NIH launches 3D Print Exchange for Researchers

The National Institutes of Health has launched the NIH 3D Print Exchange, a public website that enables users to share, download, and edit three-dimensional (3D) print files related to health and science. These files can be used, for example, to print custom laboratory equipment and models of bacteria and human anatomy. The launch coincided with the first White House Maker Faire External, an event designed to celebrate US innovation in science, technology, engineering, and math.

NIH uses 3D printing to study viruses, repair and enhance laboratory apparatus, and help plan medical procedures. The 3D Print Exchange makes these types of files freely available, along with video tutorials for new users and a discussion forum to promote collaboration. The site also features tools that convert scientific and clinical data into ready-to-print 3D files.

The 3D Print Exchange is a collaborative effort led by NIH’s National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID). Additional support is provided by other NIH components, including the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development and the National Library of Medicine. The 3D Print Exchange is funded in part by the US Department of Health and Human Services through its Ignite External Web Site Policy and Ventures External Web Site Policy programs, which help support innovation within the agency.

Source: National Institutes of Health