I can’t believe we’ve uploaded around 20 new episodes since our last “The Lattice” podcast email. Podcast is a medium I personally enjoy. Learning from podcasts while walking my dog feels like a win, especially if this cannot be found anywhere else on the internet, in books, or with ChatGTP. Below is a quick guide to the new uploads. You can also find all the show notes here. Tell us what you would like to listen to next.
A Walk With Your Dog
Inspirational conversation with founders. I learned about their entrepreneurial journeys, leadership style, struggles, and dreams. Good stuff.
In this episode, Alyssa Huffman, CEO and co-founder of Allumin8, shares the six-year journey behind a first-of-its-kind 5.5 mm porous, 3D-printed pedicle screw. We discussed how Allumin8 earned FDA clearance and why design details matter for fatigue, fixation, and fewer revisions. We also map a path toward “therapeutic hardware” that integrates orthobiologics without slowing surgeons down. Join us as we explore the challenges, triumphs, and vision behind Allumin8’s mission to change lives.
⚠️ Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only. The views expressed do not constitute engineering, medical, or financial advice. The technologies and procedures discussed may not be commercially available or suitable for every case. Always consult with a qualified professional.
Why does a 5.5 mm screw matter? How does Gaussian topography support bone ingrowth? What are some of the lessons from fatigue testing and post-processing? What are the additive vs milled manufacturing trade-offs? What was Allumin8’s FDA journey and strategy? When and how do orthobiologics add value? How did Alyssa build a purpose-aligned team and investor base? What are some practical founder advice on equity and boards? What is on Alyssa’s wishlist for the future of orthopedic implants?
“I saw catastrophic failures occur in the OR, but then I saw the ripple effects of what those catastrophic failures meant for patients.”
Gaussian curvature and geometry pattern of the bone
The “gaussian geometry pattern” in bone refers to the use of Gaussian curvature as a mathematical tool to characterize the complex, sponge-like microarchitecture of trabecular bone. It is not a visible physical pattern but rather a descriptor of the bone’s intricate, highly curved surfaces.
Alyssa Huffman is an award-winning MedTech entrepreneur, inventor, and thought leader focused on advancing orthopedic and spine care. Highly regarded in the industry, she was the first Commercial Representative appointed to the North American Spine Society (NASS) and is a respected voice in global spine innovation, championing evidence-based strategies at major conferences. Her initial inspiration came in 2009 while working as a distributor, when she witnessed the devastating complications of failed spine surgery on family members. This led to the first sketch of the A8 INTEGR8™ Porous Pedicle Screw System—the cornerstone of her company ALLUMIN8’s Therapeutic Hardware™ platform—which integrates biomechanical support with regenerative potential.
Under her leadership, ALLUMIN8 has achieved global recognition, including the “Best Technology in Spine” Award from Orthopedics This Week, the Global Impact Award 2025 from WashU in St. Louis, and significant funding from organizations like the Missouri Technology Corporation and St. Louis Arch Grants. Beyond her entrepreneurial endeavors, Huffman has contributed to clinical scholarship as a co-author on topics such as innovations in spine surgery and analgesic effects for trigeminal neuralgia. Her two decades of consulting experience span a wide range of MedTech areas, from medical devices to stem cell therapies. Her mission is to solve problems for patients, physicians, healthcare organizations, and payors by merging rigorous clinical evidence with cost-conscious innovation to accelerate the future of patient care.
Our recent event brought together key innovators to discuss the profound impact of 3D technologies on pediatric cardiology. We dove into how 3D printing, augmented reality (AR), and virtual reality (VR) are transforming pre-surgical planning, intraoperative care, and patient outcomes, drawing on insights from five industry and clinical leaders. These technologies are providing clinicians, patients, and their families with a new dimension of understanding, enhancing the accuracy of pre-surgical planning, refining intraoperative procedures, and improving patient outcomes and education. Here’s a recap of our event, now available on-demand in 3DHEALS Courses.
How are 3D printing innovators using creativity to advance pediatric cardiology?
Medical 3D printing is an art form, enriched by the creative expression of 3D printing innovators and the growing landscape of tools to create in 3D. There’s no doubt that 3D-printed anatomical models must be true to a patient’s anatomy for them to be practically useful, but, as Nicholas Jacobson showed us, it takes an artistic viewpoint to make these prints a reality.
Jacobson, Co-Founder of Tangible Industries, has been using his training as an architect and artist to inform his innovations in 3D printing for pediatric cardiology and other areas of medicine.
One project he’s worked on is printing absolutely stunning models of blood flow through the heart using 4D flow cardiovascular magnetic resonance (4DCMR). Using a Stratasys PolyJet printer, the hearts are fabricated such that each voxel (or 3D pixel) can be a different color, enabling Jacobson to create models that show blood flow velocity as streamlines printed as a beautiful gradation of colors. This allows clinicians to visualize dynamic flow over time in 3D, even while holding a static model.
Cardiac 3D printing is now moving towards creating physical representations of these more complex forms of imaging data, enabling clinicians to visualize areas of concerning flow before a procedure. However, turning new imaging modalities into usable prints isn’t easy, as Jacobson’s paper shows that printing blood flow is both a scientific and artistic challenge.
The artistic choices of color saturation, printing material opacity, and blood flow line thickness all play a factor in how easily a viewer can understand what’s going on in a print. After all, it’s the role of the artist to figure out how best to color an artwork so that their intended message is conveyed to the audience, and medical 3D printing is no different.
Fundamentally, 3D printing innovators are artists. How do we take a patient’s heart and turn it into a model that clearly tells clinicians and patients its story? What do we want viewers to feel and see? For Jacobson, leveraging this artistic side of medical 3D printing is leading him to create models that go beyond static anatomy, showing us that there are many more unexplored avenues if we take a look at the field from a different perspective.
How is augmented reality (AR) transforming pediatric cardiology?
One key advantage of 3D modeling is its role in patient and family education. Clinicians can now use 3D models of a pediatric patient’s heart as a rich visual representation to more easily explain complicated medical information to parents, which helps to alleviate concerns and keep parents informed.
Dr. Ravi Ashwath, Professor of Pediatrics at Baylor College of Medicine and Division Chief of Pediatric Cardiology at Christus Children’s Hospital, shared one of his studies comparing 3D-printed models, 3D virtual models, and 2D imaging for explaining cardiac anatomy to patients and family members. The study finds that both types of 3D models – printed and virtual – improved patient knowledge of cardiac anatomy and were more preferred compared to viewing 2D echocardiograms. However, the difference between printed and virtual models wasn’t as clear.
3D virtual models can have a tremendous impact on patient education, serving as a lower-cost alternative because they do not require printing physical materials. Dr. Ashwath described their workflow for efficiently delivering virtual models: users can scan QR codes to view augmented reality (AR) models of a patient’s heart directly on their smartphones.
While not yet used in routine clinical work, this QR code system could one day provide all parents of pediatric heart patients with virtual heart models that improve their understanding of their child’s condition and reduce anxiety about entering a world filled with medical jargon and unfamiliar concepts.
(Watch the full video to get the QR codes.)
Dr. Ashwath shows the power of making 3D modeling easily accessible to more people. As 3D models play a larger role in the clinic, it will be critical to make this technology more accessible so that as many individuals as possible can benefit from it. How can we make the workflow from imaging to AR as efficient as possible? How will we increase access to devices for viewing these models, especially in resource-limited settings?
How is mixed reality improving surgical outcomes for pediatric cardiology?
3D printing innovators know how to bring people together. Look no further than Dr. Shafkat Anwar, Co-Founder and Medical Director of the UCSF Center for Advanced 3D+ Technologies (CA3D+). Since the founding of CA3D+ in 2018, Dr. Anwar has brought experts across the university’s expansive clinical network under one umbrella to collaborate on making 3D technologies a reality for patients.
Dr. Anwar described a case of a 5-year-old pediatric patient having a pseudoaneurysm and only a single ventricle, with poor ventricular function and seizures. Even under tight time constraints, Dr. Anwar demonstrated how he used the EchoPixel platform to turn the patient’s CT scans into a mixed-reality model, allowing him to view the patient’s anatomy in 3D and create virtual cut planes to plan where the surgeons needed to intervene.
Collaborating with the surgeons in the operating room, Dr. Anwar helped them plan out the surgery using the models. They were ultimately able to remove the several clots they had identified. The patient’s cardiac function recovered, and the patient left the hospital in two weeks, even though they initially estimated a 50% chance of death in the OR. This was just one of many stunning examples of how Dr. Anwar has brought 3D technologies to fruition, augmenting the traditional surgical workflow to improve outcomes.
By bringing clinicians together to use CA3D+ technologies, Dr. Anwar exemplifies what it means to be a 3D innovator: bringing people together to disrupt traditional medical workflows and explore the potential of new technologies to transform lives. Now, he’s celebrating the recent opening of a 2nd 3D printing lab to expand CA3D+’s reach and is working on helping others start their own labs by providing recommendations in a soon-to-be-released paper.
Where is 3D modeling for pediatric cardiology headed next?
Dr. Jenny Zablah is no stranger to bringing augmented reality (AR) into the operating room. Dr. Zablah, an Interventional Congenital Cardiologist and Associate Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Colorado School of Medicine, and her team have printed over 800 hearts for patient experience and education, and now, she’s using AR to guide surgical procedures.
Using the HoloLens, she described viewing 3D models of a heart and an implant valve during a surgery, which were then projected onto another monitor for the primary surgeon to view. Dr. Zablah could then manipulate the models for the surgical team, helping to guide the surgery from the side to maintain a level of separation between AR and the traditional surgical procedure.
Figuring out how to successfully integrate 3D modeling into practice is no easy feat, but Dr. Zablah is making significant strides to bring this technology into the OR. The evolving landscape of AR platforms means innovators must carefully consider the lifespans of the devices they invest in, especially amid product discontinuations and the rise of newer, more sophisticated devices. The weight and unfamiliarity of wearing such headsets during surgery are also critical factors.
Another challenge will be to integrate different forms of imaging modalities into virtual 3D modeling. For example, Dr. Zablah showed combining live echocardiograms with CT scans in virtual reality (VR) using the Artiness platform, which can be used during a procedure. Ensuring proper alignment across modalities in real time, especially given imaging noise and differences in equipment across hospitals, will be a significant obstacle.
It will be helpful moving forward to create shared, standardized protocols that many institutions can use to ensure the highest quality in their 3D models. Dr. Zablah has already contributed extensively to this effort through a review of VR for echocardiograms and several case studies. Having an open-source library of hearts, stents, and other models that specialists can easily augment for each case can also help to accelerate adoption. For example, having a library of implantable pulmonary valve frame models can help more hospitals use VR for patient screening.
Finding ways to implement workflows and share models across multiple institutions in a cost-effective, timely manner will be essential to advancing 3D technologies in pediatric cardiology. Going from zero to what Dr. Zablah has achieved at any new hospital will require anticipating ways each step in the AR workflow could go wrong and having a reliable set of solutions. This scalability challenge won’t be easy, but Dr. Zablah’s work is already paving the way forward.
What 3D modeling tools are being used for pediatric cardiology?
For 3D modeling to be successfully implemented in the clinic, we need robust software tools that are easy for clinicians to pick up and start using. Automatic segmentation is a game-changer in this field, bringing 3D models to patients faster with less hassle. Listen below as Sarah Ptashnik, Medical Account Manager at Materialise, shared how 3D modeling is being used in pediatric cardiology to provide models for surgical planning and patient education.
What we’re thinking
Thinking and innovating in 3D requires both science and art, shaped by strong collaboration, personal drive, and the ability to touch the hearts of patients and their families. It is truly incredible to witness the impacts these speakers have had on the lives of so many patients and how 3D technologies are playing an increasingly influential role in the standard of care. We are excited to see what our speakers will do next, so join us live at our upcoming events to stay up to date in this field by subscribing to 3DHEALS.
Glossary
4DCMR = 4D flow cardiac magnetic resonance, an imaging technique used to visualize blood flow
AR = augmented reality, 3D models that are overlayed onto a real-world camera feed
VR = virtual reality, 3D models presented in an immersive environment
Peter Hsu is an editorial intern for 3DHEALS. He is currently an undergraduate at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and studies bioengineering with a focus on cell and tissue engineering. He is also minoring in computer science with interests in artificial intelligence and image processing. Peter conducts research on using computer vision methods to analyze human tissue images and improving the robustness of machine learning workflows. He is interested in the use of AI to assist tissue engineering and bioprinting research for medical applications. He is passionate about science communication and leads STEM outreach lessons at schools in the central Illinois area.
At our event on 3D printing for orthotics and prosthetics (O&P), we had the opportunity to hear from four leading clinical experts and engineers who are creating the future of this field. We discussed innovations in prosthetic legs, UCBLs, ankle-foot orthoses (AFOs), and many other incredible devices for pediatric and adult patients. We also took an inside look at state-of-the-art 3D printers, as well as everything you need to know about using dyes to color 3D printed parts. So, where is 3D printing for O&P headed next? Here’s the recap of our event, which you can now watch on 3DHEALS courses.
What’s the secret to success in 3D printing? Look no further than Michael Schmitt from Prosthetic Plus.
3D printing shines in repeatability. With the increasing digitization of O&P, it’s easier than ever to make adjustments to past prints through software and create a new device for the patient at incredible speeds.
Michael Schmitt, Lead Digital Designer and a Certified Prosthetist-Orthotist at Prosthetic Plus, shared how vital repeatability has been in his 3D printing workflow. One use case he showed us was a dual material TPU and PA12 Rigid prosthetic leg they 3D printed for a pediatric patient. The patient absolutely loved using the device, and by the time they needed a new one, they could make the device bigger and have it printed again, making it a breeze for the patient’s physician and getting the child back to playing again.
There’s no doubt that repeatability is essential: when centralized fabrication experts, such as Schmitt, work with their partners, getting prints right again and again is key to building trust in the 3D printing process. With any new technology, making the process as pain-free and reliable as possible for physicians and patients is central to what has made Schmitt successful in this field.
Yet, while 3D printing shines in repeatability, it’s the people who put their faith in this technology that bring adaptability to the table. Schmitt described working late and pouring tons of effort into manually pulling check sockets by hand before he got into 3D printing. But his turn to 100% digitization and 3D printing completely changed his career – and the lives of his patients’, too.
Now, it’s astounding to see the number of different 3D-printed cases Schmitt has done, from a variety of foot orthotics printed in TPU to life-changing printed fingers and hands. 3D printers – and even AI – doesn’t know how to turn a completely new problem with vastly different sets of constraints into a viable solution, but Schmitt does. And it’s this clockwork adaptability of 3D printing innovators to make 180 degree pivots in order to meet the needs of patients that brings the human touch into an era of increasing automation and technology integration.
Integrating 3D printing into more educational programs, increasing its accessibility to clients outside of engineering, and building strong partnerships between physicians and 3D printing experts will be essential for cultivating the adaptability factor that the technology on its own doesn’t provide. And, while 3D printing has made Schmitt’s (and his client’s) lives much easier, you’ll still find him pouring his efforts into experimenting with new, creative prosthetic designs, just like his early years in O&P. It’s this drive that’s moving the field forward.
How is 3D printing impacting orthotics and prosthetics in the clinic? Here’s an example from Tara Wright, Gillette Children’s Hospital
The case studies from our clinicians are always truly astounding. Tara Wright, a Certified and Licensed Prosthetist-Orthotist at Gillette Children’s Specialty Healthcare, described a patient with cerebral palsy who needed a new UCBL orthosis. This plastic insert provides support for the heel and arch of the foot.
Using the traditional workflow of manually creating the orthosis by shaping heated plastic sheets, a new UCBL was made, but the patient described how it just didn’t feel the same as their old one. To solve the problem, Wright outlined how they designed a new hybrid workflow: using plaster to model the old UCBL, performing digital scanning to capture the model, and 3D printing the new device.
And when the patient tried them on, it was a perfect fit. Wright said it was the “easiest fit of my life as a clinician.”
While we’ve discussed the benefits of point-of-care 3D printing in the past, it’s essential to consider the trade-offs between streamlining and flexibility. Making the entire 3D printing process as optimized as possible for clinicians is critical for adoption, but that also means certain aspects of the process become set in stone, making it challenging to adjust steps on the fly.
After all, it’s hard to make 3D printing do what you want “with a single push of a button” when clinicians are still figuring out how to incorporate 3D printing into the myriad of unique patient needs and constraints. For Wright, creating a hybrid plaster molding and 3D printing workflow was necessary, not just the ideal digital-only O&P that we often dream of.
Wright pointed out that working with third-party service bureaus to handle printing has been beneficial, as such companies typically have a wide range of printers that the hospital can experiment with, providing the hospital with flexibility to change its workflow without much hassle. This way, the hospital doesn’t have to make the risky investment of purchasing an in-house printer that may not work as expected.
And so the solution to this efficiency-flexibility tradeoff really does lie in communication and education. It’s easy to silo people into those who are 3D printing experts and those who aren’t, but if hospitals must rely on third parties to streamline the process, there needs to be individuals on all sides who can bridge the gap and speak each other’s language.
Wright has nailed it down – understanding the critical needs of patients as a clinician and knowing how to effectively communicate that knowledge into 3D prints that precisely meet the needs of the end user. How to easily teach (and not just expect upfront) more people to communicate with a certain level of shared understanding will be one of the most significant prerequisites for advancing 3D printing in O&P.
What 3D printers are used for O&P? What post-processing steps are needed? HP and DyeMansion have the answers.
The advances in 3D printing hardware are genuinely incredible. David Johnson, Lead Healthcare Application Engineer at HP (Multi-Jet Fusion), and Emilie Simpson, Senior Application Engineer at DyeMansion, talked about how the two companies are powering the future of 3D printing for O&P with state-of-the-art printers and post-processing tools.
Creating a controlled environment for O&P printing is essential, and it’ll be interesting to be on the look out for when AI doesn’t just monitor the print environment for errors but also controls the printer itself to make corrections. While AI + 3D printers are still in the works, HP is leading the charge with thermal sensing printers that adjust on the fly. Check out the awesome demo video of HP’s multi-jet fusion printer below.
However, it’s more than just the printing. For O&P, Simpson noted that color is crucial for patient acceptance of the device, as many patients feel more comfortable wearing a device that matches their preferences. Simpson described how DyeMasion has been innovating in the post-processing steps of 3D printing, which include adding color that lasts and is safe for patients.
What we’re thinking
We witnessed some incredible 3D printing technology and clinical cases at this O&P event – the positive impact this technology is having on patients is truly inspiring. As our speakers have shown, it’ll be important for everyone in the field to consider adaptability and effective communication when designing the 3D printing workflows of the future. Join us to continue the conversation by signing up for our newsletter and attending our live webinars.
Mini-Glossary
O&P = orthotics (support the body) and prosthetics (replace missing limbs)
TPU = thermoplastic polyurethane, a material known for its flexibility
PA12 = polyamide 12, a type of nylon
UCBL = a type of foot orthotic named after the University of California Biomechanics Laboratory
Peter Hsu is an editorial intern for 3DHEALS. He is currently an undergraduate at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and studies bioengineering with a focus on cell and tissue engineering. He is also minoring in computer science with interests in artificial intelligence and image processing. Peter conducts research on using computer vision methods to analyze human tissue images and improving the robustness of machine learning workflows. He is interested in the use of AI to assist tissue engineering and bioprinting research for medical applications. He is passionate about science communication and leads STEM outreach lessons at schools in the central Illinois area.
Why this event? Because future healthcare will be more personalized, 3D data-driven, and digitally fabricated (e.g., 3D printing and bioprinting). Life in 3D is the only niche-focused event that unites the most transformative next-gen medical devices, therapeutics, and biotools under one cohesive investment lens, including but not limited to —cell therapy, biofabrication, frontier medical devices, and drug discovery. If you are ready for a mindset shift, this is the event for you.
Since 2018, 3DHEALS has hosted more than 100 early-stage startups in the 3D medtech and biotech space to raise funds and receive advisory through its Pitch3D program. This year, the company is organizing its first dedicated in-person event for investors and entrepreneurs in this space. The event will take place the night before the official 2026 JP Morgan Healthcare Conference in the beautiful downtown San Francisco office of K&L Gates, California, USA. The goal is to host investors and founders who share a maniacal belief that the 3D mindset will enable the next wave of biomedical innovations.
While this event is mostly by invitation only (for Example, Pitch3D founders), related parties can purchase a limited number of tickets. The event is capped at 150 attendees. To qualify as an investor, you must demonstrate that you are an accredited investor or belong to a relevant investment institution. To qualify for media tickets, you must provide relevant LinkedIn or website credentials to be admitted.
Mike Cordonnier is the Co-Founder, President and Chief Executive Officer at Carlsmed, and serves as the Chair of the Board of Directors.
With more than two decades of leadership experience introducing groundbreaking medical technologies, Mike has guided teams across both private and public organizations, including NuVasive, Ellipse Technologies, Zimmer Biomet, Orchid Orthopedics, and X-Spine Systems. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Dayton.
Iris Wedeking, MBA, is the CEO and Founder of iDentical, a dental technology company that is revolutionizing tooth replacement with the world’s first drill-free, personalized, 3D-printed dental implants. Mrs. Wedeking has been a visionary leader in the dental industry for 10 years. Prior to founding iDentical, she managed the operations for three dental implant centers in the San Francisco Bay Area, where she saw firsthand the challenges of the current paradigm of implant dentistry for both patients and dentists. This experience inspired her to found iDentical, Inc. to develop and commercialize a drill-free dental implant solution that addresses the drawbacks of traditional dental implants.
Mrs. Wedeking is a two-time founder and CEO. Previously, she founded and scaled a national organization in the oncology sector (Kesem) that is now in its 25th year of operation with 115 chapters across 41 states. She also served as a senior marketing research leader at The Clorox Company. Iris holds an MBA from UC Berkeley’s Haas School of Business and a BA, summa cum laude, from Tufts University. She resides in Walnut Creek, California, with her husband (a dentist) and three children.
Jessica Miller is the founder of RocketBio and invests with a long-term, patient-focused approach across tissue engineering, regenerative medicine, and next-generation preclinical tools. Her work centres on advancing breakthrough science into practical clinical and commercial impact.
She serves on the Board of Directors at VoxCell BioInnovation, which develops vascularized 3D-bioprinted tumor models for precision oncology, and is a Director and Strategic Board member at NETRI, a French company creating neuron-based organ-on-chip systems for neurotoxicity, pain, and CNS disease research.
Jessica also supports business development efforts for both companies, forging partnerships across pharma, biotech, and research. With a background in Materials Engineering (University of Toronto) and Nanomaterials (Imperial College London), she brings technical depth and strategic insight to scaling technologies that improve patient outcomes and shape the future of drug development.
Gilly is a biomedical engineer, inventor, and an operations leader with 20 years of medical device industry and scientific research experience, and currently is the founder and CEO of Vent Creativity Corporation, an AI based digital twin surgical planning and decision-making software serving the orthopaedics and healthcare community. Gilly started his career in industrial robotic automation, and then translated this knowledge to human biomechanics, design, testing, and regulatory filing of medical devices. Gilly previously advised a multi-billion-dollar industry on product portfolio needs and M&A considerations for multiple $5MM+ NPV projects. He also advised C-level executives for their medical device regulatory and business strategy needs. Gilly has been instrumental in the regulatory testing, documentation, and filing aspects of 13 Class II, 1 IDE, and 1 IND FDA medical device products. Gilly has over 25 peer reviewed published articles in the orthopaedic medical device field. Gilly holds 12 granted patents in the field of big-data driven surgery, additive manufacturing for medical devices, and robotic surgery, and presented foundational research at various peer-reviewed conferences and publications. Gilly holds a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering from NJIT, a Master of Science in Biomedical Engineering and an MBA from Columbia University.
Nikhil Joshi is a Biomedical Engineer with a BS and MS in the field. During undergraduate studies, he was a Research Assistant in Dr. Adam Engler’s lab at UC San Diego, investigating methods to coax stem cells towards various mature cell lineages. Later on, at Columbia University, he served as a Graduate Research Assistant in the lab of Dr. Clark Hung, investigating techniques to enable nutrient delivery to engineered tissue constructs for cartilage cell therapy.
After academia Nikhil has spent 12 years in industry, working as an Engineer and Product Manager on a variety of innovative technologies. Most recently Nikhil was at Auris Health helping to build Monarch, the world’s first robotic endoscopy platform. Nikhil led development of three novel robotic instrumentation devices, from initial concept to design verification testing.
Nikhil has co-invented nine patented technologies, and throughout his career has been driven by the question of how technology can improve healthcare quality.
Dr. Karolina Valente is the Founder and CEO of VoxCell, a biotechnology company advancing 3D bioprinting to develop human-like cancer tissue models and accelerate drug developmnent. With over 12 years of experience in tissue engineering, she holds a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering with a focus on bioprinting and drug delivery systems. Under her leadership, VoxCell has grown from 5 to 20 employees and raised over $11M CAD. Her contributions to biotechnology and cancer research have earned her and VoxCell multiple accolades. In 2023, Douglas Magazine recognized VoxCell as one of its 10 to Watch winners, acknowledging the company’s significant contributions to biotechnology and cancer research. In 2024, Life Sciences BC named VoxCell to its Companies to Watch – Recognition Honour Roll, highlighting its potential and achievements in the life sciences sector. Most recently, The Globe and Mail’s Report on Business 2025 Changemakers Award recognized Karolina as one of 20 emerging leaders reinventing how business is done in Canada. Passionate about scientific innovation, gender equity, and the future of biotechnology, she continues to drive transformative change in oncology research and 3D bioprinting.
Alyssa Huffman is an award-winning MedTech entrepreneur, inventor, & thought leader advancing the future of orthopedic & spine care. Orthopedics This Week wrote, “If we were to bet on any young entrepreneur, Alyssa Huffman would be at the top of the list.”
She was the first Commercial Representative appointed to the North American Spine Society (NASS) & has become a respected voice in global spine innovation. Alyssa has presented at the 2025 Congress of Neurological Surgeons Annual Conference, the NASS Biologics Conference, & as both speaker and committee member for the NASS Innovation NetWORK Summit, where she champions evidence-based innovation & commercialization strategy.
In 2009, while working as an Orthopedic/Spine/Biologics Distributor, Alyssa witnessed the devastating complications of failed spine surgery on her diabetic uncle and quadriplegic cousin. This experience inspired the first sketch of what became the A8 INTEGR8™ Porous Pedicle Screw System (the cornerstone of ALLUMIN8’s Therapeutic Hardware™ platform), integrating biomechanical support with regenerative potential to both treat & heal.
Under her leadership, ALLUMIN8 has earned global recognition: “Best Technology in Spine” Award – Orthopedics This Week “6 Interesting Orthopedic Startups to Monitor in 2025” – BONEZONE Global Impact Award 2025 – WashU in St. Louis $500,000 Awarded – Missouri Technology Corporation $75,000 Awarded – St. Louis Arch Grants “Innovators to Watch” – OCCAM Design “Future Stars of Spine” – Matthew Henshaw “Top Startups to Watch” – St. Louis Business Journal “Most Investment Value Award” – MD Inno, Shanghai
Beyond entrepreneurship, Alyssa has contributed to clinical scholarship as co-author of “Innovations in Spine Surgery: A Primer” & “Analgesic Effect of Over-the-Counter Sublingual Magnesium for Trigeminal Neuralgia Management.”
Her two decades of consulting experience span sales, contracting, distribution, marketing, product development, leadership, & team building for MedTech companies across medical devices, biologics, robotics, capital equipment, & pharmaceuticals. Areas of expertise include ortho/spine hardware, regenerative medicine, cardiology, neuro, spine, organ transplant, endovascular therapies, wound healing, temperature management, & stem cell therapies.
Her mission is clear: solve problems for patients, physicians, healthcare organizations, & payors by uniting the healthcare community to create devices, protocols, and techniques that merge rigorous clinical evidence with cost-conscious innovation – accelerating the future of patient care.
Dr. Aadeel Akhtar, CEO and Founder of PSYONIC, started the company after meeting a young girl in Pakistan who was using a tree branch as a prosthetic leg. That moment inspired his mission to create advanced, accessible bionic limbs that restore both function and feeling. PSYONIC’s Ability Hand is the fastest bionic hand on the market, impact-resistant, and the first to provide a sense of touch. It is covered by Medicare and used by humans and robotics companies worldwide, including NASA, Meta, Mercedes, and Google. Dr. Akhtar earned his Ph.D. in Neuroscience and M.S. in Electrical & Computer Engineering from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, and holds a B.S. in Biology and M.S. in Computer Science from Loyola University Chicago. He has been recognized by MIT Technology Review, Newsweek, and secured a three-shark deal on Shark Tank.
Ben Hartkopp is a seasoned independent researcher, inventor and developer who has been instrumental in co-developing the NovoJet™ Printhead technology since 2016. He is a co-inventor of Quantica’s patent portfolio of printheads, systems and methodologies and currently serves as the Head of Research and IP at Quantica.
Renee Ryan is recognized as an industry insider and leading investor, deal-maker, and passionate innovator. She has over 25 years of building category-creating healthcare companies. Renee currently serves as Founder & CEO of PinPrint, a Stanford spin-out focused on optimizing the patient experience for drug and vaccine delivery. She served as CEO and Board member of Cala Health, a pioneer in the field of wearable neuromodulaton therapy having launched two generations of product and consistently doubled revenue each year of her leadership. Previously, she led the medical technology investments for Johnson & Johnson Innovation (JJDC) on the West Coast and Asia Pacific for 8 years. While at J&J, she made over 15 new investments, including the Series A for Cala Health. Other investments include Auris Health, Carbon 3D, Verb Surgical, PowerVision and Tusker Medical, several of which led to significant acquisitions. Previously, she was a healthcare investment banker at Goldman Sachs and Jefferies. She currently sits on the Boards of RefleXion Medical and Neuropace (NPCE).
Mike is the CEO and co-founder of FluidForm Bio, building cures for chronic diseases like type 1 diabetes using 3D bioprinting. In over 25 years in the life sciences, Mike has brought four novel treatments through the FDA that have generated over $20 billion in sales in both startup and growth organizations. Throughout his career, he has worked on the forefront of medicine, translating highly complex treatments and clinical data into successful businesses, in the US and around the world. He is a graduate of Cornell University (B.S. Engineering Physics / Bioengineering, M.Eng. Mechanical Engineering) and Harvard Business School (MBA), where he was a Baker Scholar.
Gurkaran Chowdhry is a co-founder and the Director of Business Development at 3DBioFibR, where he helps guide the commercial strategy behind the company’s proprietary biomaterials platform. His technical foundation began with graduate research that uncovered key mechanisms behind 3DBioFibR’s fiber formation process, and he is an inventor on the company’s core IP. This mix of scientific depth and business focus allows him to bridge R&D with market needs, support partnership discussions with leading biomedical organizations, and represent the company across industry forums.
In his role, Gurkaran works to align 3DBioFibR’s advanced dry-spinning technology with high-value applications in regenerative medicine, wound care, and surgical materials. The company specializes in manufacturing biopolymer fibers such as collagen, chitosan, and spider silk at a scale far beyond traditional wetspinning or electrospinning methods, enabling the creation of tunable 2D and 3D scaffolds and high-strength yarns for next-generation biomedical products. These materials have been adopted by clinical partners for uses ranging from full thickness wound repair to peripheral nerve regeneration, reflecting the commercial opportunities Gurkaran helps cultivate. His focus on translating technical capability into meaningful partnerships has supported the company’s growing presence in cell biology, tissue engineering, and medical device markets.
Nish is the General Partner and Cofounder of Carbon Silicon Ventures, where he invests in companies applying engineering methodologies to biology. He is also a cofounder of the oncology company Color Health.
Jim West III is an engineer, entrepreneur, and ecosystem builder working at the intersection of health, business, and technology to accelerate the next generation of life science tools and diagnostics startups. He currently serves as Associate Director at BioTools Innovator, where he helps design and lead programs that connect founders with strategic partners, investors, and expert mentors to bring research-enabling technologies to market faster.
Previously, Jim was co‑founder and CEO of Clara Biotech, where he led the development and commercialization of a patented exosome purification platform and helped position the company for an asset acquisition. Earlier in his career, he contributed to bringing multiple medical devices from concept through prototyping, clinical validation, and FDA clearance, including one of the first mobile medical devices to use an iPhone as a stethoscope. Jim holds master’s degrees in Biomedical Engineering Product Development from the University of Kansas and in Entrepreneurship from Nanyang Technological University in Singapore.
Carlos Ezio is an MIT Innovators 35 Under 35 LATAM honoree and the CEO and co-founder of Criocore, a biotech company developing shelf-stable, human-relevant 3D in vitro models for drug discovery. Criocore’s goal is to provide more predictive and animal-free research tools that improve decision-making in preclinical drug development.
He previously spent six years in the Shrike Zhang Lab, a pioneering group in biofabrication and bioprinting, that is part of Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women’s Hospital. There, he contributed to more than 30 publications, several patents, and multiple bioprinting systems. Carlos is a mechatronics engineer with expertise spanning 3D bioprinting, cryopreservation, organ-on-chip platforms, and acoustics.
Paul Russo, is the Founder and CEO of K2X, a unique investment vehicle that will enable the 99% of the world with limited startup experience, to safely invest in this exciting non-correlated asset class – www.k2x.capital – with the expectation of a 2026 NYSE IPO, K2X plans to create “The ETF of Start-ups”. He was the Founder, CEO and Chairman of GEO Semi, a Leading supplier of automotive camera processors acquired by NASDAQ: “INDI”. He sits on several start-up boards and is an advisor to start-ups and VC funds. He was a board member of ATI Technologies through its acquisition by AMD and is active in the Band of Angels. Before GEO, Dr. Russo started Silicon Optix and Genesis Microchip. The latter dominated the chip market for flat computer displays and had a successful NASDAQ IPO in 1998. Prior to the above, he had several senior executive positions at GE. Prior to GE, he was at RCA Laboratories, where he helped develop the world’s first CMOS microprocessor, and the first uses of these devices in video games, auto engine control, and global communications. He has been an active angel investor for over three decades. He received his B. Eng. from McGill and his MSc and PhD in EECS from UC Berkeley. He holds 8 patents, has published extensively, and is the recipient of numerous awards, including the IEEE Centennial Medal and the Tech Pioneer Award from the World Economic Forum.
In this episode, Dr. Karolina Valente and I discuss advancements in bioprinting technology, with a particular focus on VoxCell’s high-resolution bioprinting technologies and its unique business approaches. She explains how these innovations enable the creation of better types of 3D human tissue structures with intricate blood vessel networks. The conversation also explores the potential applications of these 3D tissues in the drug discovery process for biopharmaceutical companies, as well as lessons and insights from leading a cutting-edge biotech startup as a scientific founder. I have learned a lot from Karolina, and I hope you can too.
⚠️ Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only. The views expressed do not constitute engineering, medical, or financial advice. The technologies and procedures discussed may not be commercially available or suitable for every case. Always consult with a qualified professional.
Dr. Karolina Valente is the Founder and CEO of VoxCell BioInnovation, a biotechnology company advancing 3D bioprinting to develop human-like cancer tissue models and accelerate drug discovery. With over 12 years of experience in tissue engineering, she holds a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering with a focus on bioprinting and drug delivery systems. Under her leadership, VoxCell has grown from 5 to 20 employees and raised over $10M CAD.
Her contributions to biotechnology and cancer research have earned her and VoxCell multiple accolades. In 2023, Douglas Magazine recognized VoxCell as one of its 10 to Watch winners, acknowledging the company’s significant contributions to biotechnology and cancer research. In 2024, Life Sciences BC named VoxCell to its Companies to Watch – Recognition Honour Roll, highlighting its potential and achievements in the life sciences sector. Most recently, The Globe and Mail’s Report on Business 2025 Changemakers Award recognized Karolina as one of 20 emerging leaders reinventing how business is done in Canada.
Passionate about scientific innovation, gender equity, and the future of biotechnology, she continues to drive transformative change in oncology research and 3D bioprinting.
Key Takeaways:
We shared Carolina Valente’s journey from chemical engineering to CEO at VoxCell, and how VoxCell builds human vascularized tissues to improve preclinical decisions. This conversation delves into bioprinting technology, why vasculature matters, and how more validations are needed to connect lab models to clinical reality.
Some of the key takeaways include:
Pivoting from selling printers to high-end services and products (tissue!)
VoxCell’s three-part platform of high-resolution printer, bioinks, and vessel-design software
The Roles of Microfluidic Chips
How VoxCell assays for efficacy, vascular toxicity, distribution, and permeability
Comparison with animal models and push for earlier human-relevant data
VoxCell’s skin and oncology use cases, multicellular and immune integrations
Regulatory momentum for New Approach Methodologies and reduced animal use
Partnership strategy with pharma, CROs, and cell suppliers
Commercialization plans, global reach, and culture building
Founder advice on patience, pivoting, and resilience
Book picks: The Power of Habit, Crucial Conversations, The Challenger Sale
Questions Answered:
How did Karolina first get involved with entrepreneurship and founding VoxCell BioInnovation?
What was it like to start a career across multiple continents? (From Brazil to Canada)
How to switch the hat from a scientist to a company founder?
What were some of the early milestones in the VoxCell journey that were impactful to the company today?
What is the core technology of the 3D bioprinting platform at VoxCell?
How does VoxCell’s technology address the Vascular Challenge in cancer research?
What kind of data do you provide in preclinical studies, and how does it compare to animal models?
How does Karolina navigate and build company culture at VoxCell?
What advice does Karolina have for young entrepreneurs and students in school?
This blog is a compilation of the show notes, transcript, and relevant links to our latest Lattice episode, number 97, where Jenny first experimented with the monologue style. In this episode of the Lattice Podcast, Jenny Chen explores the intriguing question, “Is ChatGPT making us stupid?” She delves into the complexities of cognitive offloading and cognitive miserliness, discussing studies from MIT and the University of Pennsylvania that highlight the potential cognitive costs of relying on AI tools like ChatGPT. Jenny also touches on the challenges and future of 3D printing technology, emphasizing the need for user-friendly innovations to make it accessible to a broader audience. The episode encourages listeners to find a balance between leveraging AI for productivity and maintaining cognitive independence.
Hello, hello, hello. Welcome to the Lattice Podcast, episode 97. This is a special episode because I have never done this before. And this will be my very first monologue episode. You can call this section Two Cents. Here, I aim to share some of my insights and thoughts on interesting topics, drawn from my own media consumption and conversations, as they are highly relevant and potentially valuable to our audience.
The question I’m pondering is, is ChatGPT making me stupid?
Before we delve into this exciting topic, I would like to announce an upcoming in-person event, which is a rare occurrence for us due to its expense. But we’re planning on a fantastic event on January 11th, 2026. Yes, we’re already moving on to next year. And it will be the Sunday right before the JP Morgan event. This event is open to the public, but space is limited. Stay tuned for the official announcement, which will be shared through our newsletter, for ticket details and availability. Primarily, this event focuses on entrepreneurs and investors in the space of 3D technologies.
Weirdly, I am not particularly proud of it. Yes, the content is good. It is valuable to some people based on the number of likes I saw on social media after we posted it. But personally, I don’t feel proud of doing it because it felt like cheating. I haven’t put in enough hard work to earn applause. The first three people who can identify which other blog posts we have written using ChadGTP on 3DHEALS.com will receive a free ticket to our January event.
Let’s talk about what I really want to talk about: Is ChatGTP making me stupid?
You’re probably already going to guess what my answer is, but the truth is, this is a much more complicated question than it appears to be. I think that, if we want to follow the current trend of articles published in the media, the conclusion is that CHATGTP is not effective — no bueno — especially for students in the educational space. Students are not going to learn as much or struggle mentally as much. I can also discuss two articles I’ve seen recently to illustrate this point. However, I think it’s a nuanced question, and we should consider it slowly and carefully, because we are at a juncture of a technological revolution, and revolutions typically have casualties.
And many serious researchers are trying to determine the benefits and drawbacks of this potent tool. That is, how can we use this new tool effectively to maximize productivity without diminishing humanity and certainly not causing something unthinkable, like being ruled by an AI overlord?
By the way, the latest scary scenario is not an AI Overlord, but that AI does not even need humans at all. They don’t need to rule over us because we’re of no use to them.
Let’s pause and think about that.
I have seen two fascinating publications in academia that I want to share here:
The first study from the MIT Media Lab examines the impact of utilizing a large language model, such as ChatGTP, for essay writing. They grouped some students into three groups. One uses chatGTP to write the assigned essay, one group uses nothing as a control group, and one uses a search engine. Each group completed three sessions under the same conditions.
To gather outcomes, the researchers utilized electroencephalography (EEG), a device that monitors brain waves, to assess cognitive load during essay writing. They also used NLP to analyze the writings, both human and AI judge,s to score the essays.
Here is the finding:
The “no-tool” brain-only group exhibited the strongest, most distributed networks based on EEG, while the CHATGTP users displayed the weakest connectivity. The search engine group is in the middle of the three groups. That means the more tools you use, the less the cognitive load.
Makes sense.
But here is the kicker.
The self-reported ownership of essays was the lowest in the large language model group and the highest in the brain-only group. Large language model users also struggle to quote their own work accurately. This is precisely how I felt after I published several ChatGPT-written blogs on our website. I honestly could not name all four schools as the top dental schools that focus on 3D printing education in my own blog.
Therefore, in this scenario, while LLM offers immediate convenience, this shows potential cognitive costs. And over four months, large language model users consistently underperform at neural, linguistic, and behavioral levels. So obviously the conclusion of this article is that we need to exercise caution when using ChatGTP for creative writing.
The second publication, which came out of UPenn, focuses on solving math problems and includes a study involving over 1,000 students. This study shows that students using ChatGTP initially outperformed their peers by 48% during practice; however, when tested without AI, their scores dropped 17% below those of their unassisted counterparts.
This again suggests that a short-term productivity gain may have a long-term performance cost.
And if we, as a species that aspires to progress through innovations and creativity, rely on ChatGTP for near-term ROI, it could be detrimental to our long-term goals.
And if we, as a species that aspires to progress through innovations and creativity, rely on ChatGTP for near-term ROI, it could be detrimental to our long-term goals.
In other words, in the long run, you are not creating a more creative, robust mental labor group.
Here, I also want to introduce two interesting concepts:
Cognitifive offloading and cognitive miserliness. (A bit tongue twist but important!)
What is a cognitive load?
Cognitive load refers to the total mental effort required in a person’s working memory at any given time.
So, for example, after the invention of the calculator, we rarely need to do five-digit multiplication by hand. After the availability of GPS and mobile phones, I rarely need to memorize routes to my dog groomer, which is only 3 miles away.
ChatGPT is one of the most powerful tools available to help us achieve cognitive offloading across various tasks in our daily lives. In fact, this is how AI enhances productivity. That is, we don’t have to expend too much mental energy on mindless, repetitive tasks, such as organizing emails or scheduling appointments.
But here is where the second important concept comes in – cognitive miserliness.
By the way, the word miserliness means excessive desire to save money (Extreme stinginess).
Mental miserliness is our tendency to do things that require less mental effort. So imagine that you have to write an article, and with the help of chatGTP mental offloading, you could finish your task in no time, and you really enjoyed that. And the next time you are tasked with writing an article, instead of struggling through this complex creative process, your brain yearns to chatGTP again. Over time, you will become more reliant on ChatGTP for a variety of tasks, and your ability to complete these tasks independently will atrophy. In fact, it is reported that some workers will use chatGTP for work against their employers’ ban on the tool. It’s almost like an addictive drug in a way.
So, mental offloading can be beneficial, but cognitive miserliness can be detrimental.
Where is the perfect balance?
The verdict is out there, but I want us all to be aware of these because that’s the first step. Avoiding a new technology is never the smartest move. Hence, I will not resort to learning to ride a horse so that I can avoid driving, even though car accidents certainly kill.
But I will fight hard to maintain the optionality to pick and choose which mental offloading I can safely enjoy, so that no other intelligence system can choose it for me.
Now, I would like to discuss 3D printing briefly. AI for 3D Printing is a lot more than LLM and is still in its infancy.
I have personally owned more than five printers of various qualities and types in the past. And I have to say, I do not, I do not love the experience. I was mentally overloaded while tinkering with these machines.
And for the moment, I have given up on these.
However, 80% of our audience members are not natural tinkers. And that poses a problem for the industry.
When your technology is complicated to use, you are not ready to scale. We now have consumer-based printers, such as Bambu Labs and Prusa 3D, that are gaining increasing traction among average people and hobbyists. But they are still working in the group with a predilection for being able to tinker. And the day that 3D printing really becomes a mass consumer product is when the machine is straightforward to use. That is where AI can really help us with some good cognitive offloading.
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