UNO Lands $8M NSF Grant for Nebraska Center for 3D Innovation

An $8 Million Bet on 3D-Printed Healthcare

The University of Nebraska at Omaha has secured an $8 million award from the National Science Foundation's E-RISE program to establish the Nebraska Center for 3D Innovation, or NE3D. The new center will serve as a statewide research hub focused on advanced 3D-printed technology for healthcare.

NE3D is based at UNO's Biomechanics Research Building but draws on collaborations across the University of Nebraska system. Partners include the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, the University of Nebraska Medical Center, UNMC iEXCEL, Children's Hospital Mammel Innovation Center, and several K-12 and industry organizations.

Three Research Priorities

The center is organized around three core areas. The first is 3D-printed prosthetics and assistive devices, with an emphasis on designs that feel more responsive and natural than what is currently available.

Second is antimicrobial materials for 3D printing. The team is developing polymer formulations that reduce harmful microbial growth, an important feature for devices worn close to the body.

Third is patient-specific anatomical models and surgical planning. Researchers are combining AI, medical imaging, and 3D printing to produce precise models that help surgeons prepare for complex operations.

From Lab to Real Patients

Jorge Zuniga, Ph.D., initiated NE3D in 2016 with a small group of scientists. Since then it has grown into a coordinated statewide effort. The E-RISE program specifically aims to help states like Nebraska build research infrastructure, develop scientific talent, and compete more effectively for federal funding in strategic STEM fields.

Students at the graduate, undergraduate, and high school levels will have access to mentored research in biomechanics, soft robotics, prosthetic development, medical imaging, and AI-enhanced medical technologies. The long-term goal is not simply individual inventions but a sustainable research culture in Nebraska that keeps producing healthcare technology with real clinical impact.