Within the scope of the bilateral PESSOA cooperation program (Ref. 2024.07108.CBM), funded by the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) and Campus France, researchers from UNIDEMI and students from the Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering (DEMI/ NOVA FCT) carried out scientific missions at the Centre Ingénierie et Santé (CIS) of Mines Saint-Étienne, France, in February 2026.
The project, entitled “Computational Modeling of Fluid-Structure Interaction in Ascending Thoracic Aortic Aneurysms Using Machine Learning, In Vivo Data, and Experimental Data“, is coordinated by researcher José Xavier (UNIDEMI) on the Portuguese side and by Stéphane Avril (Mines Saint-Étienne) on the French side, and is part of the AneurysmTool research project (PTDC/EMD-EMD/1230/2021).
The missions also involved two other UNIDEMI researchers — Tiago Silva and Moisés Brito — and two master’s students in Mechanical Engineering — Bernardo Henriques and João Vau — from DEMI. During their stays in Saint-Étienne, computational algorithms, experimental protocols, and computing resources were discussed and shared, covering topics such as growth and remodeling modeling of aortic aneurysms, the integration of hemodynamic simulations with neural networks, and the development of biaxial testing in human aortic tissue.
The lead researcher, José Xavier, complemented these missions with an extended stay at Mines Saint-Étienne between January and February 2026, under an FCT faculty mobility program, further strengthening the bilateral collaboration.
This cooperation highlights NOVA FCT and UNIDEMI’s commitment to cutting-edge research at the interface of engineering and medicine, and underscores the structuring role of international mobility programs in the advanced training of students.
More Info: AneurysmTool – José Xavier