Bridging 3D Printing Talent and Technology with New Additive Design in Surgical Solutions Centre

If we learned anything from last week’s Materialise World Summit, it’s that working together is the key to innovation and growth in the additive manufacturing world. In this spirit, the London Medical Network (LMN), a city-wide, cross-disciplinary enterprise launched last year, has just announced a new $6.8 million partnership with Western University in Ontario and Renishaw to set up a brand new R&D and commercialization center, which will focus on using 3D printing technology to create and develop surgical solutions and medical instruments.

The overarching goal of the multi-institutional collaboration, which includes Western University, Western’s Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Robarts Research Institute, and St. Joseph’s Health Care London, is to resolve some of the world’s most challenging health care issues. The Additive Design in Surgical Solutions (ADEISS) Centre will create direct employment for about 20 knowledge workers, as well as focus on the development of proprietary solutions and knowledge sharing between the partners, bridging talent and technology for the better good.

Amit Chakma, Western University President, said, “Partnerships such as this one, which bring together industry, clinicians, researchers and academia, are the future of innovation. Bringing all of these great minds together will no doubt yield impressive results.”

Discovery Park

The ADEISS Centre will be located at the 50-acre Discovery Park on Western University’s campus, which is home to one of Canada’s most successful biotechnology incubators, the Stiller Centre for Technology Communication. Medical products and instruments will be created at the ADEISS Centre, which can in turn be marketed to the orthopedic, medical device, and dental sectors in North America. For example, the 3D printing technology that will be available in the ADEISS Centre will be put to use in the creation of patient-specific implants and tools.

Dr. Michael J. Strong, Dean, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University and LMN Governing Council Member, said, “The London Medical Network aims to make our city a global leader in medical research and innovation in order to improve health care around the world. Today’s announcement is a tremendous next step toward realizing that vision.”

Research, technical, and business teams from Western, Robarts, the Lawson Health Research Institute, and Renishaw, which recently opened its North American headquarters, will partner together at the Centre, which gives trainees, learners, and London startup companies a technologically advanced, leading environment where they can work on developing and testing products for the health care sector. ADEISS is really a development platform, and is setting up to be a leading provider of precise, biocompatible 3D printed medical devices, designed to reduce risk and cost and improve patient care.

“This is another step toward creating a hub for innovation and commercialization and further secures London’s place as a global leader in medical technology. We have a rich and storied history in delivering medical firsts and our health care sector directly employs 24,000. Here, we are doing research for the world,” said London Mayor Matt Brown.

ADEISS will give the research and business development community of London instant access to a top 3D precision printing technology platform, thanks to its partnership with global additive manufacturing leader Renishaw.

Dafydd Williams, President of Renishaw (Canada) Limited, said, “Renishaw is very excited to be a fundamental part of the ADEISS program together with Western University and Robarts Research Institute. Following on from the great success of our European Medical Solution Center located in Miskin, South Wales, ADEISS will be crucial in Renishaw’s ability to impact the North American market. We anticipate this uniquely placed facility will yield many new innovations in both medical device design and the use of Additive Manufacturing technology to push the boundaries of current thinking and design in this technically very demanding field.”

ADEISS is currently pursuing ISO accreditation and certifications in the US, Canada, and Europe. To learn more about this unique partnership, check out the video below:

Discuss in the ADEISS forum at 3DPB.com.