About us

Who we are

The Herston Biofabrication Institute is advancing knowledge and technology in 3D scanning, 3D modelling and 3D printing of medical devices, bone, cartilage and other human tissue to repair tissue that is lost or damaged.

Opened in 2020, the Institute takes a multidisciplinary approach, bringing together clinicians, academics, industry and consumers in its 1,500 state of the art facility located within the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital campus.

What we do

  • Transform how we provide health care by developing innovative personalised and automated treatments.
  • Support the Advance Queensland agenda to transition the state’s economy toward the jobs of the future.
  • Grow Queensland’s economy and scientific footprint, expanding advanced manufacturing and attracting industry engagement with research.
  • Develop new interdisciplinary approaches to education and training for clinicians, scientists, engineers, mathematicians and entrepreneurs.
HBI in action
Duration: 02:10

HBI Strategic Pillars

Transform Health Outcomes

Maintain a sharp focus on outcomes and health equity through prioritising and delivering measurable benefits to the clinicians, scientists and consumers across Metro North region, and Queensland in general.

Grow Queensland’s Scientific & Research Footprint

Bring together the people, sciences, infrastructure and processes to accelerate the translation of research into practice with new medical devices, therapies and applications.

Patient Centred Care

Catalyse Economic Growth

Expand and develop strategic partnerships and collaborations that contribute to success of Metro North, including developing and commercialising HBI’s intellectual property, facilitating ‘point of care’ advanced and sustainable manufacturing, and reducing the overall cost of healthcare delivery.

Transform Education & Training

Develop new education and training pathways for a comprehensive and diverse range of vocations based around the future paradigm of health service delivery.

HBI Strategic Pillars

Transform Health Outcomes

Maintain a sharp focus on outcomes and health equity through prioritising and delivering measurable benefits to the clinicians, scientists and consumers across Metro North region, and Queensland in general.

Grow Queensland’s Scientific & Research Footprint

Bring together to people, sciences, infrastructure and processes to accelerate the translation of research into practice with new medical devices, therapies and applications.

Catalyse Economic Growth

Expand and develop strategic partnerships and collaborations that contribute to success of Metro North including developing and commercialising HBIs intellectual property, facilitating ‘point of care’ advanced and sustainable manufacturing, and reducing the overall cost of healthcare delivery.

Transform Education & Training

Develop new education and training pathways for a comprehensive and diverse range of vocations based around the future paradigm of health service delivery.

Partnerships

Our core academic partner is The University of Queensland, with whom we are stimulating collaboration between medical, healthcare and engineering disciplines. We also enjoy research partnerships with QUT, and with complementary Metro North Hospital and Health Service partners including the Jamieson Trauma Institute, the Clinical Skills Development Service, the Herston Imaging Research Facility, the STARS (Surgical, Treatment and Rehabilitation Service), the Medical Engineering Research Facility and the Queensland Tissue Culture Centre and Queensland Bone Bank.

Vision

To transform healthcare delivery and improve consumer outcomes through collaborative research, development and advanced manufacturing of scalable and innovative solutions including personalised medical devices, implants, biological tissues and organoids.

Mission

To lead the development of scalable, innovative personalised clinical solutions by integrating research, education, and industry partnerships—enhancing health equity, accelerating translation, and supporting economic growth.

Purpose

To create and commercialise cutting-edge personalised medical technologies and training tools that directly address clinical challenges, while growing Queensland’s scientific footprint and contributing to a sustainable healthcare future.

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