Center of Excellence in 3D bioprinting of Cellink at IISc to advance regenerative medicine & drug discovery

The Center of Excellence in 3D bioprinting of Cellink at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru is expected to advance regenerative medicine, tissue engineering and drug discovery. The operations of the facility have commenced after two organisations inked a pact in August this year. This is the first 3D bioprinting center of excellence in the Indian subcontinent. The facility is housed within the Centre for BioSystems Science and Engineering (BSSE) at IISc’s Bengaluru campus. The CoE will provide access to 3D bioprinting systems, enabling researchers to accelerate their work across critical applications to help improve health outcomes.

Cellink is the global leader in developing 3D bioprinters. The CoE currently houses several Cellink instruments, including the BIO X, BIO X6 and the Bionova X. It will now officially be accessible to the scientific community. The bio-printing centre will provide the much needed research support. The Institute already houses many innovative start-ups with the capability of tech and product commercialisation. A couple of months ago, the Centre for BioSystems Science and Engineering designed a new method to deliver a vaccine candidate for tuberculosis (TB). The research involves using spherical vesicles secreted by bacteria coated on gold nanoparticles which can then be delivered to the immune cells.

This, according to the researchers, can potentially trigger an immune response and offer protection against the disease. In addition there is also an advanced digitally driven multi specialty coming up with the campus which will integrate science, engineering and medicine under a single roof. Noting that the Center of Excellence in 3D bioprinting of Cellink provides access to the most advanced leading technology developed, Prof Govindan Rangarajan said the systems will enable significant strides in research and in developing the future of health.Referring it to be a partnership of much importance Tomoko Bylund, head of sales – APAC, Cellink said that IISc was also an institute at the forefront of scientific research as can be seen by the new medical school being led by Prof Rangarajan.

“We see Cellink to help us to initiate efforts in this frontier technology which can greatly accelerate development of therapies, drug discovery, personalised medicine and many other applications that can have tremendous impact on human health,” said Prof Rangarajan. Dr Ashwath Narayan CN, Karnataka Minister of Electronics, Information Technology – Biotechnology, Science and Technology, Higher Education, Skill Development, Entrepreneurship and Livelihood who opened the CoE noted that this futuristic initiative would boost drug discovery among others. Also present were Dr Vishal US Rao, group director and Dean, HCG Cancer Centre, Bengaluru who has been driving extensive medical research.