It might sound like science fiction, but it is very much today’s reality and a field that holds great promise for human health.
Bioprinting is an extension of traditional 3D printing; it can produce living tissue, bone, blood vessels and, potentially, whole organs for use in medical procedures. New drugs and devices can therefore be tested on ‘living’ cells that replicate cells within the human body. This means scientists can then test the effectiveness of drugs as if on real people as well as study disease progression. The field of bioprinting is growing rapidly and Michael Smith Health Research BC awardee, Dr. Stephanie Willerth, has developed new and unique ‘bioink’ to produce these futuristic materials.
