image: The 3rd World Congress on Targeting Extracellular Vesicles brings together scientists investigating cellular communication, mitochondria, microbiota and emerging medical applications in Porto, Portugal, on November 12–13, 2026.
Credit: World Mitochondria Society / International Society of Microbiota, subject to confirming the logo owner and reuse rights.
Porto, Portugal - November 12, 2026
What if one of the next major advances in medicine comes from understanding how cells communicate?
Every day, billions of cells exchange biological signals. Some of these messages travel inside extracellular vesicles (EVs), tiny membrane-enclosed particles that can transport proteins, lipids and genetic material between cells.
Long studied as part of basic cell biology, these particles are now attracting increasing attention for their possible roles in disease, diagnostics, drug delivery and regenerative medicine.
On November 12–13, researchers, clinicians and biotechnology innovators will gather in Porto, Portugal, for the 3rd World Congress on Targeting Extracellular Vesicles 2026.
The conference brings together the World Mitochondria Society (WMS) and the International Society of Microbiota (ISM), two scientific communities seeking to understand how biological systems communicate and how that knowledge might advance human health.
From Brain Disorders to Cardiovascular Health
Extracellular vesicles are being investigated across a broad range of medical conditions.
In neuroscience, researchers are exploring their involvement in neuroinflammation and neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease.
In cardiovascular research, EVs are being studied as potential mediators of inflammation, vascular dysfunction and tissue repair.
In cancer biology, certain EV populations may contribute to tumor progression by transporting molecular signals between cancer cells and surrounding tissues.
Other scientists are investigating whether engineered vesicles could deliver therapeutic molecules, including RNA, to selected cells.
These applications are at different stages of scientific development. Their medical value will depend on rigorous experimental and clinical validation.
Why Mitochondria and Microbiota Matter
The collaboration between WMS and ISM reflects an important development in biomedical research.
Mitochondria, often associated with cellular energy production, also participate in metabolic regulation, stress responses and inflammatory signaling.
The gut microbiota influences metabolism, immunity and other physiological processes.
Although these systems are frequently studied separately, they interact with the same biological networks involved in health and disease.
Extracellular vesicles offer a way to investigate some of the molecular messages connecting cells, tissues and microorganisms.
By bringing mitochondrial researchers, microbiologists, clinicians and EV specialists together, the Porto meeting aims to encourage new interdisciplinary approaches to complex medical questions.
EVis Bioscience: A Biotechnology Example of What Comes Next
One of the most promising directions in extracellular vesicle research is the development of engineered delivery systems.
A major obstacle in RNA and gene-based medicine is delivering therapeutic genetic material to the appropriate tissues safely and effectively.
EVis Bioscience, a biotechnology spin-off from ETH Zurich and a supporter of the congress, is developing a hybrid technology combining extracellular vesicles and lipid-based nanovectors.
Its proprietary hemi-fused platform is designed to load and transport nucleic acids, including RNA.
The company also provides research services for nucleic acid loading, EV formulation characterization and laboratory applications.
These developments illustrate how EV research is moving beyond the study of naturally occurring biological particles toward the engineering of delivery platforms with potential medical applications.
The technology remains subject to further validation, particularly regarding safety, therapeutic efficacy, tissue targeting and clinical translation.
From Scientific Discovery to Future Therapies
The scientific programme in Porto brings together international experts including Pieter Vader, Eva-Maria Krämer-Albers, Efrat Levy, Leo Eberl, Alicia Llorente, Lino Ferreira, Sandra Morais Cardoso, Dhanu Gupta and Bernd Giebel.
Research topics range from mitochondrial communication and microbial vesicles to neurodegeneration, cardiovascular disease, engineered RNA delivery, cancer and regenerative medicine.
Beyond individual discoveries, the meeting will address a broader challenge: how to turn growing scientific knowledge into reproducible technologies and clinically meaningful applications.
Important questions remain.
How can specific EV populations be reliably identified and characterized? How can therapeutic cargo be delivered precisely? Can EV-based medicines be manufactured consistently and at sufficient scale? What evidence will be required to establish their safety and effectiveness in patients?
The Next Decade of Extracellular Vesicle Research
The conference will conclude with a strategic scientific discussion entitled:
“Where Should Extracellular Vesicle Science Go Next and What Must We Demonstrate?”
The discussion will focus on the scientific, technological and clinical evidence needed to move the field forward.
Extracellular vesicles are not a universal solution to disease. But understanding how biological information moves between cells and organs may reveal mechanisms that are difficult to capture through conventional approaches.
For researchers and biotechnology developers, the opportunity is substantial: to move from observing biological communication toward understanding, measuring and potentially engineering it.
The future of EV science will depend on collaboration between disciplines, technological advances and careful clinical validation.
The next chapter of medicine may depend as much on understanding the messages exchanged between cells as on understanding the cells themselves.
We look forward to welcome you in Porto.
Carla Lopes
President of Targeting Extracellular Vesicles 2026
University of Minho, Portugal
About the Congress
3rd World Congress on Targeting Extracellular Vesicles 2026
November 12–13, 2026
Porto, Portugal
Scientific collaboration: World Mitochondria Society (WMS) and International Society of Microbiota (ISM)
Official website: https://targeting-exosomes.com
Technology supporter: EVis Bioscience
https://evisbioscience.com