: Design, Integration, and Testing
Michael Mierzejewski, NMI Natural and Medical Sciences Institute, Reutlingen, GERMANY
- From 2D Fabrication to Integrated 3D Organs-On-Chip; Practical Insights into Manufacturing, Processes, Functional Integration and Scale-Up
Stefan Grünzner, Technical University of Dresden, GERMANY
- Wrap up, Q&A and Practical demonstrations of the microdevices and platforms for anyone interested.
All presenters
Objectives:
The workshop is open for anyone interested in Organ-on-Chip, integrated microfluidic platforms and fabrication. Particularly this could be interesting for sensor developers looking into opportunities to integrate the developed sensors into Organ-on-Chip systems.
Afternoon Workshops (14:00 - 17:00)
Workshop 8 - PHOTOPOLYMERIZATION 3D PRINTING FOR MICROFABRICATION
Leader:
David Juncker - McGill University, CANADA
Houda Shafique, McGill University, CANADA
Yonatan Morocz, McGill University, CANADA
Yuksel Temiz, microqubic AG, SWITZERLAND
Paul Delrot, Readily3D SA, SWITZERLAND
Paul Coudray, Kloé, FRANCE
Flore‑Anne Poujade, Cellink, SWEDEN
Vahid Karamzadeh, VascuBio, CANADA
TBA, Formlabs, USA
Stjepan Perak, UpNano GmbH, AUSTRIA
Description:
The course will introduce photopolymerization 3D printing (pp3DP), contextualize it with other printing techniques, and describe its origins and the current methods of pp3DP, such as laser scanning, high resolution DLP and ultra-low cost, high resolution LCD pp3DP, as well as more advanced 2 photon photopolymerization and holographic printing. The workshop will cover photopolymerization theory, ink design and applications in microfluidics and bioprinting and AI-driven design. Presentations and demos by vendors will help showcase various applications and opportunities.
Objectives:
The workshop is intended for participants with an interest in pp3DP for everybody, from novices to experts.
Workshop 9 - RAPID PROTOTYPING, SURFACE CONTROL, ACTIVE/PASSIVE OPERATIONS, AND APPLICATIONS FOR LIFE SCIENCES
Leader:
Sławomir Jakieła, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, POLAND
Piotr M. Korczyk, Institute of Fundamental Technological Research, Polish Academy of Sciences, POLAND
Sławomir Błoński, Institute of Fundamental Technological Research, Polish Academy of Sciences, POLAND
Description:
Droplet microfluidics is an exciting method for generating and manipulating droplets at the microscale. We will show how to prototype chips by CNC milling in polycarbonate and by soft lithography, tune channel wettability for water-in-oil and oil-in-water operation, and generate droplets in passive and active systems, including droplet-on-demand. Demonstrations will include droplet traps, a microdroplet clock, continuous droplet circulation, and integrated control using sensors, valves, electrodes, electronics and software. Attendees will leave with a practical overview of how to design, build and operate a complete droplet microfluidic system for life-science applications.
Objectives:
This workshop is intended for students, researchers and engineers interested in droplet microfluidics, rapid prototyping, surface control and automated microscale experiments. No prior hands-on experience is required. The objective is to give attendees a practical understanding of how complete droplet microfluidic systems are designed, fabricated, controlled and applied.
Workshop 10 - ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE FOR SINGLE-CELL ANALYSIS
Leader:
Reza Nosrati, Monash University, CANADA
Jun Kikuchi, Monash University, CANADA
Description:
This workshop offers a comprehensive introduction to Artificial Intelligence (AI), with a particular focus on deep learning for biomedical and microfluidic applications. Participants will develop a solid understanding of key concepts in training, validation, and testing of AI models, while exploring their use in tasks such as cell detection, tracking, and segmentation in microscopy images. The session highlights critical considerations for building robust, reproducible models tailored to the unique challenges of biological image analysis. By the end of the workshop, attendees will be equipped with both the theoretical foundation and hands-on experience needed to confidently develop and apply AI models in biomedical and microfluidic research.
Objectives:
This workshop is open to all attendees; however, it will be particularly beneficial for those with a strong interest in AI applications in biomedical or microfluidic research. A basic understanding of programming concepts and the ability to read Python code will help participants fully engage with the hands-on components.
Participants Will Need the Following:
Laptop computer.
Workshop 11 - CHIPS, CASH & CUSTOMERS: LESSONS FROM THE COMMERCIALIZATION JOURNEY
Leader:
Holger Becker, microfluidic ChipShop GmbH, DENMARK
Liubov Bakhchova, TU Braunschweig, GERMANY
Frauke Greve, Insphero AG, SWITZERLAND
Claudia Gärtner, microfluidic ChipShop GmbH, DENMARK
Elfi Töpfer, microfluidic ChipShop GmbH, DENMARK
Description:
The workshop will concentrate on various aspects of the path towards commercialization of microfluidic devices. The attendees will learn about the role and importance of standardization in microfluidics and will get practical examples from areas such as organ-on-a-chip, cell biology or point-of-care diagnostics. Challenges in product development and transfer from academia to industry will be discussed.
Objectives:
Anyone interested in commercialization and standardization aspects of microfluidic devices.
Workshop 12 - IMPLEMENTATION OF COMPACT ELECTROCHEMICAL SENSOR DEVICES AT THE POINT OF NEED
Co-Leader: César Fernández-Sánchez, Instituto de Microelectrónica de Barcelona, IMB-CNM (CSIC), SPAIN
Co-Leader: Mar Puyol Bosch, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), SPAIN
Marco Henares Arjona Instituto de Microelectrónica de Barcelona, IMB-CNM (CSIC), SPAIN
Laia Garrido Carretero, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), SPAIN
Antonio Calvo López, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), SPAIN
Description:
Roadmap for the development of point-of-care electrochemical devices: A case study
Technological approaches of microTAS for electrochemical sensing: Recent advancements Showroom of miniaturized analytical platforms integrating electrochemical sensors: From proof-of-concept approaches to functional prototypes - analytical demonstration of the performance of some of the devices on display.
Objectives:
PhD students and junior postdocs interested in the field of technological approaches and applications of electrochemical microTAS for point-of-need applications.
Workshop 13 - ORGAN-ON-CHIP SYSTEMS: ENGINEERING, BIOLOGY, AND TRANSLATION
Leader: Jose Yeste Lozano, Institute of Microelectronics of Barcelona, IMB-CNM (CSIC), SPAIN
Rosa Monge, BEONCHIP S.L., SPAIN
Stéphanie Descroix, Institut Curie / CNRS, FRANCE
Joshua Loessberg-Zahl, University of Twente, NETHERLANDS
Description:
The workshop will provide a broad introduction to organ-on-chip systems, following the pathway from concept to implementation: device manufacturing and microfabrication, sensing integration, biological relevance and model validation, and standardization for translation. Attendees will leave with an integrated understanding of how engineering, biology and standardization come together to create useful organ-on-chip platforms, as well as an appreciation of the field's opportunities, limitations and future directions.
Objectives:
Open to a broad audience, from the general public and newcomers to organ-on-chip technology to attendees already working in related fields, including microfluidics, microfabrication, sensing, biological modelling and translational research.
Workshop 14 - FROM PATIENT TO CHIP AND BACK: MICROFLUIDIC WORKFLOWS FOR CLINICAL TRANSLATION
Co-Leader:
Sara Abalde-Cela, International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory, PORTUGAL
Co-Leader:
Miguel Xavier, International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory, PORTUGAL
Lorena Diéguez, RUBYnanomed, PORTUGAL
Valery Taly, Paris Descartes University, FRANCE
Niccolo Lazaro, Fondazione Bruno Kessler, ITALY
Description:
Despite remarkable advances in microfluidics and lab-on-a-chip technologies, the translation of these platforms into clinical workflows remains a major challenge.
This workshop will explore how microfluidic technologies can be integrated into a complete pipeline that spans from patient sample collection to biological modelling, molecular profiling, and ultimately clinical decision-making.
The session will highlight emerging approaches for isolating clinically relevant biomarkers from blood, expanding tumour cells into functional 3D models, performing ultra-sensitive biomarker detection, and enabling multi-omics analyses from very small cell numbers. The workshop will conclude by discussing how artificial intelligence and data-driven models can integrate these diverse data streams to support precision medicine.
By bringing together experts working across different stages of this pipeline, the workshop aims to provide a perspective on how microfluidic technologies can move beyond proof-of-concept devices and become practical tools for translational and clinical research.
Objectives:
This workshop is aimed at early-career researchers and students interested in the clinical translation of microfluidic technologies. It will be particularly relevant for those working on liquid biopsy, advanced 3D models, biosensing, multi-omics, and data-driven approaches for precision medicine.
Participants will gain insight into how these technologies can be integrated into a full workflow (from patient samples to clinical applications) and into the key challenges that remain for real-world implementation.
Workshop 15 - CELLS BY DESIGN: MICRO/NANO-TECHNOLOGIES FOR DESIGNED CELL-CELL COMMUNICATION
Co-Leader: Yoko Yamanishi, Kyushu University, JAPAN
Co-Leader: Yoshitaka Shirasaki, University of Tokyo, JAPAN
Niko Kimura, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, JAPAN
Makoto Saito, Kyushu University, JAPAN
Takeshi Hayakawa, Chuo University, JAPAN
Takashi Kamatani, Japanese Foundation for Cancer Research, JAPAN
Shinya Sakuma, Kyushu University, JAPAN
Dino Di Carlo - University of California, Los Angeles, USA and University of Tokyo, JAPAN
Description:
The workshop will explore how microfluidic and nano-scale technologies are enabling the design, implementation, and evaluation of engineered cell-cell communication. Topics will include intracellular delivery technologies for programming cellular functions, microfluidic approaches for cell manipulation and selection, and advanced analytical methods for characterizing single-cell and cell-cell behaviors. Clinical perspectives will highlight opportunities and challenges in translating these technologies toward human applications. Attendees will gain an integrated view of emerging micro/nano-technologies that are shaping next-generation engineered cellular systems, including avatar-cell technologies.
Objectives:
This workshop is designed for individuals interested in:
- Designed cell - cell communication technologies, including Avatar Cells, Designer Cells, lipid nanoparticle applications, on-chip cell manipulation and analysis, and microphysiological systems;
- International research and industry collaborations;
- Technology transfer and commercialization;
- Business consortium development; and
- The Moonshot Project (Intracellular CA) led by the Cabinet Office of Japan