Cell printing pioneer shortlisted for major prize (1/25/2008)

A professor who developed technology that allows tailor-made tissues and bones to be grown has been shortlisted for a major international prize that recognises world changing ideas.

Professor Brian Derby from The School of Materials uses inkjet printing technology to fabricate complex tissue scaffolds on which cells can be grown.

His aim is to use inkjet printing to build 3-D structures that contain both the living cells and the scaffold materials. The ability to print skin and bone and, ultimately, whole artificial organs is a possibility.

Professor Derby will attend the glittering finals ceremony of the Saatchi & Saatchi Award For World Changing Ideas in New York on 21 February, where the ten finalists will exhibit their innovations.

The global competition is held biennially and offers a first prize worth $100,000.

Professor Derby's innovation - which made headlines back in 2005 - is one of ten projects in contention.

Others finalists include the One Laptop per Child project in the United States, which aims to empower the children of developing countries to learn by providing one laptop to every school-age child.

The judging panel for the 2007 Award includes Edward de Bono, Peter Gabriel, HRH Prince Hassan and Malcolm McLaren.

Bob Isherwood, Worldwide Creative Director of Saatchi & Saatchi, said: "The ingenuity, brilliance and commitment of our finalists is humbling. We have some very big answers to some very big questions here, and their potential to change the world of so many people is self-evident. These ideas are simply inspirational."

Note: This story has been adapted from a news release issued by The University of Manchester

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