After establishing the Center for BioMolecular Modeling at the Milwaukee School of Engineering (MSOE) in 1999, Tim Herman, Ph.D., spun off 3D Molecular Designs to print 3-D physical models of proteins and other molecular structures for biomedical researchers, and innovative educational models for educators. Michael Patrick, Ph.D., of the University of Wisconsin - Madison, was co-founder.

We received several Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) grants which supported further development of the technology, in collaboration with software developer Roger Sayle. The new software simplified model design and interfaced with rapid prototyping machines, which dramatically reduced the cost of custom models. These grants also made it possible for us to develop our most popular educational products: Water Kit©, DNA Discovery Kit© and Amino Acid Starter Kit©.

Key to the development of these and new models and kits are Diane Herman, 3DMD, Heather Ryan, 3DMD, Vito Gervasi, MSOE and Mark Hoelzer, MSOE and 3DMD.

3D Molecular Designs and the MSOE Center for BioMolecular Modeling are separate entitites; however, we consider ourselves sister organizations and work synergistically to develop the most accurate and innovative kits and models. Our products are developed in collaboration with experienced teachers and field-tested in classrooms.

Organizations such as Project Lead The Way, HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology, Knowles Science Teaching Foundation and many others have incorporated our products into their programs.

We donate our kits to the MSOE Lending Library to make them available to teachers and schools that are unable purchase them. We also subsidized the launch of the Science Olympiad Protein Modeling Event for several years.