A new 3D printing laboratory officially opened today in Melbourne has the potential to revolutionise how we repair and augment bones in the head, skull and face.
Australian company Anatomics opened its 3D printing polymer laboratory, where it will develop its new porous plastic implant material, known as ‘StarPore’ – the first synthetic product of its type that can augment bone and integrate into the body’s own tissue.
‘PoreStar’ implants are designed from 3D CT scans and customised for individual patients.
The material resembles real bone but is more malleable and flexible than many existing implants so surgeons can shape and mould it in the operating theatre.
The Morrison Government invested almost $900,000 to support Anatomics to commercialise the ‘StarPore’ technology, through round one of the Medical Research Future Fund’s (MRFF) $45 million BioMedTech Horizons initiative.
This is an important innovation that will assist people after traumatic accidents, aggressive tumour removal, or other debilitating situations.
Having the new 3D printing laboratory to manufacture ‘StarPore’ at a former factory turned innovation hub in East Bentleigh is another step forward for Australia in our emergence in the 3D printing industry.
The new facility will help to improve surgical practice, develop software solutions and enable faster manufacture of implants.
This project epitomises what the Government is achieving through the BioMedTech Horizons initiative.
We are funding health and medical researchers and start-ups to turn discoveries into reality, helping to create better health outcomes for Australians and stimulating job and business growth.
The Morrison Government is committed to ensuring Australia is a health and medical research powerhouse.
The $20 billion Medical Research Future Fund is significantly increasing Australia’s investment in health and medical research, with a focus on translation and commercialisation.