Dr. Wlodarczyk-Biegun receives second NWO XS grant

Dr. Malgorzata (Gosia) Wlodarczyk-Biegun of the Zernike Institute for Advanced Materials ( ZIAM ) has been awarded a NWO XS grant worth EUR 50,000. This is her second XS grant this year, which she this time receives for her research project ‘Gelling by printing’. The NWO XS category strives to encourage curiosity-driven and bold research involving a quick analysis of a promising idea. As a pilot, applicants are also an assessor in the XS assessment process.

3D bioprinting is a booming fabrication technique that allows to produce complex structures with unprecedented precision. Therefore, it is remarkably interesting for medical applications, such as building up artificial organs or reconstruction of damaged tissues. However, good printable materials (so-called bioinks) that are easy to use and solidify quickly are still lacking. In this research, Wlodarczyk-Biegun proposes a new class of inks that gel due to the printing process itself. As a result, high resolution printing will be simple and effective.

This round, sixteen applications have been awarded a NWO XS grant.