Aislinn Fanning, PIH Postdoctoral Researcher, recently published a review of Pratap Devarapalli’s fascinating new book entitled: ‘Bioinked Boundaries: Patenting 3D Bioprinted Tissues, Organs and Bioinks: An US, European and Australian Patent Law Perspective’ on The IPKat blog. The review highlights the importance and timeliness of the book, which provides a comparative analysis across three jurisdictions (the US, Europe and Australia) to investigate the key question of what is, or may be, patentable subject matter in relation to bioprinting innovation. You can read the review here.
3D bioprinting involves using bioinks (which are composed of living stem cells) to print complex organic structures that mimic living tissues. 3D bioprinting technologies have the potential to be significantly impactful in the health space, where (for example) the development of functional human-scale 3D tissues and organs is progressing. This has transformative potential for human health, particularly given the global shortages of organs for transplant. Questions around the patentability of those technologies, therefore, are both incredibly timely and important given that they raise important societal concerns. These include the potential implications for access to and use of such technologies, and the bioethical issues that may be arise if patents can be granted over 3D bioprinting technologies.
The question of how patents over emerging health technologies could impact on access to and use of those technologies, and affect patients’ bioethical interests, is at the heart of the ERC PatentsInHumans project, led by Prof Aisling McMahon (PI).
You can find out more about the PatentsInHumans project on our website: www.patentsinhumans.eu and by watching this short video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LFVRHpzzuQM