WHO invites Tec professor to share her views on 3D bioprinting

Marisela Rodriguez, a professor from the School of Engineering and Sciences at Tec de Monterrey, was one of the 18 people worldwide invited by the World Health Organization (WHO) to be part of a focus group about emerging technologies in the 3D bioprinting field.

Dr. Rodríguez participated in a virtual workshop held at the end of 2023, which brought together expert leaders in the fields of 3D bioprinting, equity, governance, and public health.

Published as a result of this workshop was the Imagining Futures of 3D Bioprinting report, coordinated by the WHO, which is available for free via this URL: https://iris.who.int/handle/10665/375873.

As part of the activities within the workshop, the group of experts selected from different parts of the world responded to various scenarios about the future of bioprinting.

The objective of the event was to find short-term actions which could contribute to the development of bioprinting, increasing both access to and the reliability of this technology.

“It’s an important recognition that reflects many years of work,” said Professor Rodríguez.

Key theme: 3D bioprinting 

3D bioprinting uses 3D printing technology to create tissues, organs, or instruments that emulate the structure of natural tissues.

During the workshop, the group learned about the opportunities and challenges of this technology from the invited experts.

“To share our opinions, we were separated into 2 teams, where we analyzed different scenarios,” explained the professor.

Rodríguez had the opportunity to share her opinion regarding future legislation, issues that could limit the use of this technology, and strategies to promote equitable access to it within the next 5 years.

“We aim to expand availability, security, and reliability, as well as equitable access to this technology for everyone.

“Being part of this team was a great honor and solidified my commitment to continue doing my best every day,” she said.

A career focused on competitive intelligence

Professor Rodríguez’s career, which led her to be selected by the WHO, has focused on evaluating global trends in technology. This has given her the opportunity to belong to one of the most pioneering groups in this field in Latin America.

“We consult scientific literature such as patents and journals, and from there we identify opportunities for innovation,” said the researcher in relation to her field of study.

“My biggest challenge during the workshop was to demonstrate that I could make relevant contributions to the project as a Latin American,” said Rodríguez, who was one of 2 Latin American people invited by the WHO and the only one from Mexico.

“My biggest challenge during the workshop was to demonstrate that I could make relevant contributions as a Latin American.”

Rodríguez’s study began with the development of her doctoral thesis in Spain, and today she is a full professor at the Monterrey campus. In addition, she has been a Level 2 member of the National Research System (SNI) since 2017.

She said that she aims to instill the spirit of social responsibility in her students through her daily work.

“The most important thing about being a professional is to help others and contribute to making our world better,” she said.

The World Health Organization is the United Nations body charged with leading, coordinating, and addressing health issues; it is responsible for promoting leadership and research in global health.

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