What does bioprinting mean for the clinical trial market?

Bioprinting, or 3D bioprinting, entails printing biomedical structures from living cells, biological substances, and biomaterials in three dimensions. During the printing process, biological materials, or bioinks, are deposited layer-by-layer to create 3D structures, such as heart valves, stents, artificial joints, ligaments, and other implants.

This technology is making waves in several health sectors, including clinical research and clinical trials, where its impact on the acceleration of treatment and drug development is a force to be reckoned with.

For example, an average of 96% of all cancer drug trials fail during human testing, costing pharmaceutical companies billions in losses. Bioprinting technology prints tissues closely resembling those of the human body, eliminating the need for some direct human clinical trials and the costs associated with them. This is because lab-printed tissues can be used to test new treatments and drugs instead.

Like wearable 3D printing, this revolutionary technology is reinventing clinical trials and has the potential to make the drug development process more affordable, safe, and effective.

Essentially, bioprinting tissues and organs on demand will create endless possibilities within clinical research. For instance - where outbreaks such as the Covid-19 pandemic are detected - this process can speed up trials, ensuring faster defence with effective drugs and treatments.

The possibility that companies may bioprint human organs, such as kidneys, livers, and hearts, is also extremely exciting. It will help improve clinical research as scientists delve

deeper into human biology without the concern of wasting billions of revenue or trials failing or inflicting side effects on trial patients.

The clinical trial and research industry is highly lucrative. The sector's worth was estimated to be $46.8 billion in 2019 and continues to grow as the need for new vaccines, drugs, medical devices, and therapeutics strengthens.

Remuneration aside, clinical trial careers currently pose several other benefits. From making a positive difference in people’s lives to putting your science degree to good use, you’ll be a key, proactive player in the medical field. Not to mention the exciting and exclusive opportunities you’ll have to use and apply innovative technologies like 3D bioprinting.

As the world's leading clinical research organisation, ICON is best suited to help you expand into clinical research careers. Hiring candidates across several functions, our mission is to find passionate individuals who enjoy applying their skills within our organisation. Why? Because a career at ICON is a chance to make a difference on a global scale.

Bioprinting is just one innovation that exemplifies the exciting times ahead in our industry. Browse our clinical trial jobs and clinical research associate jobs to start your new career. Alternatively, continue to explore our website for opportunities and resources that would be useful to you.