​News & Press Release

August 31, 2020
​CORREN Newspaper: The LiU reseracher's lens may provide protection against covid-19

Here is a glimps of hope - a contact lens that may provide protection against covid-19. 
Mehrdad Rafat, associate professor/senior lecturer at Linkoping University, has worked and researched tissue engineering for almost 20 years. Ever since the virus began to spread, he has been thinking about how he could help in the fight. Now he has an idea that is about to become a reality: a natural contact lens that will protect against the corona virus. It covers the entire eye, is loaded with anti-inflammatory and antiviral drugs and should be a shield against viral infections. The lens will work for preventive purposes, but the hope is that it will also mitigate the effects for those affected by covid-19. 
One of the drugs used is the cortisone drug dexamethasone, which patients with covid-19 have been treated with. 
- It is made of natural materials that mimic human corneal tissue while others are made of synthetic materials such as plastics. These can deprive the eye of nutrients and oxygen, resulting in redness, dryness, infection and inflammation.
When can we see the lens used? - We hope to have the lens 1st prototype ready to be tested on humans by the end of this year. But first we have to get it approved and funded. The regulatory processes are strict, expensive and time consuming. But I hope that the review and approval process will be accelerated during the pandemic. 
Who is it for? - Eventually we want it to be available to everypne, but in the first stage it will be used by those who are in the front line, i.e medical staff such as nurses and doctors. 
Will it be expensive? - More expensive than ordinary lenses, because it is made from natural materials and is larger, but not too expensive so that everypne who needs it can afford it. 
Two research groups at LiU are behind the project together with the company LinkoCare Life Sciences AB, of which Mehrdad Rafat is CEO and cofounder. The project also has international partners, Eveol UK. Care Group India and Gemini Eve Clinics in the Czech Republic. 

August 22, 2020
​An interview with the Swedish Television (SVT) regarding our new natural contact lens technology against Covid-19!
​

https://www.svt.se/nyheter/lokalt/ost/vill-skapa-kontaktlins-som-skydd-mot-covid-19?cmpid=del%3Afb%3A20200824%3Avill-skapa-kontaktlins-som-skydd-mot-covid-19%3Anyh%3Alp
​


​​August 14, 2020
​LinkoCare is developing a new therapeutic and
protective contact lens to join the fight against the
Corona Virus. 
​
​https://liu.se/en/news-item/ny-kontaktlins-kan-anvandas-for-behandling-och-skydd-mot-covid-19



​
​
March 24, 2020
​LinkoCare received regulatory approval in Europe to commence the first in human clinical trial of its CorVision® Bioengineered Corneal MicroLens for treating presbyopia (Near Vision Loss).
​
https://www.healio.com/ophthalmology/refractive-surgery/news/print/ocular-surgery-news/%7bc8cd5c6c-0420-4cb7-a3ec-ef9a3cae60cf%7d/bioengineered-corneal-inlay-overcomes-biocompatibility-problems-of-past-technologies
​

May 3, 2019
​LinkoCare is recognized as one of the innovative companies with high growth potential by the City of Linköping. 
An article about LinkoCare was published recently by the City's official journal: Linköping’s Trade & Industry (Linköpings Naringsliv). 

"23 million people who suffer from corneal blindness may regain sight, thanks to research and development
  in Linköping"

More info: http://www.linkopingsnaringsliv.se/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=76&catid=10&Itemid=301​

Picture
linköpings_näringsliv_article_about_linkocare.pdf
File Size: 3743 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

November 15, 2018
​LinkoCare, as a contributing partner, succeeded in a European Cooperation in Science and Technology (COST) proposal “ANIRIDIA-NET”. 

​https://www.cost.eu/news/get_involve_in_the_40_brand_new_actions_starting_in_spring_2019/#
Aniridia is a devastating eye disorder characterized by a complete or partial absence of the colored part of the eye, the iris. The main goal of this project is to form a Pan-European collaboration network for advancing research and innovation on development of novel diagnostics and treatments for aniridia, cornea, stem cells, tissue engineering, regenerative medicine, and corneal transplantation.
The COST provides funding for the creation of research networks, called COST Actions. These networks offer an open space for collaboration among scientists and innovators across Europe (and beyond) and thereby provides incentive to research advancements and innovation.
The project is approved by the European Commission and will fund collaboration activities such as conferences, working group meetings, workshops, training schools, short-term scientific missions, and dissemination and communication activities among 69 academic and industrial partners from 24 European countries. 

November 12, 2018
LinkoCare is recognized as one of the successful companies span out of academic research with LiU roots.​

https://liu.se/en/article/successful-companies

November 2, 2018

​Successful clinical trial of LinkoCare's Bioengineered Corneas in 10 legally blind patients.​

LinkoCare's Bioengineered Corneal implants (LinkCor) were successfully tested in 10 legally blind patients via a simple and minimally invasive surgical technique eliminating the need for corneal transplantation
The Times of India:
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/bio-engineered-cornea-may-be-a-visionary-step-in-gifting-sight/articleshow/65693391.cms
​​

​October 5, 2018
​
Experts panel discussion on Recent Advances in Keratoconus Surgery during the Prague Eye Festival, Czech Republic

​LinkoCare's bioengineered corneal implants were featured as one of the main treatment options for keratoconus. ​

  • Main treatment options discussed:
    • Pulsed and oxygen supplied accelerated CXL protocols
    • Intrastromal riboflavin application.
    • Asymmetric corneal rings,
    • Collagen-based corneal implants (LinkoCare),
    • Allogenic corneal stromal lenticule transplantation
    • OCT-guided laser DALK with laser tunnel for big bubble technique.
  • Expert panel: Dr. Arthur Cummings (Ireland), Dr. Roberto Bellucci (Italy), Dr. Grace Lytle (USA), Dr. Olivier Prisan (France), Dr. Gerald Schmidinger (Austria), Dr. Pavel Stodulka (Czech Republic).
  • http://www.gemini.cz/videos/online-discussion/

October 10, 2017
European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons (ESCRS), Lisbon

  • A successful presence and productive meetings with our top eye surgeons at the 35th Congress of the European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons (ESCRS) in Lisbon

November 6, 2015
​
​EU Horizon 2020 Project:  ARREST BLINDNESS
​

  • LinkoCare was successful in a European Horizon 2020 grant application/consortium "ARREST BLINDNESS" which is funded by the European Commission for developing and testing a new generation of regenerative technologies for treating blinding conditions of the cornea which cannot be treated today. ​   
            https://www.arrestblindness.eu/

November 1, 2015
​
​LinkoCare was recognized as an innovative company span out of academic research

PictureLinköping University, Main Entrance of Medical Sciences Campus
Swedish: Med LiU Innovation stöd kommer vår forskning ge blinda synen åter (LinkoCare).
English: Thorough support from LIU Innovation our research will help the blind to see (LinkoCare).
​ 

January 5, 2015
LinkoCare Joined an International Consortium to Develop Artificial Corneas from Ciona Nanocellulose
​(Ciona Cornea)

Title: Ciona nanocellulose for large volume and high value applications Call identifier: BIOTEK2021, Norwegian Research Council, 2015-2017
CIONA NANOCELLULOSE is a consortium of 10 partners from 3 different countries of Norway, Sweden, and China including 5 innovative companies and 5 leading academic centers with expertise in the fields of nanocellulose. One of the main goals of the project is to optimize the use of an alternative marine source of nanocellulose and cellulose, the tunicate, Ciona, towards developing a cost-effective Artificial Cornea. 
https://uni.no/en/news/2014/12/19/taking-tunicate-project-next-level/
https://www.oceanbergen.no/about-us/partners/

​March 2, 2015
LinkoCare is a LEAD Company

  • LEAD is an ISO-9001 certified business incubator with a mission to help start-ups in Sweden grow via business coaching, funding opportunities, networking, press release, as well as access to office space etc. at the Mjardevi Science Park. This is a stamp of approval for LinkoCare because only few companies each year get to become a LEAD Company. 
          http://lead.se/bolag/#medlemsbolag

December 8, 2014
LinkoCare CEO’s Interview on Challenges in Tissue Engineering
​(Central European Biotechnology Portal)

  • Central European Biotechnology Portal, an Interview on Challenges in Tissue Engineering. 
           http://cebiotech.com/articles/Challenges-in-tissue-engineering,282

May 11, 2010
The Interview by the Canadian Chapter of the Controlled Release Society

  • Dr. Rafat was interviewed by the Canadian Chapter of the Controlled Release Society (cc-CRS), as a Canadian author of outstanding work in the field of Drug Delivery and Controlled Release: 
             http://www.cc-crs.com/rafat.htm

November 2, 2008
UOttawa Research Perspective Magazine:
​Bioengineering breakthrough has corneal blindness in its sights

  • Dr. Rafat's work was published by the University of Ottawa Research Perspective Magazine, “Bioengineering breakthrough has  corneal blindness in its sights”: 
           http://web5.uottawa.ca/www3/fespfgps/research//article11.html

September 1, 2008
Dr. Mehrdad Rafat wins the Canadian Innovation Challenge Award

  • Dr. Mehrdad Rafat wins the Innovation Challenge Award from Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) for
    Construction and Commercialization of an Implantable Artificial Cornea:                                                                                                                                    ​ http://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/Prizes-Prix/Ica-Pdi/Profiles-Profils_eng.asp?ID=1002