LinkoCare is actively involved in Research and Development internally as well as in collaboration with European and International collaborators. The externally funded international projects in which LinkoCare plays a key role are listed below:
Project 1: Arrest Blindness
www.arrestblindness.eu/
Title: Advanced Regenerative and REStorative Therapies to combat corneal BLINDNESS
Call identifier: H2020-PHC-2015-two-stage (Societal challenge, Health, Demographic change and Well-being), 2016-2020
Project No: 667400-1
ARREST BLINDNESS is a consortium of 14 partners across 8 European countries including 5 innovative companies and 9 leading academic centers with expertise in the fields of corneal regeneration in Europe. The main aim of the project is to develop new methods and strategies to repair damaged and non-functioning corneas.
http://www.ever-f.eu/page.php?edi_id=775
http://www.liu.se/liu-nytt/arkiv/nyhetsarkiv/1.649365?l=en
The project is funded by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Programme under Grant Agreement No. 667400-2.
Project 2: 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/
Relevant Patents, Popular Science Articles, and Publications
Patents
4. A composite collagen hydrogel material, an implantable ophthalmic device comprising such material and methods of producing the composite collagen hydrogel material
and the implantable ophthalmic device, Inventor: M. Rafat, 2016.
Swedish Patent: granted, Patent no. SE 539 167C2
European Patent, granted, EU Patent no. & date: 3393534, 2020/01/08
US Patent granted, US Patent no. & date: 10568987, 2020/2/25
International Application No.: WO 2017/108794
PCT Application No.: PCT/EP2016/081928
National Phase Application No. (Canada): Appl. No.: 3,009,098
National Phase Application No. (China): 201680075249.6
National Phase Application No. (India): Appl. No.: 201817026829
3. Interpenetrating Networks, and Related Methods and Compositions, Pending Patent, PCT/CA2006/001520, IPN: WO 2007/028258 A2, Inventors: Rafat, M. et al.
granted in India, patent # 283641.
2. Vision Enhancing Ophthalmic Devices and Related Methods and Compositions. Pending Patent, PCT/US2005/028723, Inventors: Rafat, M. et al.
1. Ophthalmic Devices and Related Methods and Compositions, Pending Patent, PCT/CA2005/001240, Inventors: Rafat, M. et al.
Trademarks
1. CorVision® (Bioengineered Corneal MicroLens)
2. LinkCor® (Bioengineered Cornea)
3. LinkCell™ (Bioengineered Membranes for Stem Cell Growth)
Popular Science Articles/Presentations (conferences, media, etc.)
Successful clinical trial of LinkoCare’s Bioengineered Corneas (LinkCor) in 10 legally blind patients published in The Times of India:
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/bio-engineered-cornea-may-be-a-visionary-step-in-gifting-sight/articleshow/65693391.cms
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
University of Ottawa Research Perspective Magazine, “Bioengineering breakthrough has corneal blindness in its sights”:http://web5.uottawa.ca/www3/fespfgps/research/article11.html
Central European Biotechnology Portal, an Interview on Challenges in Tissue Engineering:
http://cebiotech.com/articles/Challenges-in-tissue-engineering,282
Linköping University’s Innovation Office (InnovationskontorEtt), LIU spinoff “LinkoCare Offers New Hope”:
http://www.innovationskontorett.se/case/linkocare-offers-new-hope/
The Canadian Chapter of the Controlled Release Society (cc-CRS), interview feature with Canadian authors of outstanding work in the field of Drug Delivery and Controlled Release: http://www.cc-crs.com/rafat.htm
Peer-Reviewed Journal articles and book chapters
Peer-Reviewed Original Articles In High Impact Journals.