The end of one-size-fits-all medicine | Georgina Marsh | TEDxUniversity of Suffolk

Pharmaceutical 3D printing could move medicine away from standard doses toward treatments tailored to each patient. According to the talk, doses could be adjusted to age, health conditions, genetics and treatment needs, which may improve safety, effectiveness and adherence. The speaker, pharmacist and academic Dr Georgina Marsh of the University of Suffolk, also links the approach to digital healthcare and to local concerns about an ageing population and NHS pressures in Suffolk.

• Replacing one-size-fits-all doses with personalised medicine
• Tailoring tablets to age, conditions, genetics and treatment needs
• Combining several medications into a single tablet
• Relevance to rural healthcare and NHS pressures in Suffolk

Pharmaceutical 3D printing has the potential to transform healthcare by replacing the traditional “one-size-fits-all” approach with truly personalised medicine. Instead of standard doses, medicines can be tailored to each patient’s age, health conditions, genetics, and treatment needs, improving safety, effectiveness, and adherence. The technology can also combine multiple medications into a single tablet and work alongside digital healthcare systems to create smarter, more efficient care. For Suffolk, where an ageing population, rural healthcare challenges, and increasing pressure on NHS services are growing concerns, personalised medicine could improve access to treatment, reduce medication-related hospital admissions, and bring care closer to home. This talk explores how innovation can help create a more patient-centred and resilient healthcare system. Dr Georgina Marsh is a UK-registered pharmacist and academic leading the development of the Department of Pharmacy at the University of Suffolk. She holds a PhD from the University of Nottingham and specialises in pharmaceutical 3D printing, researching how engineered surface structures can influence particle adhesion, microbial viability, and drug delivery. Her work explores innovative dosage forms tailored to individual patient needs, with the aim of improving therapeutic outcomes through personalised medicine. Georgina's research combines pharmaceutical science, materials engineering, and emerging technologies to advance patient-centred healthcare. Alongside her academic career, Georgina has worked as a Senior Formulation Scientist at AstraZeneca, an Assistant Professor at the University of Nottingham Malaysia, and a Senior Lecturer at Swansea University. She is passionate about shaping the future of digitally enabled pharmacy through research, innovation, and education. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx