Led by Professor Iain Whitaker, the end goal of this exciting project is to 3D print ears and noses out of living tissue. Using a unique bioink formulation and specialised 3D printers, all it takes is a "very small tissue sample, the size of a hole punch" to grow an ear from scratch.
Bringing this technology into a clinical setting will save patients from invasive surgery and additional scarring. Researchers hope it will be "the new gold standard in facial reconstruction."
Researchers Dr Laurence Hill and Dr Matthew Turner spoke to us about their roles in the project, the complex bioengineering challenges they face, and their hopes for the future.
