Creating 3D printed nipple-areolar complex implants for breast reconstruction
Official title: 3D Bioprinted Nipple-Areolar Complex Implants
Funded at Univ of Maryland, College Park · NIH-11085143 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is working on a special implant that can help make breast reconstruction after a mastectomy look more natural by creating a personalized nipple and areola that blends in with your body, using advanced 3D printing technology.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Univ of Maryland, College Park NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (College Park, United States) |
| Project start | June 1, 2023 |
| Project end | April 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $561,959 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HD112031-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11085143 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are women who have undergone mastectomy due to breast cancer and are seeking reconstruction options for the nipple-areolar complex.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who have not undergone mastectomy or those who do not wish to pursue breast reconstruction may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on developing a personalized, bioresorbable implant for the nipple-areolar complex (NAC) to aid in breast reconstruction after mastectomy due to breast cancer. The project aims to create a hybrid biomaterial implant that mimics the natural shape and texture of the nipple and areola, which often gets overlooked in traditional reconstruction methods. By utilizing advanced 3D bioprinting techniques, the researchers will design and fabricate implants tailored to individual patient anatomy, promoting tissue ingrowth and eventual degradation of the implant to leave behind natural-looking tissue. The study will explore various design parameters to optimize the implants for clinical use.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could provide women undergoing mastectomy with a more natural and aesthetically pleasing reconstruction option for the nipple-areolar complex.
How similar studies have gone: While the concept of 3D bioprinting for tissue reconstruction is emerging, this specific approach to NAC reconstruction is novel and has not been extensively tested in clinical settings.
Where this research is happening
-
Univ of Maryland, College Park
College Park, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Fisher, John P — Univ of Maryland, College Park
- Study coordinator: Fisher, John P
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.