Biomanufacturing offers transformative potential for neural regeneration, disease modeling, and drug screening. Advanced bioprinting techniques enable the fabrication of neural tissues that closely mimic brain and spinal cord structures, supporting research into neurodegenerative disorders. Engineered neural constructs can facilitate nerve repair, ultimately aiming to providing novel treatment avenues for spinal cord injuries and peripheral nerve damage. 

The latest technology has the potential for integration of biomaterials, stem cells, and bioactive molecules to enhance neuronal differentiation and connectivity, enabling the creation of functional neural networks. Better in vitro neural models improve preclinical testing accuracy, reducing reliance on animal models while accelerating drug discovery.  

Through collaboration between bioengineers, neuroscientists, and clinicians, we will drive the development of bioprinted neural tissues and models that pave the way for personalised medicine and neurodegenerative therapies. Key challenges include vascularisation and long-term integration, which will be addressed through interdisciplinary research efforts within the incubator.

We aim to revolutionise cardiovascular medicine by developing bioprinted tissues for disease modeling, drug screening, and tissue regeneration.

Cardiovascular bioprinting combines bioinks, vascular cells, and biomaterials to recreate vascular tissue such as blood vessels and heart valves. Engineered heart tissues can provide physiologically relevant models for studying conditions like myocardial infarction, atherosclerosis, and heart failure, reducing reliance on animal studies.

The fabrication of functional vascular structures will enable advancements in tissue-engineered grafts, which are critical for bypass surgeries and peripheral artery disease treatments. Additionally, integrating endothelial and smooth muscle cells into bioprinted constructs enhances vascularisation, improving the survival and function of engineered tissues.

Collaborations between bioengineers, clinicians, and material scientists aims to accelerate the translation of cardiovascular biomanufacturing innovations from the lab to the clinic. Through strategic partnerships with industry, the incubator will drive technological advancements that support the development of personalised cardiovascular implants and regenerative therapies.

Maxillofacial biomanufacturing is poised to transform reconstructive surgery by enabling the fabrication of patient-specific bone, cartilage, and soft tissue constructs for craniofacial reconstruction.

Advanced bioprinting techniques allow for the precise fabrication of customized implants that mimic natural tissue architecture, improving outcomes in facial trauma, congenital defects, and post-oncologic reconstruction.

The integration of biocompatible scaffolds with osteogenic and chondrogenic cells enhances tissue regeneration, supporting bone and cartilage repair in maxillofacial applications. Additionally, bioactive materials with antimicrobial properties will be explored to reduce post-surgical infections and improve graft integration.

We will leverage multidisciplinary expertise in biomaterials, surgical sciences, and regenerative medicine to accelerate the development of functional maxillofacial implants.

By working closely with industry partners and clinical specialists, we aim to bridge the gap between biomanufacturing innovation and clinical application.

Biomanufacturing presents groundbreaking opportunities for diabetes research, particularly in pancreatic tissue engineering, islet transplantation, and in vitro disease modelling. We will focus on developing bioprinted pancreatic tissues to study insulin-producing beta cells, providing better models for diabetes drug testing and mechanistic studies.

Bioprinting can enhance the survival and function of islet cells, offering new approaches to cell-based diabetes therapies. Additionally, tissue-engineered platforms that mimic the diabetic microenvironment will enable researchers to investigate disease progression and identify novel treatment strategies. The integration of vascularised pancreatic constructs will be critical for improving transplantation outcomes, reducing the need for donor organs, and advancing personalised treatment options.

Through collaborations with endocrinologists, biomaterials scientists, and bioengineers, the Incubator will drive innovations in diabetes research. These efforts will also support the development of bioengineered insulin-producing tissues, paving the way for regenerative medicine solutions in diabetes management.

The success of biomanufacturing relies on cutting-edge printing technologies and advanced bioinks that enhance precision, scalability, and clinical applicability. The Incubator will collaborate with leading industry partners to integrate the latest bioprinting platforms, including high-resolution extrusion, inkjet, and laser-assisted bioprinters.

Key industry partners will provide state-of-the-art printers tailored for different tissue engineering applications, from soft tissues to complex multi-material constructs. In addition to hardware advancements, the development of next-generation bioinks is crucial.

These inks must support cell viability, differentiation, and tissue maturation while mimicking native extracellular environments. Smart bioinks with responsive properties—such as temperature-sensitive, self-healing, or antimicrobial formulations—will be explored to improve implant integration and function.

By leveraging cutting-edge bioprinters and innovative biomaterials, we will accelerate breakthroughs in tissue engineering, ensuring rapid translation from benchtop research to clinical application.

The gut is a frontline organ for health and our largest interface with the outside world. It is a living barrier that lets nutrients in, keeps threats out, and guides immune responses. When this balance fails, the consequences span infection, inflammatory disease, poor drug responses, and long-term health complications.

We will use biomanufacturing to build human-relevant gut tissues that are designed for scale and reproducibility. By combining advanced bioprinting with patient-derived cells, biomaterials, and controlled exposure to microbes and immune cues, we will create next-generation intestinal models that allow us to test why the barrier breaks, how it heals, and which interventions (drugs, nutrition, biologics, or live biotherapeutics) are most likely to work in real patients.

Partnering with the biomanufacturing incubator is key to providing the technological expertise and industry-facing pathways needed to move gut models from “promising prototypes” to standardised platforms that can support discovery and translation. The shared focus on disease modelling, drug testing, and building functional tissues creates seamless collaboration and delivery of tools that can be adopted across research groups and partner alliances.

The collaboration between Pharmaceutical Sciences and the Biomanufacturing Incubator brings together drug development with tissue engineering and bioprinting technologies. The Biomanufacturing Incubator is a multidisciplinary research initiative that advances disease modelling, drug testing, and functional tissue fabrications, supported by industry partnerships.

Partnering with the Biomanufacturing Incubator helps researchers in the field of pharmaceutical sciences to gain access to bioprinted in vitro human tissue models, accelerating preclinical testing and reducing reliance on animal models. Industry engagement provides access to specialised infrastructure and collaborative networks that enhance innovation capacity and create real-world impact.

This collaboration will drive impactful research outcomes with the potential to revolutionise drug discovery and development, leading to improved treatment strategies. By uniting pharmaceutical sciences with biomanufacturing capabilities, the partnership aims to accelerate the translation of scientific discoveries into clinical practices, strengthening Australia’s biomedical research leadership.

• Professor Steven Wise
• Professor Khoon Lim
• Professor Wendy Gold
• Dr Jeremy Pinyon
• Associate Professor Anna Waterhouse
• Dr Richard Tan
• Professor Jeremy Crook
• Dr Chun Xu
• Associate Professor Melkam Kebede
• Dr Belinda Yau
• Dr Chang Lei
• Dr Jing Jing You
• Professor Jonathan Clarke
• Dr Archita Mishra
• Associate Professor Lifeng Kang