FDA, Department of Veterans Affairs, National Institutes of Health, and America Makes form COVID-19 response partnership

Photo courtesy of Veterans Health Administration.

The Food and Drug Administration recognizes that while many stakeholders are interested in designing and producing 3D-printed devices during the COVID-19 public health emergency, they often do not know what device designs to choose or how much to print. In response, the FDA is facilitating information-sharing regarding the use of 3D printing and other advanced manufacturing technologies for producing personal protective equipment and medical device parts.

To this end, the FDA has entered a Memorandum of Understanding with the Department of Veterans Affairs Innovation Ecosystem and the National Institutes of Health 3D Print Exchange to share data and coordinate on open-source medical products for the COVID-19 response. These agencies also are working closely with America Makes to provide resources that will connect health care providers and 3D printing organizations.