Scholarships

Project: 3D Bioprinting of Pancreatic Islet Model for Diabetes Treatment

Diabetes is a significant global healthcare challenge, with approximately one in three Singaporeans facing a lifetime risk of developing the disease. For Asians with diabetes, there is a more prominent lack of pancreatic islet/beta cell mass and function, predisposing them to develop type 2 diabetes (T2D) more readily. Consequently, strategies aimed at repairing/replacing pancreatic islet and β-cells are critically important.

This funded PhD project aims to develop an advanced 3D bioprinting approach to fabricate an in vitro human pluripotent stem cell (hPSC)-derived β-cell model integrated with a perfusable vascular network. This innovative model holds significant potential for future clinical applications in diabetes treatment. The PhD candidate will investigate the fabrication of large-scale vascularized and functional 3D islet models, which will include tasks such as bioink preparation, cell-matrix interaction studies, and exploration of novel bioprinting modalities.

The candidate will collaborate closely with renowned experts in the fields of materials science, 3D bioprinting, stem cells, pancreatic β-cells, and diabetes biology. Experimental studies will be conducted at SC3DP's biomanufacturing laboratory, which hosts state-of-the-art 3D bioprinting technologies, in-vitro cell culture, and bioink development facilities. Motivated researchers are invited to join this pioneering effort in providing better healthcare through advanced engineering solutions. Applicants with backgrounds in Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science, Biomedical Engineering, or related fields are highly encouraged to apply.