Francisco José CALERO CASTRO profile

Hola! I’m a spanish researcher working at the Tissue Engineering Research Group in the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland. I studied Healthcare Engineering (Specialising in Biomedical Engineering) at the University of Seville (2013-2017). During my undergraduate studies, I developed a strong interest in biomaterials for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. I had the opportunity to join the Clinical Management Unit of General Surgery at Virgen del Rocio University Hospital and the research group “Advanced surgery and transplantation. Cell therapy and bioengineering applied to surgery” at the Instituto de Biomedicina de Sevilla (IBiS) to complete my undergraduate project under the supervision of Professor Fernando de la Portilla. I continued working with this group for both my master’s thesis (2017-2018) and PhD (2018-2022). I earned my PhD in Molecular Biology, Biomedicine, and Clinical Research from the University of Seville with the distinction of Excellent Cum Laude. My thesis focused on 3D bioprinting and electrospun scaffolds stimulated electrically and mechanically in bioreactors for skeletal muscle regeneration. During my PhD, I also contributed to other projects on tissue engineering, regenerative medicine, biomaterials, surgical planning, liquid biopsy and the development of new medical devices for drug delivery. In 2023, I moved to Dublin to join the Tissue Engineering Research Group as a postdoctoral researcher funded by the project of the European Research Council “Regeneration of Articular Cartilage using Advanced Biomaterials and Printing Technology” under the superivision of the professor Fergal O’Brien. During this periods, my skills focused on developing gene-activated scaffolds for meniscus repair. In 2024, I was awarded an MSCA postdoctoral fellowship for the project “Biomimetic collagen-based scaffolds for the study of pancreatic cancer and delivery of anti-tumoural miRNA for enhanced cancer therapy.” Beyond the lab, I am passionate about science communication and outreach to inspire the next generation of scientists.

MSCA Postdoctoral Fellow with over 8 years of academic and R&D experience in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. My current research focuses on developing biomimetic scaffolds for pancreatic cancer, integrating anti tumoural miRNA delivery, while also advancing biomaterials for meniscal regeneration. To achieve these goals, I combine expertise in biomaterials, personalized medical devices, liquid biopsy, gene delivery, and nanomedicine to design advanced therapeutic platforms for both cancer treatment and regenerative medicine. Previously, I contributed to a project on liquid biopsy in pancreatic cancer, where I developed an executable tool for detecting circulating tumour cells. My research has resulted in four patents in healthcare and emerging technologies, ten peer reviewed articles, and three book chapters. Beyond research, I am actively engaged in science communication and outreach, designing immersive educational experiences to make complex biomedical concepts accessible to diverse audiences. Also, I have been involved in supervision of several outstanding undergraduate and Master's theses and mentored numerous student during their internship in the lab. This dual commitment, to pioneering therapies and inspiring future generations, defines my vision as a scientist.

https://orcid.org/my-orcid?orcid=0000-0002-6039-3091