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KeraLink Cornea Chronicles – Q3 2024 | |
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A Message from the CEO of KeraLink International, Michelle Bockman
As we step into a new season of growth and renewal, I am pleased to share some exciting updates with you. Although we have been externally quiet, KeraLink (KLI) has been hard at work behind the scenes, laying a strong foundation to reintroduce ourselves and our mission to the world.
Over the last 60 days, the leadership team has worked tirelessly on developing a new business strategy and a set of core values that align with our mission to make blind people see, to prevent and treat corneal blindness by providing innovative and affordable solutions and technologies to underserved populations in lower-and middle-income countries.
In June and early July, we participated in a series of branding workshops with our new communications partner, Hollywood Agency. These sessions were invaluable, providing us with the insights and tools we need to hit the ground running. We emerged from these workshops with a renewed sense of purpose and a clear, compelling message to share. From there, leadership sprang into action and used this carefully developed messaging to help establish concrete goals to measure our success during the organization’s ongoing 2024 rebirth.
Accomplishing such an impactful mission requires a team that shares the same ethos. After much discussion and collaboration, we determined that our company culture, staff, leadership, and partners must embrace our core values: innovation, equity, respect, empathy, and collaboration.
With these core values front of mind, we were quickly able to produce a business plan that would hold us accountable for hitting important milestones in the spirit of them. At a high level, our goals for 2024 include raising donations through diversified methods, creating a venture lab to capture ideas, developing future-proof technologies, creating impactful partnerships and programs, and being the thought leader in corneal blindness.
With the wisdom of the challenges of fundraising earned over the years, leadership has also been recently trained by high-performing fundraising professionals who have re-invigorated the team with a renewed skillset and optimism that I know will result in meeting our fundraising goals and a strategy that will help in building a pipeline of dedicated donors.
At the intersection of disruptive technology and equity, we are motivated to launch our venture studio to ensure that we can remain pioneers in treating corneal blindness. With the right team and strategy now in place, we are more focused and determined than ever to spread this mission far and wide.
I am excited to embark on this journey with you, our valued supporters. Together, we will continue to transform lives and bring the gift of sight to those in need. Thank you for your unwavering support and belief in KeraLink. The best is yet to come.
Sincerely,
Michelle Bockman
CEO, KeraLink International
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Tech Update: KeraLink Launches AI Program in India | |
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In India, corneal blindness is the leading cause of blindness among patients less than 50 years old and the second leading cause of blindness among patients above 50 years old. Many of these patients develop corneal blindness due to infective keratitis, an eye infection that happens even after the smallest accidents.
Due to the high number of cases in the region, KLI and its partner Visilant saw an opportunity to launch an algorithm (AI) program that would enable doctors to diagnose patients using a mobile device to take a picture and an onboard algorithm to identify the correct infection-causing pathogens.
Creating such an algorithm requires tens of thousands of examples, or training data. That's why KLI and Visilant have collaborated with Aravind Pondicherry, Shroff's Charity Eye Hospital, and SNC Chitrakoot to launch a multicenter clinical study in India to collect images of corneal ulcers and corresponding data about their pathogens, as confirmed through microbiology laboratory testing. In the first two months of all three sites being operational, approximately 1000 patients with infective keratitis have been recruited, putting us well on track to be larger than any NIH-funded prospective corneal ulcer trial ever conducted.
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Collaborating with like-minded organizations to promote innovation and research is an important part of KeraLink’s business model.
These partnerships are crucial as we are working with these institutions to develop better early detection algorithms for keratitis. The goal is to load these algorithms onto handheld devices to extend the reach of early diagnosis of corneal conditions to rural patients.
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Dr. Shroff’s Charity Eye Hospital (SCEH), Northern India
Recently, KeraLink collaborated with SCEH to organize an Infective Keratitis and Corneal Procedures workshop for ophthalmologists at Shroff’s secondary center in Saharanpur, 3.5 hours north of Delhi. This is the first time that this type of training has been conducted outside of the main hospital in Delhi. Eighteen young ophthalmologists attended and completed modules on microbiology skills in addition to hands-on identification and surgical treatment of keratitis. The training material was captured in a well-designed handbook, and this model of bringing microbiology and treatment expertise closer to patients in the field will be expanded to other secondary centers at Shroff’s. Special thanks to Dr. Umang Mathur, Dr. Shalinder Sabharwal, Dr. Manisha Acharya Ms. Rakhi Nathawat, Dr. Aastha Garg, and Mr. Arnab Modak for organizing.
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For two sites at Shroff’s Charity Eye Hospital: one in Delhi and one in Mohammadi, KeraLink supported several full-time optometrists, and dedicated data entry operators to increase the volume of our corneal image library underpinning our AI developments for keratitis and other corneal conditions. | |
Wet lab portion of infective keratitis training focusing on corneal ulcer repair. Photo credit: Mr. Arnab Modak, Hospital Administrator, SCEH Saharanpur | |
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Sadguru Netra Chikitsalaya (SNC), Northern India
KeraLink partnered with Sadguru Netra Chikitsalaya (SNC) to collect images using the same study protocol underway at Shroff’s. SNC is the highest-volume free-standing eye hospital in India in terms of surgical volume. Given that the cornea clinic at SNC Chitrakoot sees approximately 25 new corneal infection patients per day, they will be a high volume data collection site for our AI image collection program. KeraLink and Shroff’s are also partnering with SNC on provision of high quality microbiology services. Special thanks to Dr. Elesh Jain, Dr. Gautam Parmar, and Mr. Subeesh Kuyyadiyil for their collaboration and coordination.
Visilant, AI Field Implementor
KeraLink is partnering with Visilant to assist with the advancement and productization of their software and hardware. Visilant will refine their scalable anterior segment screening device and leverage their technology platform to develop automated corneal diagnosis, classification, and referral algorithms in partnership with KeraLink. Visilant devices are currently in use throughout the multi-center AI image collection study. Special thanks to Ms. Jordan Shuff and Dr. Nakul Shekhawat of the Visilant team for their overall collaboration and in-field training of our partners to use their devices.
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Team Visilant running a training with the study team at SNC Chitrakoot on how to use their anterior segment imager. | |
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As we reflect on our recent accomplishments and look ahead to the exciting opportunities that lie ahead, we want to take a moment to express our heartfelt gratitude to our newest team members and partners. Your unwavering support, dedication, and collaboration have been instrumental in our success. As we move forward, we remain committed to nurturing and strengthening these relationships.
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New Hires and Positions
David Green, Chief Technology and Investment Officer
David Green has transitioned from the interim CEO position to KLI's Chief Technology and Investment Officer. Leveraging his strengths in technology innovation, he will be leading efforts on discovering, developing, deploying, and investing in new technologies for the prevention, early detection, and novel treatment of corneal conditions.
Alexandra Sibole, Principal Engineer
Alexandra “Allie” Sibole joined the company as a Principal Engineer at the end of July. We feel she will play a pivotal role in advancing our engineering projects and fundraising efforts, especially in positioning our Venture Lab model for success. Her technical expertise speaks for itself, particularly in human factors design and product development within the medical device sector given her experience working at Johnson and Johnson, PATH, and Medtronic after finishing her master’s degree in bioengineering innovation and design at Johns Hopkins.
Olivia Salkowsky, Development Intern
Olivia Salkowsky joined KeraLink in June as our Development Intern. She is a junior at Indiana University studying biology and business. She is providing administrative support for the development team contributing to the overall efficiency and success of the fundraising efforts.
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Partnerships
Shamir Optical Thailand, Cause-Related Eyewear Supplier
KLI will partner with Shamir Optical Thailand, which supplies 3 million pairs of glasses annually to online retail stores globally. This partnership will leverage Shamir's existing production and logistic capabilities and market presence. This partnership will ensure a diverse and fashionable frame collection available on KLI's online store.
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Kenneth Schwartz, Cause-Related Eyewear Consultant
KeraLink recently brought on a cause-related eyewear consultant to assist in an assessment of the current market trends and competitive landscape for US frame fashion trends. This consultant will conduct quality control and supply chain management, vendor relations, safety, sustainability initiatives and more as we explore the growth of the KLI line and retail opportunities.
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Annie Robinson, Strategic Partnerships and Initiatives Consultant
Annie Robinson serves as a strategic partnerships and initiatives consultant. She is an accomplished strategic thinker leveraging 15 years of experience in the nonprofit sector to develop inventive, effective partnerships. She works with corporations, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and governments in the international development space with a deep understanding of the process of establishing and managing strategic alliances.
Kenneth Grosso, Development Consultant
Kenneth Grosso serves as a development consultant for KeraLink International. With 30 years of experience in fundraising for both non-profit and for-profit sectors, Kenneth is dedicated to expanding KeraLink’s mission. He focuses on engaging supporters passionate about contributing to the organization’s goal of eradicating corneal blindness worldwide.
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Hollywood Agency, Communications Firm
Hollywood Agency is a nationally recognized, integrated communications firm that makes brands famous. We are collaborating with the agency to help us design clear messaging for the KeraLink brand. The account team will also provide PR, marketing, event, and website support.
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At KeraLink, we believe that events are more than just dates on a calendar – they are opportunities for growth, connection, and inspiration. | |
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Corneatopia – November 16, 2024
Step into a world of innovation and hope at Corneatopia: Eyes on the Future, a fundraising event by KeraLink International. Join us on November 16 at the Maryland Science Center in Baltimore, MD, as we gather to support our mission of eradicating corneal blindness. Get ready for an unforgettable evening filled with inspiring stories of transformation. Together, let's make a difference and bring the gift of vision to those who need it most.
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KLI 2024 Roadshow
We are hitting the road to bring our mission to life, visiting 8 cities over the next 6 months to connect with communities and share our vision. Please consider joining us to discuss the impact we are making as well as opportunities for you to get involved.
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Events Attending
American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) – October 18–22, 2024
AAO 2024 will welcome specialists from the US and abroad for an in-person gathering in Chicago. The annual conference dedicated to the advancement of the profession of ophthalmology will take place at McCormick Place.
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