European Guest Session – Sociedad Ibérica de Citometría (SIC)
Chairs: Oliver Otto, Greifswald, Jochen Behrends, Borstel
We are delighted to welcome the Sociedad Ibérica de Citometría (SIC). This special conference event celebrates collaboration, the exchange of experiences and organizational approaches among cytometry societies, and the strengthening of connections across the European cytometry community.
Representing SIC, Rebeca Sanchez Dominguez and Catarina Gregório Martins will share insights into the society’s activities, achievements, and future perspectives, offering attendees a valuable overview of the Iberian cytometry community.
This session provides an opportunity to learn how SIC supports cytometry professionals throughout Spain and Portugal through education, training, networking, and the promotion of best practices. It also highlights the importance of cooperation among national and regional cytometry societies in advancing research, innovation, and professional development across Europe.
We are grateful to our guests for their participation, and we look forward to an engaging discussion that reflects the collaborative spirit of the cytometry community. Together, we continue to strengthen and expand the European cytometry network.
Catarina Martins
Catarina Martins, PhD, Professora Auxiliar – Imunologia
NOVA Medical School, Lisboa, Portugal
Biosketch
Catarina Martins is a Biologist with a PhD in Immunology and serves as Assistant Professor of Immunology at NOVA Medical School (NMS), Lisbon, Portugal. In addition to her teaching responsibilities, she coordinates the Biosafety Committee and is the Technical Director of the Immunology Laboratory. In her lab, she studies patients with primary immunodeficiencies (inborn errors of immunity) and other immune-mediated conditions, with extensive use of Flow Cytometry applications. Her work has contributed to more than 80 peer-reviewed publications in high-impact scientific journals.
Catarina has presented her research at numerous national and international conferences and has participated in workshops and training activities covering Immunology, Immunodeficiency, Flow Cytometry, and Quality in Clinical Laboratories. Since 2005, she has collaborated with National Accreditation Bodies in Portugal, Ireland, Slovenia, and the UAE as a quality assessor for standards such as ISO 15189, supporting quality management in clinical laboratories. She is also a CLSI advisor and actively collaborates with the NOVA Greenlabs task force, which achieved myGreenLab certification for NMS in 2025.
Within the Iberian Flow Cytometry Society (SIC), Catarina coordinates the Accreditation Working Group. After serving two terms as Board Member, she was elected Vice-President in 2025. In this role, she is committed to strengthening the Society’s visibility, fostering national and international collaborations, and expanding its recognition while promoting excellence, quality standards, and accessible, high-quality training in Flow Cytometry.
Rebeca Sànchez Dominguez
Tecnico en Citometria de Flujo en CIEMAT