About BioLattice
BioLattice Ophthalmics develops CorneaClear, an engineered cornea offered as an alternative to donor cornea tissue. It is aimed at people with corneal blindness, including those on donor tissue waiting lists. Surgeons implant it with a process that mirrors the donor tissue implant.
The company is based at 2929 Arch Street in Philadelphia. Linda Alunkal is co-founder and chief executive officer. Amelia Zellander, who has a PhD, is co-founder and CSO. The National Science Foundation awarded BioLattice an SBIR Phase 1 grant in November 2023.
Funding Rounds (SEC Form D)
| First sale | Filed with SEC | Amount sold | Investors | Avg. check | Terms | Filing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 6, 2026 | Mar 30, 2026amended Oct 28, 2026 | $1,825,000of $3.3M target | 7 | $260K | EquityRule 506(b) | Form D/A ↗1 earlier filing |
First sale is the date the first investor in the offering committed to invest. Companies must file Form D within 15 days of that date, so filing dates run later.
Rounds announced by BioLattice
What the company said publicly about its funding. Announced amounts can differ from Form D figures: an announcement can combine several closings, and some money is raised without a Form D.
| Announced | Round | Amount | Investors | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 29, 2026 | Seed | $500,000 committed by Nittany Angels (total round size not stated on the page) | George Perry, founder of the venture studio biosei, was a major investor with Nittany Angels in the round. | Penn State News: Nittany Angels announces first investment ↗ |
Why Investors Backed BioLattice
BioLattice Ophthalmics is a Philadelphia company developing CorneaClear, an engineered cornea offered as an alternative to donor tissue. Linda Alunkal and Amelia Zellander co-founded it. Nittany Angels, an investment network of Penn State alumni and other investors, committed $500,000 to its seed round. BioLattice is also building partnerships with possible licensees and contract organizations.
The problem it targets
BioLattice's case is that corneal blindness is common while donor cornea is scarce. Its figures are 2 million people with corneal blindness each year and almost 13 million on donor tissue waiting lists. Only one in 70 patients who need cornea tissue obtain it. Investor George Perry calls donor cornea transplant the current standard of care. Penn State's article describes the aim as avoiding the tissue rejection risk and lifetime immunosuppressant use that come with a donor cornea.
What the product does
CorneaClear uses sterile materials that are compatible with the eye. BioLattice's case is that this means low rejection and that the implant eliminates or reduces the need for anti-rejection drugs, which have side effects. The product is meant to be shelf stable and to need no cold storage. Penn State's article adds that the approach costs less than a corneal transplant.
Progress so far
BioLattice was named 2025 Startup of the Year at BioLabs Investor Day. It is building partnerships with possible technology licensees and several contract organizations to market the cornea. In January 2026, it promoted Alunkal to chief executive officer. The company recently closed the initial round of its seed funding. Alunkal said the company is working to bring its technology closer to patients.
Who backs it
Nittany Angels committed $500,000 in its first investment as a network. The company's tie to Penn State is that Alunkal is an alumna. Patrick Flanagan is a Nittany Angels investor and an incoming member of BioLattice's board of directors. He said the company stood out for its clinical need, differentiated technology, experienced leadership and long-term potential. George Perry, a Penn State professor who founded the venture studio biosei, was a major investor with Nittany Angels in the round. LSG Investments lists BioLattice among its current medical devices companies.
We wrote this summary from public statements by BioLattice and its investors. It is not investment advice.
BioLattice in the News
Leadership Team
Executive officers and directors listed on BioLattice's Form D filed Oct 28, 2026.
