Back to News

3D-Printed Breast Prostheses Wins Flemish Thesis Awards

Master's thesis on Personalized breast protheses supervised by our team wins prestigious national awards

We are proud to announce that Eline De Roo has won both the Flemish Thesis Prize 2025 and the Eos Prize for her master's thesis on personalized breast prostheses, supervised by our team member Dr. Lore Brosens and Daniela Theil.

A Prothesis That Truly Fits

For women who undergo mastectomy, an external breast prosthesis is often essential for restoring body symmetry and self-confidence. In Belgium, more than 11,000 women receive a breast cancer diagnosis annually. This means not only a medical battle, but often also a loss of bodily identity."Today there are only 10 to 15 standard prostheses on the market. These are often too heavy, warm, or uncomfortable. Every woman is different, but the current offerings hardly take that into account. My goal was to design a prosthesis that truly matches the body and wishes of the woman," explains Eline.

Co-creation and Customization

What makes this research exceptional is the central role of patients. Eline involved women from the beginning in the design process. Their experiences and wishes formed the basis for a digital design model, with which prostheses can be automatically adapted to each woman's body based on 3D scans.

Additionally, Eline collaborated with medical and industrial experts, such as plastic surgeon Prof. Dr. Philip Blondeel and the German company Anita Dr. Helbig GmbH. "Their feedback on comfort, fit, and aesthetics was crucial. This collaboration increases the chance that the designs will eventually find their way to the market," says Eline.

Lightweight, Breathable, and Modular

Unlike traditional silicone prostheses, Eline developed an open internal structure that makes the prosthesis simultaneously lightweight, sturdy, and breathable. The design is modular, with a removable nipple, which simplifies personalization and printing. She experimented with various materials such as silicone and realized a fully functional prototype.

"The prototype demonstrates that customization via 3D-printing is technically feasible. However, further research and validation are still needed for medical applications," Eline notes.

Double Award Recognition

The jury was full of praise for Eline's work. "Eline combines scientific depth with socially relevant innovation. Her master's thesis is almost like a start-up: she developed a technical and empathetic product that truly helps women after breast cancer. If this project is further developed, the impact is limitless," says jury chair Lies D'hondt.

Selected from 498 submissions by SciMingo vzw, Eline received the coveted Thesis Prize trophy and a cash prize of €2,500 at the ceremony on December 17 at Kortrijk City Hall. She also won the Eos Prize, taking the podium twice.