The BMM Lab from our department, led by Professor Hyunjoo Jenny Lee, has been selected for the Samsung Future Technology Development Program with their project titled “Ultrasound Sponge: Contact Lens Technology for Glaucoma.”
The team proposes an innovative ultrasound-based intraocular pressure (IOP) monitoring technology to enable more effective management of glaucoma, one of the leading causes of blindness worldwide. Unlike conventional measurement methods, this novel approach utilizes a wearable contact lens that can be worn even during sleep, minimizing patient discomfort while enabling precise monitoring of nocturnal IOP fluctuations that were previously difficult to measure.
The research team aims to advance this technology beyond proof-of-concept at the laboratory level to a stage where it can be applied in real clinical environments. To achieve this, they plan to conduct various animal studies and material design research to ensure both the practical utility and safety of the technology.
The Samsung Future Technology Development Program is a public-interest research funding initiative established by Samsung Electronics in 2013 with an endowment of 1.5 trillion KRW. The program supports research projects that contribute to the advancement of basic science, industrial technology innovation, and solutions to social challenges through science and technology, while also fostering world-class scientists in Korea.
Prior to this achievement, Professor Lee’s team had received support from the KC30 (KAIST Grand Challenge 30 Project) and, over the past two years, conducted patient-centered, high-risk research exploring new diagnostic and therapeutic approaches for ocular diseases. The outcomes and experience from that project served as an important foundation for their recent selection by the Samsung Future Technology Development Program. From now on, the team aims to pioneer a new paradigm in glaucoma management technologies and contribute to global healthcare innovation.
