Project Scaling Program Participant Alexander Dolbilkin Wins 1 Million Ruble Grant
Project Scaling Program Participant Alexander Dolbilkin Wins 1 Million Ruble Grant
July 27, 2026
Following the results of Stage VII of the federal “Student Startup” competition organized by the Innovation Promotion Fund, Alexander Dolbilkin, a participant in the “Project Scaling” program of the International Scientific School “MEDICINA MOLODAYA,” was awarded a grant of 1 million rubles to support the development of his project, “Establishment of a Corneal Lenticule Tissue Bank for Tectonic Keratoplasty.”
In his commentary, the young scientist highlighted the acute shortage of donor corneal tissue as the critical challenge. According to cited statistics, approximately 12,000 cases requiring emergency keratoplasty occur annually in our country, yet surgical procedures are performed in only 1 out of 175 cases. Patients wait 3–4 years just for elective procedures, further limiting emergency keratoplasty availability. “Surgeons are forced to rely on makeshift solutions and alternative techniques,” noted Alexander.
“We proposed a viable solution to this problem. It is known that laser vision correction removes a corneal stromal fragment — a lenticule — which under current practice is treated as biological waste and discarded. The Irkutsk Branch of S.N. Fyodorov Eye Microsurgery Center, where I practice, performs 2,200 such procedures annually. We proposed a method for repurposing corneal lenticules for surgical management of corneal ulcers and perforations, and developed a decellularization protocol for this biomaterial, producing a transparent, acellular corneal stromal graft.
As part of my dissertation research, transparent graft integration was achieved alongside recellularization by host cells by two months of observation. Research findings were published in peer-reviewed journals indexed in Web of Science and Scopus, and protected by two patents.
I express my sincere appreciation for the advisory mentorship provided within the ‘Project Scaling’ program of the International Scientific School ‘MEDICINA MOLODAYA’ of the V.P. Filatov International Foundation for Biomedical Technologies Development and its expert board. My heartfelt thanks go to colleagues in the refractive and diagnostic departments and the clinical laboratory of S.N. Fyodorov Eye Microsurgery Center, whose support during the research cannot be overstated. I am especially grateful to Deputy Director for Scientific Work of S.N. Fyodorov Eye Microsurgery Center, Professor T.N. Yuryeva, MD, Doctor of Medical Sciences, whose wisdom, expertise, and commitment formed the foundation of our success!”
Among upcoming milestones, the young scientist outlined technical and toxicological testing in a laboratory accredited by Roszdravnadzor, compiling technical and operational documentation, obtaining ISO 13485 certification, and subsequently conducting clinical trials to secure medical device market authorization. In turn, the International Scientific School “MEDICINA MOLODAYA” provides tracking of completed and planned milestones via universal roadmapsunder the Project Scaling program. Follow the link to stay updated on current project progress!
We take pride in the accomplishments of our International School participants and remain dedicated to guiding young researchers on their journey toward commercializing medical solutions. The V.P. Filatov International Foundation for Biomedical Technologies Development welcomes talented researchers and stands ready to guide them at every stage: from ideation and proposal drafting to project development, scaling, and market advancement!
