FluidForm

FluidForm Bio, established in 2018, is a regenerative medicine company focused on developing implantable, living human tissues to address chronic diseases. The company was co-founded by CEO Michael Graffeo and CTO Dr. Adam Feinberg. Dr. Feinberg, a professor at Carnegie Mellon University, is the inventor of the core technology and a recognized expert in tissue engineering and 3D bioprinting. His academic career includes a Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Florida and postdoctoral work at Harvard University, focusing on cardiac tissue engineering and holding over 20 patents. Michael Graffeo brings extensive commercial experience from the life sciences and medical technology sectors, having held leadership roles at companies like Insulet, OvaScience, and Hologic. He holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and engineering degrees from Cornell University.

The company's core technology is its patented FRESH™ (Freeform Reversible Embedding of Suspended Hydrogels) 3D bioprinting platform. This process enables the fabrication of soft biological materials by extruding bioinks within a supportive gel bath, which prevents the structures from collapsing during printing. The support gel is then melted away, leaving a complete tissue structure. This method allows for the creation of functional tissues using only materials native to the human body, like collagen, cells, and proteins, which avoids the negative immune responses often triggered by synthetic materials. A key feature of the platform is its ability to create dense vascular networks within the printed tissue, which is critical for cell viability and function after implantation.

FluidForm Bio's business model centers on developing and commercializing cell therapies. Its lead program targets type 1 diabetes by creating an implantable pancreatic tissue designed to restore insulin production. This tissue, which contains insulin-producing islet cells, is intended for subcutaneous implantation, a less invasive method compared to other approaches. The company has demonstrated promising results in preclinical small animal models, achieving sustained normal blood glucose levels. The firm's revenue strategy appears focused on advancing these therapies through clinical trials to market. FluidForm has secured funding through grants from entities like the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and through equity crowdfunding to accelerate research and development.

Keywords: 3D bioprinting, regenerative medicine, tissue engineering, cell therapy, FRESH bioprinting, human tissue, type 1 diabetes treatment, implantable tissue, Adam Feinberg, Michael Graffeo, vascularization, collagen scaffolds, biofabrication, islet cell therapy, organ-on-a-chip, biomaterials, life sciences, therapeutic tissue, bioink, preclinical studies