Rui L. Reis, scientist and full professor, was reappointed on September 3 as president of I3Bs – Institute of Research on Biomaterials, Biodegradables and Biomimetics at the University of Minho for the 2026/2030 term. The inauguration was attended by rector Pedro Arezes and took place at 9:30 am in the auditorium of I3Bs, located at Avepark, in Barco, Guimarães. The vice-presidents are Professor Natália Alves and researchers Joaquim Miguel Oliveira and Vítor Correlo.
Rui L. Reis was born 59 years ago in Porto and earned his PhD in Polymer Science and Engineering from UMinho. He was vice-rector and director of the 3B's research group, which he founded 27 years ago, and is also director of the ICVS/3B's associate laboratory and CEO of the European Institute of Excellence in Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine (EXPERTISSUES).
He is considered the most cited scientist based in Portugal in the world, with more than 85,000 citations on the ISI Web of Science platform, co-author of more than 2,030 scientific publications and more than 130 patents. He led national and international projects with funding exceeding 140 million euros and was distinguished by UNESCO, by the European and American Societies of Biomaterials, by TERMIS (which he has already chaired) and by other institutions. He is a doctor honoris causa by the universities of Granada and the Polytechnic University of Bucharest, member of the National Academy of Engineering of the USA and of the European Academy of Sciences.
I3Bs is the first organic research unit created in Portuguese public universities and encompasses the 3B's Research Group and the 3B's Innovation and Services Group, with more than 150 collaborators from numerous countries. It hosts EXPERTISSUES with branches in 13 countries and is the base of the TERM Research Hub – Guimarães City Institute, standing out in new materials, controlled drug release, tissue engineering, regenerative medicine, nanomedicine and isolation and differentiation of stem cells.
