M4 Lab

The Medical Modeling, Materials, and Manufacturing Lab (M4 Lab) is where medicine, advanced manufacturing, and other materials-related research areas converge to pursue innovative approaches to advance health and well-being in our society. 

The M4 Lab brings together an interdisciplinary team of experts under one roof at the Nanotech West Lab user facility on The Ohio State University’s West Campus. The group includes representatives from the College of Medicine’s Department of Otolaryngology, the College of Engineering’s Center for Design and Manufacturing Excellence (CDME), and the Institute for Materials Research (IMR).

At the M4 Lab, biomedical engineering and clinical experts utilize 3D printing to find innovative engineering solutions for real-world needs in clinical medicine. Their current efforts aim to benefit patients undergoing new, uncommon, or complex surgeries at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center by providing access to 3D anatomic models. These devices help medical professionals with surgical planning, patient education, and medical training. 

Are you interested in working together? Let's connect. 

What We Do

Using state-of-the-art software tools, 3D printing technologies at Ohio State allow experts in the M4 Lab to rapidly print complex geometries and shapes for patient-specific applications, including OR models and cutting guides.

The lab’s advanced manufacturing capabilities are enabled by an array of 3D printers and a team of engineers with medical device experience from previous projects at Ohio State’s manufacturing hub on West Campus. Different types of 3D printers housed at the M4 Lab permit various fabrication methods, including photopolymerization, polymer filament extrusion, and silicone casting and processing.

On top of research and clinical support activities, the lab is an experiential education platform for undergraduate research assistants, providing students with real-world experience and on-the-job training that will position them as top candidates for medical device company hires. Additionally, postdoctoral researchers, medical students, and residents from across medical and engineering disciplines can collaborate there to create innovative health care solutions.

The Leadership Team