(MENAFN- BCW Global)
Abu Dhabi: 17 January 2021 – Khalifa University of Science and Technology on this date signed a research agreement, which will be co-funded by Aldar properties and Sandooq Al Watan, to develop economical, reusable and disposable contact lenses for those suffering from colorblindness. The project team will include researchers from Khalifa University who are currently working in collaboration with researchers from Imperial College London.
The sponsored research agreement was signed by His Excellency Ahmed Fikri, Acting Director General of Sandooq Al Watan, and Dr. Arif Sultan Al Hammadi, Executive Vice-President, Khalifa University. The research team has already developed prototypes of the contact lenses, which will be refined for personal customization, and the grant from Sandooq Al Watan will support further development and commercialization of the product.
The project aims to benefit numerous people who are suffering from color blindness, for which there is no cure at present. Though filtering glasses and special contact lenses are available, these glasses are often bulky and not compatible with vision-correcting glasses, while the lenses are expensive and do not benefit all users.
Talal Al Dhiyebi, Chief Executive Officer of Aldar Properties, said: “As a responsible business, Aldar is constantly looking for innovative and impactful initiatives that support the community and promote social responsibility. We are immensely proud to be partnering with Khalifa University and Sandooq Al Watan on such a noble cause. This research driven initiative will truly change lives for the better, and reinforce the UAE’s position as leader in pushing medical and research advancement. We very much look forward to seeing the positive outcomes of this initiative.”
Dr. Arif Sultan Al Hammadi said: “We are glad to sign this agreement with Sandooq Al Watan and lead the project that will have broader economic, social and academic impact, globally. Our researchers have consistently worked for the benefit of the community and we see this smart contact lenses project as another example of their commitment to supporting the UAE’s healthcare objectives in line with the Abu Dhabi 2030 vision. We also foresee possible intellectual property benefits, and further commercial potentials including manufacturing of contact lenses in
MENAFN17012021005161011692ID1101445794
Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.