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A team at Precise Bio has achieved the first successful human implantation of a 3D-printed, lab-grown cornea—marking a major milestone in regenerative ophthalmology. The work was spearheaded by Aryeh Batt, the company’s co-founder and CEO. The implant, known as PB-001, is made entirely from cultured human corneal cells and printed using Precise Bio’s robotic bio-fabrication platform. This approach could transform donor tissue availability: today, there is only one donated cornea for every 70 people who need one.
The breakthrough surgery took place on 29 October in Haifa, Israel, where ophthalmic surgeon Dr. Michael Mimouni implanted the engineered cornea into a legally blind patient. The PB-001 graft is designed to match the clarity, structure, and mechanical properties of a natural cornea and has already shown it can integrate with host tissue in animal studies. The device arrives cryopreserved and preloaded onto standard surgical tools, enabling surgeons to implant it much like a conventional graft.
A phase 1 clinical trial in Israel is now underway, enrolling 10–15 participants with corneal dysfunction caused by fluid buildup. Researchers will track safety and six-month efficacy outcomes, with top-line results expected in late 2026. If successful, this technology could scale a single donor cornea into hundreds of lab-grown grafts and pave the way toward an on-demand, reliable source of replacement corneal tissue—potentially ending the global shortage that keeps millions living with preventable blindness.
