DR. BRUNO SANTOS
Profile:
Molecular and translational biologist with 10+ years of experience in translational research. Bruno specializes in disease modeling (iPSC‑derived neuronal/astrocytic systems), lab automation, and screening assay design. At Exobiosphere, Bruno leads the R&D department; his focus is translating robust, miniaturized, and automated assays to microgravity, de‑risking biology for pharma‑grade decision‑making while engaging partners, customers, and funders.
Work History:
2024 - Current: Exobiosphere, Luxembourg Co‑Founder & Director of R&D
Co‑lead of product and science strategy for space‑compatible lab automation. Definition of biological requirements, assay miniaturization and experimental design; Lead of R&D lab operations.
2020 - 2024: Luxembourg Institute of Health / Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine, LuxembourgProject Leader, Translational Research - Disease Modelling & Screening Platform (DMSP)
Developed Luxembourg’s high-throughput screening facilities (Disease Modelling & Screening Platform). Designed automated workflows. Managed personalized early discovery projects: feasibility, assay selection, optimization/miniaturization, screening, data analysis, hit triage. Published peer‑reviewed work in Sci Rep, NPJ Systems Biology & Applications, Cells, Stem Cell Research, among others.
2018 - 2020: Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine – University of Luxembourg, LuxembourgResearch & Development Specialist
Bridged academia and industry with Ksilink/Sanofi collaborations: iPSC PD models, automated staining, imaging/analysis, and building secondary assays for validation/counter‑screens.
2014 - 2018: Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine – University of Luxembourg, LuxembourgPhD Researcher - Molecular Neuroscience
Developed patient‑derived iPSC midbrain neuron models, created isogenic controls by genome editing, and ran phenotypic assays (mitochondrial function, ER stress, α‑syn accumulation, electrophysiology).
2014 - 2014: Luxembourg Institute of Health, Luxembourg Intern - Immunology
Developed hepatitis E detection workflows, optimized amplification protocols, and executed large‑scale ELISA/RT‑qPCR in BSL3+.
2012 - 2013: Roswell Park Cancer Institute, USA Master’s Researcher - Cancer Biology
Performed cancer cell culture and molecular biology (transfections, WB, SDS‑PAGE, kinase assays, mutagenesis)
EDUcation:
2014 - 2018: University of Luxembourg (LCSB), Luxembourg PhD, Molecular Neuroscience
2012 - 2013: University at Buffalo / Roswell Park Cancer Institute, USAMSc, Cancer Biology
2010 - 2012: University of Luxembourg (LCSB), Luxembourg MSc, Integrated Systems Biology
2006 - 2010: University of Aveiro, Portugal BSc, Biotechnology