Madurai, India — 24–26 November 2025
In late November, members of the MicroTex team travelled to India to spend time with colleagues at Aravind Eye Care System (AECS), one of the world’s most impactful and forward-thinking eye care organisations. The visit aimed to deepen understanding of Aravind’s clinical, research and manufacturing infrastructure, strengthen existing research links, and explore new opportunities for collaboration.
Learning from Aravind’s Unique Model
The visit began with an introduction from Dr. N. Venkatesh Prajna where he shared Aravind’s remarkable founding story and operating philosophy. His talk highlighted how Aravind’s mission-driven, efficiency-focused model enables the delivery of high-quality, affordable eye care at extraordinary scale.
The team then toured both the paid and free hospitals in Madurai, including the microbiology, eye bank, prosthetics, and telemedicine units. A particular highlight was visiting a rural Vision Centre, where sisters trained at Aravind carry out diagnostics including visual acuity testing, fundus imaging, and intraocular pressure measurements, before patients are assessed remotely by ophthalmologists in Madurai. This model dramatically reduces cost and travel burden while maintaining excellent standards of care.
Natalie Jones – MicroTex Hub Project Manager “Visiting Aravind was genuinely inspiring, particularly seeing how the primary care Vision Centres operate within local communities. The way high-quality eye care is delivered so efficiently, supported by telemedicine and highly skilled staff, really reinforces the impact that thoughtful system design can have on patient access and outcomes. It was a powerful reminder of why partnerships like this matter, and how innovation must always be grounded in real-world delivery.”
Insights from Aurolab
On the second day, the team visited Aurolab, which produces intraocular lenses, sutures, blades, and ophthalmic pharmaceuticals used across India and internationally. Guided by Venkatesa Kannan, Head of the Pharmaceutical Division, along with colleagues from the devices and marketing divisions, the group saw the full production pipeline, from raw materials to finished eye drops and lenses, and gained insight into the regulatory landscape for medical devices and drugs in India. These discussions opened avenues for future collaboration in formulation, device development, and shared training.
Sharing Research and Discussing Future Opportunities
The MicroTex team then joined Aravind colleagues for a joint research session. Dr Beth Mills presented an overview of past and current collaborations between Aravind and Edinburgh, Professor Ian Underwood introduced the MicroTex Hub, outlining its scope and long-term ambitions, while Dr Charles Lochenie explained the medicinal chemistry capabilities and interests within the Pandemic Science Hub.
Exploring Collaborative Pathways in Microneedle Technologies
The visit concluded with a focused discussion on collaborative development of devices to advance microdosing technologies in the cornea. The conversation centred on shared clinical challenges, complementary expertise, and promising themes for joint research.
This meeting marked the beginning of a developing relationship between Aravind and the MicroTex Hub, with both teams expressing enthusiasm for strengthening this partnership in the years ahead.
Looking Ahead
The visit strengthened the partnership between MicroTex and Aravind, grounding future innovation in real-world clinical needs and the lived experience of patients.
The MicroTex team extends sincere thanks to all colleagues at Aravind and Aurolab for their hospitality, openness, and enthusiasm. There is enormous potential to combine Aravind’s deep clinical expertise with MicroTex’s strengths in materials science, sensing and engineering, and this visit marks an exciting step towards impactful joint innovation.
Charles Lochenie – Translational Chemistry Manager “My first visit to Aravind Eye Care and Aurolab highlighted the strength of their mission-driven approach. The precision and quality of their manufacturing, paired with the efficiency of their hospitals, offer valuable insights for collaborations with the MicroTex.”