The Future of Medicine – an opportunity in life science
3D printing a human organ, specifically created from an individual's unique tissue, may sound like sci-fi. But if we are to believe Itedale, Scientific Officer at CELLINK, we are not far off. Today, skin models are already being printed using CELLINK’s technology. Their ink research and 3D bioprinting business went public just 10 months after its start-up. ‘There is every indication that the life science industry needs to integrate the Future of Medicine as a major opportunity in their future strategy,’ says Itedale.
In the following, Itedale shares 5 tips for how to start working with The Future of Medicine.
1. Identify new business areas
Improving quality of life and saving lives are two extremely motivating factors for innovation. As a result, there are always new business areas to be found in medicine and life science. ‘Right now, we are entering an exciting phase of change with lots of new technology and research forming the basis for completely new healthcare methods,’ says Itedale. She believes that the growth in the medical technology and ‘personalized healthcare’ has only just begun.
2. Think about democratization
A question that often comes up in medical technology is accessibility. Will it become too expensive, allowing only a few wealthy people to benefit from the technology? According to Itedale, ethics is one of the most important issues to consider when building companies that engage in the future of medicine and life science. Effective, affordable products should always be the goal in medicine. Wider use creates more benefits and will always contribute to more profit in the long run,’ says Itedale.
3. Think about democratization
There is no denying that healthcare is one of the most regulated industries you can work in. ‘And rightly so, we should be grateful for our rules,’ Itedale thinks. However, rules can be difficult and if they are not at the core of your work in life science, innovation and MedTech, the chances of your product being accepted by the market is drastically reduced.
4. Package your solution
CELLINK started as a company that only focused on the material used for printing – what they call bioink (hence the name CELLINK). However, the problem was that the printers available for the material were few and incredibly expensive. In order to strengthen its offer, the company therefore started to develop its own printers.
Today, CELLINK's printers account for most of the revenue, allowing research into the complex bioink to continue. Itedale's tip is to package your idea in a marketable and solution-focused concept. ‘If you sell a package where you can say, here you go, this is everything you need to get started, it is more likely to be accepted and go to market.’
5. Build a strong community
One of the biggest challenges in life science is being accepted by the big players. In order to become accepted, in addition to a quality-assured product, you need to create a broad and competent network. ‘Identify others working in the same field and build and strengthen it together’ says Itedale. If you create a sense a curiosity and an interest in the field, more investors, researchers and companies will become curious and that way it will grow. ‘Seen from a CELLINK perspective, there are no competitors, we consider them as allies to grow ‘the bioprinting field’, Itedale concludes.
3D printing a human organ, specifically created from an individual's unique tissue, may sound like sci-fi. But if we are to believe Itedale, Scientific Officer at CELLINK, we are not far off. Today, skin models are already being printed using CELLINK’s technology. Their ink research and 3D bioprinting business went public just 10 months after its start-up. ‘There is every indication that the life science industry needs to integrate the Future of Medicine as a major opportunity in their future strategy,’ says Itedale.
In the following, Itedale shares 5 tips for how to start working with The Future of Medicine.
1. Identify new business areas
Improving quality of life and saving lives are two extremely motivating factors for innovation. As a result, there are always new business areas to be found in medicine and life science. ‘Right now, we are entering an exciting phase of change with lots of new technology and research forming the basis for completely new healthcare methods,’ says Itedale. She believes that the growth in the medical technology and ‘personalized healthcare’ has only just begun.
2. Think about democratization
A question that often comes up in medical technology is accessibility. Will it become too expensive, allowing only a few wealthy people to benefit from the technology? According to Itedale, ethics is one of the most important issues to consider when building companies that engage in the future of medicine and life science. Effective, affordable products should always be the goal in medicine. Wider use creates more benefits and will always contribute to more profit in the long run,’ says Itedale.
3. Think about democratization
There is no denying that healthcare is one of the most regulated industries you can work in. ‘And rightly so, we should be grateful for our rules,’ Itedale thinks. However, rules can be difficult and if they are not at the core of your work in life science, innovation and MedTech, the chances of your product being accepted by the market is drastically reduced.
4. Package your solution
CELLINK started as a company that only focused on the material used for printing – what they call bioink (hence the name CELLINK). However, the problem was that the printers available for the material were few and incredibly expensive. In order to strengthen its offer, the company therefore started to develop its own printers.
Today, CELLINK's printers account for most of the revenue, allowing research into the complex bioink to continue. Itedale's tip is to package your idea in a marketable and solution-focused concept. ‘If you sell a package where you can say, here you go, this is everything you need to get started, it is more likely to be accepted and go to market.’
5. Build a strong community
One of the biggest challenges in life science is being accepted by the big players. In order to become accepted, in addition to a quality-assured product, you need to create a broad and competent network. ‘Identify others working in the same field and build and strengthen it together’ says Itedale. If you create a sense a curiosity and an interest in the field, more investors, researchers and companies will become curious and that way it will grow. ‘Seen from a CELLINK perspective, there are no competitors, we consider them as allies to grow ‘the bioprinting field’, Itedale concludes.