In a new short film from Understanding Animal Research, we learn how 3D printed blood vessels are being developed as a replacement to traditional bypass surgery techniques, and how animal research will ensure this innovation is safe to trial in humans.
‘3D Printing Blood Vessels’ follows the pioneering research of Dr Radacsi and his team as he describes how these synthetic blood vessels are being developed at the University of Edinburgh's School of Engineering.
More people die from heart diseases than any other disease. Bypass surgeries are lifesaving operations which help to overcome blockages to coronary arteries and restore normal blood flow. However, the current treatments for bypass surgeries are not ideal and can often involve complications. For over five years, Dr Radacsi’s team has been working on a solution to this problem, and by combining 3D bioprinting with nanofiber making, to create artificial blood vessels, they hope to majorly improve outcomes for heart bypass patients in the future.
The film also discusses why this technique will need to be researched in pigs before being tested in human volunteers.
Last edited: 14 January 2025 14:37