CONTEXT and GOALS of AM4Life:
Additive Manufacturing (AM), or 3D-printing, is an emerging and disruptive technology which has already shown successful implementation in the field of life sciences. However, there are many remaining challenges connected to for example the development of degradable implants, tissue printing, surface treatment before/after manufacturing, and development of equipment with better resolution.
The main goal of the Centre is to support a fast national advancement in the field of Additive Manufacturing for the Life Sciences by creating synergies between academia, industry and healthcare. The Centre focuses on conducting multidisciplinary, cooperative research and innovation by bringing together academic researchers and industrial experts from the life- and materials sciences, biomedical engineering and additive manufacturing. We furthermore strive to directly involve clinicians in the projects, as end users as well as active researchers, and we engage relevant and leading partners working in the field of 3D-printing technologies and related applications. The created synergies constitute the basis for building strong and successful long-term collaborations. The conceptional structure of the Centre is described in the diagram below.
Additive Manufacturing for the Life Sciences is funded by VINNOVA (Sweden's Innovation Agency) Competence Centre and gathers more than 20 partners in academia, industry and the public sector to support competence and research development in the filed of life sciences. The centre is funded by academia, industry and VINNOVA in equal parts, with a total budget of approx. 100 MSEK and will run for 5 years in a first instance, between 2020-2025, and engage experts within academia, industry and public sectors with a passion for 3D-printing.
The Board consist of 5 members outside academia and 2 representatives from Uppsala University:
Chair: Katarina Beierlein (Cytiva)
- Marcus Lindahl (Uppsala University) (substitute: Staffan Svärd )
- Mats Larhed (Uppsala University) (substitute: Christel Bergström)
- Ulrica Fjärstedt (Akademiska Sjukhuset)
- Katarina Beierlein (Cytiva) (substitute: Andreas Marcström)
- Erik Asplund (Region Uppsala) (substitute: Toni Jonsson )
- Malin Kele (Biolamina)
- Anna Lefevre Skjöldebrand (Swedish Medtech) (substitute: Jesper Olsson)
EXTERNAL EXPERTS ADVISORY BOARD
- Head of Institute for Medical Engineering and Medical Informatics, University of Applied Sciences Northwestern Switzerland, Liestal, Switzerland
- Expertise in 3D-printed implants
- Director of Institute for Biomechanics and Head of Lab. For Tissue Engineering and Biofabrication. Professor of Tissue Engineering and Biofabrication, Dept. Health Sciences and Technology ETH Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
- Expertise in bioprinting
- Director of VINNOVA Competence Centre for Metal Additive Manufacturing CAM2
- Professor at the Department of Industrial and Materials Science, Chalmers University, Sweden
- Expertise in AM of metals
- Head of CALM Centre (Center for Additive Layer Manufacturing)
- Professor in Materials and Manufacturing, Co-Director of Exeter Technology Group (ETG), University of Exeter, UK
- Expertise in AM of polymers and composites
- Technical Director, EOS Metal Materials. Technical responsibility of metal materials business unit, Finland
- Expert in commercialisation and development of AM technology
Operational Office
- Director: Ceclia Persson
- Deputy-Director: Johan Kreuger
- Project manager: Alexandra Davydova
Management group
- Lead Implants: Cecilia Persson (Uppsala University)
- Lead Bioprinting: Johan Kreuger (Uppsala University)
- Project management and Communication: Alexandra Davydova (Uppsala University)
- Lead Equipment development: Stefan Johansson (Uppsala University)
- Lead Bioprocess materials: Klas Marteleur (Cytiva)
- Lead Printing for medication: Jonas Lindh (Uppsala University)
- Lead Implementation in Clinics: Andreas Thor (Akademiska sjukhuset)
- Lead Implementation: Organizational and Business Models: Anders Brantnell (Uppsala University)
- Gender aspects: Kristina Andersson (Uppsala University)
- Innovation: Helena Bysell (UU Samverkan, Uppsala University)
Organizational Structure of the competence centre