Texas Medical

Science University

Memo
To:

Dr. John Williams, President of National Science Foundation.

From:

Pamela Lopez, Manager

Courtney Colomo, Project Materials Coordinator
Nicholas Moore, Research Analyst

Date:
Subject: Proposal for 3-D bioprinter

Purpose
The purpose of our proposal is to recommend a 3D bioprinter to help us research
advanced methods to perform organ transplants.
Introduction
3-D bioprinting uses the concept of a regular printer but it has an additional axis. With this
arrangement it can lay down material from side to side, but it can also deposit layers
vertically as the elevator draws the platform down and away from the print head. Fill it
with cells, and it will output a mass of cells (The bioprinting Process)
Currently, we are working on creating complex organs and are unable to do that because
the bioprinters we have are outdated. The usage of the bioprinters that we currently have
are not viable with the cells that we need to use for research. This issue will result in our
University and students falling behind in the field. It is crucial to receive up-to-date
bioprinters to be successful in our major and in the world of medical science.
Proposed Tasks
With Dr. Williamss approval, we would perform the following tasks:
Task 1. Research transplantation of tissues.
Some of the tissues include; multilayered skin, bone, vascular grafts, tracheal splints,
heart tissue and cartilaginous structures (Murphy, Sean V).
Performing this task is important because we would be able to see how our created
tissues and organs are used on people to change their lives for the better.

Task 2: Research Organs we couldnt research before.

More complex organs that require multiple cells.
We plan on performing this task because we would actually be able to use cells that the
old bioprinter cant use to practice creating more complex tissues and organs. We will
then be able to research the way they work and find successes and errors.
Task 3: The Bio printing Process.
The bioprinting process centers on key architecture and compositional elements of a
target tissue. We would be able to learn create tissues and physically see how the
bioprinter creates them (Harris, William).
Our secondary research lets us know that theres several steps taken when creating a
tissue. The process starts with creating a tissue design to the bioprinter using a layer by
layer process to build up tissues vertically and achieve their three-dimensionality. The bio
printing process can be tailored to produce tissues in several formats, to larger structures
that are suitable for placement prior to use (Harris, William).
We plan on researching the bioprinting process to visually see how the bioprinter works.
Being informed about how the bioprinters work will also help us know how to use the
bioprinters correctly if we receive them.

Schedule
Task 1: Research transplantation of
tissues.

4/10/15

Task 2: Research Organs we couldnt

research before.

4/17/15

Task 3: The bioprinting process

4/24/15

Experience
We are current Science Major Students that are pursuing advanced research in Organ
transplants. 3D bioprinting would save time on patients waiting on an organ transplant, it
would also advance research and the medical field. We all want to be part of a new
success in medicine.
Nicholas Moore: I hope to do research in the field of physics and am interested in the
different applications of 3D printing.
Pamela Lopez: My interest is going into nursing but this research was helpful when
understanding the new technology of science.
Courtney Colomo: I intend on going into the medical field to perform research.

Works Cited:
Murphy, Sean V., and Anthony Atala. "3D Bioprinting of Tissues and Organs." Nature
Biotechnology. Nature Publishing Group, 5 Aug. 2014. Web. 1 Apr. 2015.
Harris, William. "How 3-D Bioprinting Works" 17 December 2013. HowStuffWorks.com.
<http://health.howstuffworks.com/medicine/modern-technology/3-d-bioprinting.htm>
01 Apr. 2015.
The Bioprinting Process. Organovo. N.p., n.d. Web. 06 Apr. 2015