Terasaki Institute

Name

Terasaki Institute

Legal name

Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation

Website

https://terasaki.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation is a Los Angeles-based non-profit biomedical research institute developing advanced platforms including an AI-enabled smart contact lens for glaucoma, silk-kudzu hydrogels for wound closure, organoid-on-a-chip systems, and glioma classification frameworks, serving patients and academic researchers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Los Angeles

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Infrastructure

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels2 records

Core offering

The Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation is a non-profit research institute that develops proprietary biomedical technologies across biomaterials, organ-on-a-chip platforms, AI-enabled medical devices, and drug delivery systems. Its outputs include published research frameworks, prototype devices such as the AI-enabled smart contact lens for glaucoma management, silk-kudzu injectable hydrogels for wound closure, and tissueoid-on-a-chip platforms. These innovations are primarily disseminated through peer-reviewed publications and academic partnerships, with selected technologies advancing toward clinical trials and licensing.

Product overview

The Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation is a research institute that develops biomedical innovations primarily as research outputs rather than commercial products. Their portfolio includes the AI-Enabled Smart Contact Lens for continuous glaucoma monitoring and drug delivery, the Silk-Kudzu Hydrogel for wound closure, the Glioma Organoid Model Framework for cancer research classification, and the Vascularized Liver Tissueoid-on-a-Chip system for tissue regeneration and transplant rejection studies. These products represent innovative biomedical research technologies published in peer-reviewed journals.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• AI-Enabled Smart Contact Lens for Glaucoma Monitoring A wearable medical device that continuously monitors intraocular pressure and delivers targeted drug therapy in a closed-loop system for glaucoma patients. Integrates soft-polymer sensors, AI algorithms, and responsive drug release with no electronic components, batteries, or metal sensors.
• Silk-Kudzu Hydrogel An injectable hydrogel synthesized from silk fibroin and puerarin (kudzu-derived) designed for wound sealing and soft tissue repair. Five formulations tested achieved complete wound closure within 72 hours in laboratory tests on human skin cells with over 95% cell viability and no observed toxicity.
• Glioma Organoid Model Framework

Quantifiable outcome

• Complete wound closure achieved within 72 hours in laboratory tests on human skin cells
• +4 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability4 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Hong Kong University of Science and TechnologycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 April 2026An international research collaboration involving the Terasaki Institute in the United States and Hong Kong University of Science and Technology to jointly develop the smart contact lens for glaucoma patients. The lens detects intraocular pressure changes in real time and automatically releases medication, with results published in Science Translational Medicine.
• Keck Graduate Institute (KGI)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 March 2026A three-year collaborative research partnership between TIBI and Keck Graduate Institute established to accelerate biomedical innovation through joint research programs, faculty collaboration, and expanded student training opportunities. The agreement establishes a framework for interdisciplinary research across biomaterials, cell engineering, drug delivery, medical devices, and personalized medicine, with reciprocal access to laboratory infrastructure and facilities. The partnership also creates new opportunities for PhD student training and joint grant proposals, guided by a Collaborative Research Steering Committee.

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• TissUse GmbH: Berlin-based developer of multi-organ-on-chip systems (Humimic) for toxicology and disease modeling. Comparable niche player in the same organ-on-chip space as TIBI's vascularized liver and immune-response platforms.
• Mimetas: Dutch organ-on-chip company offering the OrganoPlate platform for high-throughput 3D tissue models. Comparable to TIBI's tissueoid-on-a-chip work as a focused commercial player in the same microphysiological systems category.
• Integra LifeSciences: Developer and manufacturer of regenerative wound care and surgical implant products. Comparable commercial counterpart for TIBI's silk-kudzu injectable hydrogel, with established hospital and wound-care channels for licensing a soft-tissue repair platform.

Direct peers

• Emulate Inc. Commercial organ-on-chip platform (Liver-Chip, Lung-Chip) for preclinical drug development. Direct comparable for TIBI's vascularized liver tissueoid-on-a-chip and anti-cancer immunity organ-on-chip programs.
• CN Bio Innovations: Provider of single- and multi-organ organ-on-chip systems (PhysioMimix) for toxicology and disease modeling. Directly comparable to TIBI's microphysiological system portfolio and a likely licensing partner for chip-based platforms.
• Sensimed (iCare): Developer of the Triggerfish smart contact lens for continuous 24-hour intraocular pressure monitoring in glaucoma. Direct product-line competitor to TIBI's AI-enabled smart contact lens, with a CE-marked device already in clinical use across Europe.
• Gladstone Institutes: San Francisco-based independent biomedical research organization affiliated with UCSF, focused on translational research in cardiovascular, neurological, and infectious disease. Closely comparable to TIBI as a non-profit, independent, translational biomedical research institute of similar scale.
• Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering: Harvard-affiliated translational research institute advancing biomaterials, organ-on-chip, and therapeutic device platforms. Closely comparable to TIBI as a non-university-administered biomedical innovation hub with parallel programs in hydrogels, microphysiological systems, and smart drug delivery.

Broad incumbents

• Alcon: Global ophthalmic device and pharmaceutical leader with extensive glaucoma franchise (drops, surgical devices). Broad incumbent whose glaucoma treatment portfolio TIBI's smart contact lens would complement or compete against.
• Johnson & Johnson Vision: Major ophthalmic device franchise spanning contact lenses, surgical, and pharmaceutical products. Relevant broad incumbent due to its scale in contact lens manufacturing and glaucoma therapeutics, positioning it as a likely commercialization partner for TIBI's smart lens.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/TerasakiInst

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments1 record

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Terasaki Institute