CEO Update – April 2026

April 23, 2026

A Message from Bernie Iliakis, President & CEO of CorneaGen 

As we move through the year, I’m continually inspired by the momentum across CorneaGen, which is driven by our surgeons, partners, and team who show up every day to expand what’s possible in corneal care. While 2025 represented our first full year of CTAK adoption, 2026 is shaping up to be a defining year of expansion, marked by growth in procedure volume, surgeon participation, global reach, and the strength of our clinical evidence.  

CTAK: Growing Experience, Expanding Evidence 

Our progress with Corneal Tissue Addition for Keratoplasty (CTAK) continues to be a source of pride and validation. We are now at 2,000 CTAK procedures, performed by more than 150 surgeons across five countries. This growth reflects both increasing surgeon confidence and the real-world impact CTAK is having for patients suffering from keratoconus. 

Importantly, the science is keeping pace with adoption. At ASCRS, CTAK data were featured in five papers and two posters – with one of the posters gaining top honors as show winner.  Data represented outcomes from more than 150 patients combined. Seeing this depth of clinical insights shared with the broader ophthalmic community reinforces our commitment to evidence-based innovation that can be scaled across the US and beyond.  

A Strong Presence at ASCRS 

ASCRS was an energizing and highly successful meeting for CorneaGen. We were able to complete a total of 55 hands-on, 1-on-1 wet lab trainings and were honored to have John Josephson, MD, David Hardten, MD, Nicole Fram, MD, and Matt Giegengack, MD present, contributing their expertise and helping elevate discussions around CTAK and patient outcomes, EndoSerter Preload, and Ampho B in tissue media. These moments, when clinical leadership meets collaboration, are exactly where progress happens. 

Lions Eye Bank of Texas: Integration Complete 

We are also pleased to share continued progress following our acquisition of the Lions Eye Bank of Texas. The team is now fully integrated and while we have moved out of Baylor College of Medicine, we continue to maintain strong, collaborative relationships there. This transition positions us for long-term operational strength while preserving the partnerships that have mattered for decades. 

Supporting the Broader Mission of Sight Restoration 

Finally, I want to highlight two nonprofit efforts we are proud to support. First, we were proud to once again be a sponsor of the Holland Foundation’s Eye Love Rock n’ Roll event on April 11, which blends community, philanthropy, and a rockstar passion for vision care. Each year, I’m blown away by how our ophthalmic partners support a great cause while creating fun memories with each other.  

We also are proud to support the Cure Blindness Project, whose work restores sight and hope around the world. Stories like Belinda Yeboah’s, a young mother in Ghana whose vision was saved through access to corneal tissue provided by CorneaGen, remind us why this work matters so deeply. We are honored to help Cure Blindness Project’s mission and impact on patients and families around the world – they are remarkable at what they do.  

Thank you to our surgeons, partners, donors, and CorneaGen team members for your trust and dedication. The work is not easy, but it is meaningful, and together, we continue to move the field forward. 

Bernie Iliakis
President & CEO, CorneaGen