$20 million to boost NH tissue engineering & similar biomaterials development

From UNH Today: UNH will lead a five-year EPSCoR project funded by the National Science Foundation to develop innovative approaches in the development of biomaterials, such as those used in implants and tissue engineering, which hold the potential to save patient lives and improve quality of life.

The New Hampshire Center for Multiscale Modeling and Manufacturing of Biomaterials (NH BioMade) will support the rapidly growing New Hampshire biomaterials industry through knowledge generation, academic-industrial research partnerships, and workforce development, enabling rapid advancement in biomaterials design and manufacturing. It is closely aligned with the Advanced Regenerative Manufacturing Institute (ARMI) in Manchester. NH BioMade is funded by a $20 million award from the Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) at the National Science Foundation.

Addressing opportunities identified in the 2016 NH University Research and Industry Plan, NH BioMade will build research capacity by investing in 11 new faculty hires across three institutions; a shared, virtual core facility for high-performance computing, advanced manufacturing, and state-of-the-art biomaterials characterization; and statewide education and workforce training initiatives.

“This NSF grant allows us to implement recommendations from the NH University Research and Industry Plan, which analyzed how the state could best use its assets and strengths to grow high wage jobs in specific industry clusters, including biosciences and biotechnology,” said Jan Nisbet, NH EPSCoR state director and senior vice provost for research at UNH.

Brad Kinsey, professor of mechanical engineering and materials science and director of the UNH Center for Advanced Materials and Manufacturing Innovation, will lead a team of scientists and engineers at UNH and Dartmouth College to develop the novel biomaterials. Education and workforce training efforts will be led by the Leitzel Center for Mathematics, Science and Engineering Education at UNH, in partnership with the Community College System of NH, Keene State College, and UNH Manchester. New Hampshire companies are represented on the BioMade Industry and State Partnerships Advisory Board.