From regenerating the retina and understanding wound healing to exploring cancer and new approaches to Parkinson’s disease, NIMSB researchers brought their science out of the laboratory for an evening of discovery, interaction and curiosity at European Researchers’ Night 2026.
On 25 September, NIMSB joined the European Researchers’ Night (NEI) 2026, welcoming visitors of all ages to discover biomedical research through interactive activities, demonstrations and conversations with our scientists.
This year marked an important milestone for NIMSB. As the institute continues to grow, so does its presence at one of Europe’s largest celebrations of science. For the first time, NIMSB researchers were simultaneously present across three different spots in Oeiras and Lisbon: at the NIMSB tent in the Jardins do Palácio do Marquês de Pombal, Oeiras, and at two stands at Pavilhão do Conhecimento – Ciência Viva, in Lisbon.
Throughout the evening, our stands welcomed a large number of visitors and were filled with questions, conversations, experiments and curiosity.
From cells and tissue repair to cancer
How many different cells make up the human body, and what makes each of them unique?
Visitors had the opportunity to discover how researchers are working to build a kind of
“Google Maps” of the human body, identifying where different cells are, who they are and how they communicate with each other. They also explored how studying cells from the oral mucosa can provide valuable clues about tissue regeneration and wound healing.
The remarkable regenerative abilities of the zebrafish provided another window into the future of regenerative medicine. Unlike humans, zebrafish can regenerate parts of their retina after injury. NIMSB researchers invited visitors to explore what we can learn from this process and how this knowledge could contribute to understanding whether similar regenerative mechanisms might be activated in human cells.
The science of wound healing continued with a closer look at the immune system. Through interactive activities, visitors discovered how different cells work together to remove damaged and dying cells, allowing tissues to repair themselves — and what can happen when this carefully coordinated process fails in chronic wounds.
Cancer research was also part of the evening. Visitors explored
the complex relationship between tumours and their surrounding environment, learning how cancer cells can communicate with neighbouring cells and recruit their support. NIMSB researchers are investigating how disrupting these interactions could potentially make tumours more vulnerable to treatment.
Exploring the brain and Parkinson’s disease
At Pavilhão do Conhecimento, the brain took centre stage.
Visitors were invited to learn more about Parkinson’s disease and neurodegeneration, including how researchers are investigating the mechanisms that affect brain health and exploring the potential role of nutrition-derived compounds.
They also had the opportunity to discover how new experimental approaches can help us study human disease. One example is a 3D human “brain-on-a-chip” model, designed to reproduce important features of the human brain in the laboratory and help researchers investigate Parkinson’s disease and explore potential therapeutic approaches.
Across the activities, visitors were encouraged not simply to observe science but to step into the shoes of a researcher – asking questions, interpreting biological clues, testing their knowledge and discovering how scientists transform observations into new knowledge.
Where science and society meet
Beyond the experiments and demonstrations, European Researchers’ Night was above all about people and conversations.
Throughout the evening, NIMSB researchers shared their work directly with children, families, students and curious visitors, answering questions and opening a window into the research taking place every day in our laboratories.
These interactions are an essential part of NIMSB’s commitment to bringing biomedical research closer to society and creating opportunities for dialogue between researchers and the communities they ultimately aim to serve.
A special thank you goes to all the NIMSB researchers who participated, bringing their enthusiasm, creativity and commitment to science communication to the event, and to everyone who visited our stands, asked questions, participated in the activities and shared their curiosity with us.
Three spots. Many scientific questions. Hundreds of conversations. One memorable night celebrating science together.
