3D-printing pioneer Stratasys partners with Jacobs Institute to accelerate medical innovation

3D-printing technology company Stratasys Ltd. (Eden Prairie, MN) today announced that it is partnering with New York–based Jacobs Institute (JI; Buffalo) to create a new Center of Excellence (COE). The stated goal of the partnership is to advance the use of 3D printing for a variety of medical applications.

The new COE will leverage Stratasys’ technology to develop and test new medical devices using 3D-printed prototypes and models and to enrich clinical education and training activities for a variety of audiences. The COE will also serve as a referral center for hospitals and medical research organizations that are considering implementing 3D-printing labs.

“By partnering with Stratasys, the Jacobs Institute is bringing the leader in 3D printing to Buffalo to work closely with JI and its partners, Kaleida Health and the University at Buffalo, to accelerate the development of new medical technologies,” said Bill Maggio, CEO of the Jacobs Institute. “Working together, the respective institutions will leverage their strengths to make an impact far greater than they could make individually.”

Stratasys is supporting the COE by providing advanced 3D printing technology featuring a combination of vibrant colors and diverse material properties including different levels of opacity and rigidity. Stratasys will collaborate with the Jacobs Institute on technical and clinical case studies that include 3D-printed applications, and also provide financial support for vital research projects.

Noting that it is the first time that Stratasys has formally partnered with a medical organization, Scott Rader, General Manager, Medical Solutions, at Stratasys, said that the company “brings decades of experience to the Jacobs Institute, a leader in 3D-printed models, to push the boundaries of how these models can be used to train the next generation of physicians, and test new devices.”