UOW Brings 3D Bioprinting Techniques to India

The University of Wollongong (UOW) has signed a strategiccollaboration in Visakhapatnam (Vizag), India, bringing its expertise in 3Dbioprinting techniques to India’s first integrated medical devicesmanufacturing zone.

AMTZ (Andhra Pradesh Medtech Zone) is India’s firstintegrated medical devices manufacturing zone being created to provide aone-stop solution covering common scientific, manufacturing and commercialfacilities for medical device manufacturers and innovators.

Several research and training initiatives will be established under the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), which was signed on September 10, 2019.

Among the collaborative research initiatives being pursued byAMTZ and UOW is a project to develop a scan and printing package to produce 3Dprinted ears. This will be coupled with innovative programs to supportwidespread deployment of the technology in India and Australia. Joint traininginitiatives will primarily focus on 3D biofabrication.

UOW’s Translational Research Initiative for CellularEngineering and Printing (TRICEP) will provide critical input into bothresearch and training initiatives. TRICEP houses a research infrastructure todevelop innovative technologies in 3D bioprinting, including printermanufacturing, biomaterials, and bioinks.

The UOW team was led by Distinguished Professor GordonWallace, AO, who is director of the ARC Centre of Excellence forElectromaterials Science.

Among those taking part in the signing ceremony wereUniversity of Wollongong Vice-Chancellor, Professor Paul Wellings, CBE;Distinguished Professor Gordon Wallace; UOW’s Global Brand Ambassador, AdamGilchrist, AM; and Dr Jitendar Sharma, managing director & CEO of AndhraPradesh Medtech Zone (AMTZ) and advisor (Health) to Government of AndhraPradesh, India. Other members of the visiting delegation includerepresentatives from Austrade and Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs andTrade.

Professor Wellings said the MOU would provide avenues forfurther collaboration in research, teaching and manufacturing between UOW andAMTZ.