Virtual Reality, 3D printing of tissues and organs, and intelligent fluidics allow doctors to practice on models with characteristics identical to real ones, improving diagnosis, clinical procedures, and surgical operations.
These are the technological innovations introduced by the PRINTMED-3D project, one of the 33 winners of the Call Hub Research and Innovation competition launched by the Lombardy Region, funded through POR-FESR 2014-2020 grants.
The project has clear and concrete objectives, as explained in a video by its scientific coordinator, Paolo Milani, Professor at the Department of Physics and Director of the Center of Excellence for Interdisciplinary Nanostructured Materials and Interfaces (C.I.Ma.I.Na) at the University of Milan.
Another key strength of the project is that these integrated models will be used to create a digital dataset, accessible through the Regional Healthcare System network, making data and models available for remote analysis, research, and specialized training for medical professionals.
Additionally, an important aspect of VR-3D printing integration is cost reduction, with the possibility of optimizing surgical procedures and post-operative recovery.
PRINTMED-3D represents a significant contribution to the establishment of Personalized Medicine in Lombardy and Italy, focusing on the individual needs and characteristics of each patient—an approach that could have direct benefits for citizens.
Below is the list of project partners, bringing together complementary expertise from both academia and industry:
· University of Milan – Department of Physics (project leader)
· Intelligenza Trasparente S.r.l.
· NRG sys S.r.l.
· Dolphin Fluidics S.r.l.
· KENTSTRAPPER S.r.l.
· Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico “C. Besta” – Besta Neurosim Center
