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A pioneering bioprinting facility, marking a key milestone in the growth of science and technology in health care, has just opened in the Philippines’ Jaro province, Iloilo City. The bioprinting laboratory is the result of the Department of Science and Technology’s (DOST) grant under the Business Innovation through S&T for Industry (BIST) Programme, a sub-component of the Science for Change Programme, for a pharmaceutical research study titled “Three Dimensional Bioprinted Human Skin Equivalent for In Vitro Biocompatibility Studies of Topical Formulations.”
A 3D bioprinter, ultra-low temperature freezer, microplate reader, CO2 incubators, inverted microscope, compound microscope with fluorescence observation, and other advanced 3D bioprinting technology are included. The bioprinting laboratory, a first in the region, will enable the fabrication of a human skin equivalent for experiments involving topical medications utilising 3D bioprinting technology.
The bioprinting facility will also provide new chances for local talent while improving Iloilo City’s research capability and competitiveness in the domains of biotechnology and tissue engineering.
Further, the project will pave the way for the establishment of a first-of-its-kind in Region VI in vitro biocompatibility testing facility, providing academic and research institutions with accessible services that will allow them to reduce costs associated with third-party laboratory analysis and accelerate product development timelines.
According to DOST Secretary Renato Solidum Jr., the construction of the bioprinting facility demonstrates the successful collaboration of industry and government in furthering cutting-edge research in the Philippines.
He said that they are happy to fund this type of research through the Science for Change Programme, which has resulted in the development of a cutting-edge bioprinting laboratory, thinking that the facility will pave the way for revolutionary advances in regenerative medicine.
The Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (DOST-PCHRD), which serves as the DOST grant’s monitoring agency, expressed excitement about the launch. The development of the bioprinting laboratory is a big step forward in the Philippines’ regenerative medicine industry.
Jaime Montoya, Executive Director of the DOST-PCHRD, stated that they are honoured to be a part of this endeavour and look forward to the revolutionary influence it will have on healthcare.
The agency believes that by using cutting-edge technologies such as bioprinting, tissue engineering, and regenerative medicine, the country will be able to concentrate on producing breakthrough treatments and personalised medicine solutions.
Likewise, the Philippines is utilising cutting-edge medical technology to assist doctors in more correctly diagnosing diseases and developing more effective therapies. For example, artificial intelligence (AI) is assisting in the development of new diagnostic systems that can detect diseases early and more reliably.
Also, cutting-edge technology is enabling the development of personalised medicine, which is tailored to the demands of each patient. This is accomplished using genetic testing, which can identify patients at risk for specific diseases and who may benefit from specific treatments.
It’s also being used to create new preventive care measures like vaccines and early detection testing. This can help to lower illness incidence and improve patient outcomes.
Besides, cutting-edge technology is being employed to develop new surgical techniques and improve surgical safety and effectiveness in the use of robotics allowing for more precise and least invasive procedures. It can also be used to improve patient care in a variety of ways, such as telemedicine, which allows patients to get care from doctors situated all over the nation.
