MADIA tech report: Tech innovation used to restore sight

BY BRENDA J. TRAINOR

Technology is at its best and most powerful when used to help people. Golden Eye Bionics (gebionics.com) is a Pasadena-based company that is advancing the use of microtechnology to develop the use of an “intelligent retina.” This technology can help blind people recover their sight with a micro implant.

Dr. Changlin Pang is the co-founder and Chief Technology Officer of Golden Eye Bionics. He will be featured at the next MADIA Tech Launch (MADIAtech.org) meeting on Wednesday, Feb. 1 to speak about this technology and how his company has evolved from a research initiative to an advanced medical device manufacturing operation. Golden Eye BIonics is charting a successful entrepreneurial course born jointly out of Caltech and USC School of Medicine’s efforts to develop and manufacture advanced medical devices.

You can hear more about this fascinating company’s efforts by attending the dinner meeting of MADIA Tech Launch at 6:30 p.m. on Feb. 1 at Tanner Research, 1851 Huntington Drive, Duarte. Tickets are $16.60 in advance or you can attend remotely via Zoom for no charge. Tickets for either the Zoom link or the on-site dinner are available through this eventbrite link: https:// lnkd.in/gTuv8rtP.

MADIA Tech Launch is a nonprofit organization supporting technology entrepreneurs in the heart of the San Gabriel Valley. More information can be found at the website: MADIAtech.org.

“We are grateful to our Congressional representatives for this extraordinary funding,” said Board of Supervisors Chair Dawn Rowe. “The county will use this new federal funding to complete important infrastructure projects that will significantly improve facilities and amenities for local residents.”

Aguilar (D-Redlands) directed $2.56 million to make significant street and pedestrian improvements in Little Third Street, an unincorporated pocket within the city of San Bernardino. This project has been a top priority for Supervisor Joe Baca, Jr., who included it in his Fifth District Roadmap to Revitalization. The project

Feinstein directed $3.75 million to the county to repair and expand the Mt. Baldy Fire Station. This rural station deep in the San Gabriel Mountains is an aging facility built nearly a century ago. Expansion is critical for the station, to allow it to house modern fire engines and accommodate the need for fire crews. This remodeled facility will enhance county efforts to protect residents from the dangers of wildfire, especially in isolated rural communities.

Torres (D-Pomona) made two funding awards to the county. The first provides $2.28 million to renovate and improve the food court at Prado Regional Park. This critical park facility was badly damaged by flooding several years ago and is unable to accommodate the high demand of park visitors. The renovated facility will significantly improve kitchens and restrooms, meet ADA standards and expand dining options for patrons.

The second award from Torres directed $1.5 million in new funding to build Safe Routes to School in unincorporated Fontana. Many parts of this community do not have adequate sidewalks, crosswalks, or ADA-accessible ramps. This project will install traffic calming infrastructure near schools, to better protect children and pedestrians.

Obernolte (R-Big Bear Lake) awarded the county $2 million to begin the design and planning for the Desert Knolls Wash Phase IV flood control project near Apple Valley. This multi-phase project is a major undertaking for the county to expand the capacity of the Desert Knolls wash to protect High Desert communities against catastrophic floods.