On 31 July 2026, Prof. Hélder A. SANTOS, Professor and Head of the Department of Biomaterials and Biomedical Technology and Head of the Translational Bionanomicro Theragenerative Medicine Lab at the University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, delivered a PAIR Seminar titled “Can We Restore a Broken Heart? Precision RNA-based Nanotherapies for the Next Era of Cardiovascular Medicine”. The seminar attracted 43 onsite participants and an online audience of over 15,800 viewers through live broadcasts across various social media platforms.
During the seminar, Prof. Santos highlighted the need for more effective treatments for cardiovascular diseases, which remain the leading cause of death worldwide. He discussed recent breakthroughs in nanotechnology and RNA therapeutics, explaining how these advances are driving the development of precision medicines capable of selectively targeting diseased cardiovascular tissues, offering new therapeutic opportunities for conditions such as myocardial infarction and atherosclerosis.
Prof. Santos also addressed the key challenges facing the clinical application of RNA-based therapeutics, including poor stability, limited bioavailability and insufficient targeting efficiency. He demonstrated how rationally designed nanocarriers can overcome these barriers by protecting RNA molecules, enhancing cellular uptake and improving tissue specificity. By integrating biomaterials science, pharmaceutical nanotechnology and tissue engineering, his team has developed a range of targeted nanosystems that expand the potential for the clinical use of RNA medicines.
Highlighting several recent advances from his laboratory, Prof. Santos presented innovative nanoparticle platforms designed to modulate inflammatory and tissue repair processes following cardiac injury precisely. Results from preclinical studies demonstrated that these precision-targeted nanotherapies can effectively reduce ischemia-reperfusion injury, attenuate inflammation, and promote functional cardiac recovery and tissue regeneration. He also shared the latest research outcomes from his team on RNA interference-based nanomedicines and targeted delivery systems for atherosclerosis, further highlighting the promising role of nanotechnology in cardiovascular medicine.
Looking ahead, Prof. Santos emphasised the importance of receptor-specific targeting, advanced nanocarrier engineering and scalable manufacturing in accelerating the clinical translation of RNA nanomedicines. He noted that continued progress in these areas is bringing personalised therapies capable of repairing damaged heart tissue closer to reality, paving the way for a new generation of treatments for cardiovascular disease.
The seminar concluded with a Q&A session moderated by Prof. ZHAO Xin, Professor in the Department of Life Sciences and Limin Young Scholar in Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering. Participants engaged in lively discussions with Prof. Santos on the clinical translation, prospects and practical challenges of RNA-based nanotherapies, bringing the seminar to a successful close.
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| Topics | PAIR Seminars |
|---|---|
| Research Units | PolyU Academy for Interdisciplinary Research |
Prof. Hélder A. SANTOS
Professor and Head of Department of Biomaterials and Biomedical Technology
Head of Translational Bionanomicro Theragenerative Medicine Lab
University Medical Center Groningen
University of Groningen
The Netherlands
Prof. Santos (D.Sc. Tech., Chem. Eng.) is a Full Professor and Chair in Biomedical Engineering, and the Head of the Department of Biomaterials and Biomedical Technology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen. He was also a former Full Professor and Head of Division of Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Technology at the University of Helsinki, Faculty of Pharmacy. Prof. Santos is also the co-founder of the startups Capsamedix Oy and Medixmicro Oy, and was the Coordinator of a large MSCA-ITN P4 FIT network in tendon repair (~ 4.1 m€) with 15 PhD students. He holds an Honorary Adjunct Fellow at the University of Technology Sydney, and held previously Visiting Professorships at the Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine and University of Tartu. Prof. Santos research interests include the development of nanoparticles/nanomedicines and biomaterials for biomedical applications, particularly cancer and heart diseases. Currently, he (co)-supervises +40 PhD students and 4 MSCA-postdoctoral fellowships. His lab makes the unique bridge between medical engineering, pharmaceutical nanotechnology, and tissue engineering by combining unique techniques to develop novel therapeutic formulations for translation into the clinic. He is co-author of more than +650 publications (+35000 citations; h-index = 106) and co-inventor of 8 patents. He has +300 invited talks around the world. He has (co-)supervised +60 PhD students and +45 postdocs. His former lab members +10 are now well established professors around the world. He is also in Editorial board member of Advanced Healthcare Materials, Advanced Therapeutics, Journal of Controlled Release, VIEW, Journal of Functional Materials, Precision Nanomedicine, Biomedical Technology, Smart Medicine, among many others. He is Associate Editor of Nano Select, and Drug Delivery and Translational Research, among others. Prof. Santos has received prestigious honours, awards and grants, such as the "Talent Prize in Science" in 2010 attributed by the Portuguese Government, the European Research Council Starting Grant in 2013, the European Research Council Proof-of-Concept Grant in 2018, the Young Researcher Award in 2013 attributed by the University of Helsinki, the Academy of Finland Award for Social Impact in 2016, the Controlled Release Society Young Investigator Award 2021, and the APV Research Award for Outstanding Achievements in Pharmaceutical Sciences 2026. Altogether, Prof. Santos has secured, since 2009, +35 research grants nationally and internationally worth of +25 M€.
Personal Website: https://umcgresearch.org/w/h-a-santos
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