3D bioprinting enables the generation of human tissues on demand, which can serve as an important tool for screening potential drug targets. Axolotl Biosciences creates specialized bioinks that generate reproducible, functional human tissues derived from stem cells. Their newest bioink, BrainPrint, uses a patent pending microsphere drug delivery system to help create stable and mature human brain tissues from stem cells. 

BrainPrint can be used with a variety of commercially available bioprinters to produce human neural tissues that replicate the chemical and electrical signals found in the brain. 

StarFish Medical will focus on implementation of commercial scale microfluidic processes for fabricating the drug releasing microspheres based on prototypes developed in the Willerth and Elvira labs at the University of Victoria using the combined strengths of Axolotl Biosciences and StarFish Medical. 

Axolotl Biosciences was selected as one of 25 winners and only Canadian company of the Falling Walls Venture 2022 competition.