MSSU launches 3D Printing Center for Precision Health
University officials were on hand Friday to open the new Missouri 3D Printing Center for Precision Health in Room 118 of the Ummel Technology Building in its temporary home prior to the completion of its permanent home sometime in 2026.
A new initiative funded through a Science to Jobs grant provided by the Missouri Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development, it will serve as a hub for advanced research, workforce training and regional collaboration focused on the intersection of 3D printing and personalized health care.
'The Missouri 3D Printing Center for Precision Health brings new opportunities spanning into the disciplines of health care, education, research and industry,' said Crystal Lemmons, dean of the College of Health, Life Sciences and Education. 'The potential impact of this technology is unlimited in its scope, and we expect the center to continue to grow and evolve over time.'
Lemmons said the center features four different kinds of 3D printers that use different materials to print realistic human organs, bones and tissue for surgeons to practice on before they cut into a real human body.
'We have the ability to make anatomical models. Some of them, depending on what the needs are, can be very lifelike,' Lemmons said. 'We have the ability to make devices or models that can be used to practice with surgery. We have the ability to make all kinds of other objects that may be needed. For example we made a tool, as kind of a practice, that helps us open some of the jugs that we have for our detergent. These are 3D printers and we have lots of different types of materials, so really the potential application for what can be made is almost limitless.'
Lemmons said the center is not quite ready to bring students into its lab, but she's heard positive feedback from students about the center.
'We are searching for staff members to run the center to be able to develop our curriculum,' Lemmons said. 'As soon as that piece — we're going to work on that this coming year — is in place we anticipate a lot of student involvement. I've had some initial conversations with students, they're very excited about it, those that know about it. I've had very good student feedback so I think it's just a matter of getting the center fully launched and getting our curriculum in place.'
Missouri Southern President Dean Van Galen said the center will provide unique opportunities for students to have a hands-on learning experience in 3D tech and how it is used in the medical field in a way that's not common at other universities.
'It's also important because it creates a bridge for us to work with health care providers in the region to work hand in hand in developing the use of this technology to benefit patients in our region and really across the state of Missouri,' Van Galen said. 'I think it also opens a door for more innovation and potential economic development that is centered around 3D printing in a precision lab.'
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