At the forefront of innovative eye care solutions is Kunal Parikh, PhD, an Assistant Professor at the Johns Hopkins University (JHU) School of Medicine. Through his work at the Wilmer Eye Institute and the Center for Bioengineering Innovation & Design, Parikh is driving groundbreaking research aimed at eliminating avoidable blindness and improving access to quality eye care globally.
Dr. Kunal Parikh is no stranger to KeraLink International, first connecting with the team in 2014 through Chief Technology Officer, David Green. Having fostered close professional ties with several team members over the years, synergy between Dr. Parikh’s efforts to enable health equity through global health advancements, and KeraLink’s focus on improving corneal care in impoverished countries, have allowed for an incredible partnership.
Dr, Parikh is also the Co-Founder and President of Visilant and Eyedea Medical, both medtech social enterprises that partner with KeraLink International.
At Johns Hopkins University, Dr. Parikh leads a translational, R01-funded, interdisciplinary lab of engineers, scientists, and clinicians working together to create and translate novel biomedical solutions to alleviate human suffering at scale. His research program utilizes the biodesign and insight-informed innovation methodologies to develop digital health technologies, surgical instruments, medical devices, multi-functional biomaterials, and therapeutics that can be readily scaled and adopted into clinical practice to enable access to care, improve treatment outcomes, and prevent post-operative complications.
Dr. Parikh’s lab has a specific focus on the elimination of avoidable blindness globally and has partnered with the world’s largest eye care systems to systematically identify major, unmet eye care needs, develop solutions tailored to the needs of patients and providers, and distribute impactful innovations in an affordable and accessible manner. Several of these inventions have been licensed to industry or formed the basis for startup companies, leading to multiple commercial products.
In addition to his research, Dr. Parikh is an active healthcare investor and has also founded, led, and raised funding for several companies, including Core Quantum Technologies, Social Innovation Lab, Access HEARS, Global Institute for Vision Equity, Eyedea Medical, Visilant, and Samata Therapeutics. Parikh earned his PhD in Biomedical Engineering at JHU and BS in Chemical Engineering at The Ohio State University. He has been recognized as a Leader of Tomorrow for the Mid-Atlantic bioeconomy and by Forbes 30 under 30 in healthcare.
Dr. Parikh’s work aligns closely with the mission of KeraLink International, which is committed to preventing, detecting, and treating corneal blindness through innovative solutions. KeraLink’s initiatives focus on providing life-changing corneal treatments to those in need, ensuring that no one is left behind in the fight against blindness. Parikh’s work exemplifies the same commitment to addressing global eye care challenges, and for that reason, KeraLink International awarded him the Innovator in Global Vision Solutions Award in 2024.
Parikh’s vision is a world where preventable blindness is no longer a barrier. By leveraging compassion, innovative technologies, purpose-driven partnerships, and scalable business models, his work aligns perfectly with KeraLink’s mission. Together, we can continue to push the boundaries of what is possible in the fight against corneal blindness and work toward a brighter future for all.
