Fabrication and Characterization Facilities
Each of the three TR&D sites boasts various printing and technology suites that cater not just to CECT collaborators but anyone in need of such facilities. Key facilities at each institute are outlined below and can be accessed as per the specific university's rules.
University of Maryland - Terrapin Works
The A. James Clark School of Engineering has made a multimillion-dollar investment in a new maker facility, Terrapin Works. Five research-focused tools will support 3DP of metals (3D Systems ProX™ 200), multiple polymers (Objet500 Connex), biomaterials (EnvisionTec 3D Bioplotter), patterned multilayer deposition of custom inks (nScrypt 3Dn-450HP), and 3D polymer fabrication at the microscale and nanoscale (Nanoscribe Photonic Professional). Two entrepreneurial-focused tools will support high-resolution single-polymer printing (Objet30 Pro) and production-grade polymer printing (Fortus 400mc).
Learn MoreUniversity of Maryland - Maryland NanoCenter
Established in 2004, the Maryland NanoCenter helps advance nano- and micro-scale research by providing state-of-the-art facilities to the campus and the region. The NanoCenter supports three major shared user facilities for design, fabrication, manipulation, and discovery of nanomaterials: the FabLab and NispLab in the University of Maryland’s Jeong H. Kim Engineering Building, and the NanoOptics Lab in UMD’s IREAP Building.
Learn MoreWake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine - Biofabrication Core Facility
The WFIRM Biofabrication Core Facility at Wake Forest was designed to enable the production of 3D bioprinted tissue and organ constructs. This multi-million dollar facility houses four state-of-the-art 3D bioprinters and one skin bioprinter, all designed and built at Wake Forest over the last 10 years. The customized 3D integrated organ printing (IOP) system printers are equipped with the latest XYZ stage/controllers, dispensing modules, and a closed chamber, for simultaneous, high precision, and versatile printing.
Learn MoreWake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine - CTSI
The Clinical and Translational Science Institute (CTSI) at Wake Forest has been made possible by a Clinical and Translational Science Award from the National Institutes of Health through its National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences. This has granted Wake Forest entry into the CTSA Consortium of more than 60 member institutions nationwide that work in partnership to accelerate the translation of discoveries into better preventive and treatment solutions to improve health. The Translational Research Cafe is a collaborative blog between the North Carolina CTSA hubs to promote stories of translational research.
Learn MoreRice University - Biomaterials Lab
The Biomaterials Lab is dedicated to improving patient health and overcoming medical challenges through the development and support of biomaterials research, education, and entrepreneurship. Tools, training, and support are provided to students at all levels, faculty, staff, and collaborators at Rice University and the surrounding community. The Lab houses the education and equipment needs to fabricate and characterize materials, enhancing biomaterials-related activities including developing regenerative medicine techniques, designing devices, and building prototypes.
Learn More Rice University - NanoFabrication Facility
The NanoFabrication Facility is located in the Abercrombie Engineering Laboratory on the Rice campus. The shared cleanroom complements the existing suite of instruments managed and operated under the auspices of the Shared Equipment Authority (SEA) and the Richard E. Smalley Institute. The Rice SEA supports more than 65 instruments, including X-ray diffraction, optical microscopy, electron microscopy, scanning probe microscopy, optical spectroscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance, mass spectrometry, thermal analysis, cleanroom class 100/1000, and micro/nanofabrication.
Learn MoreRice University - OEDK
Rice University’s Oshman Engineering Design Kitchen (OEDK) provides a space for undergraduate students majoring in bioengineering, chemical and biomolecular engineering, civil and environmental engineering, computational and applied mathematics, computer science, electrical and computer engineering, materials science and nanoengineering, mechanical engineering, and statistics to design, prototype, and deploy solutions to real-world engineering challenges. To create the full circle of real-world experience that has societal impact, interdisciplinary teams tackle problems proposed by industry and partners in the Texas Medical Center and abroad.
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