AI-Powered Healthcare: IEEE Award Winner Brings Tech to Underserved Communities

Abhishek Appaji, an associate professor of medical electronics engineering at B.M.S. College of Engineering in Bengaluru, India, has received the IEEE Theodore W. Hissey Outstanding Young Professional Award for his work bringing AI-driven healthcare solutions to underserved communities. Appaji’s innovations include an AI-powered tool that scans retinas to detect medical conditions and a smart bed that continuously monitors a patient’s vital signs.

The IEEE award recognizes Appaji’s “contributions to accessible AI-driven health care solutions and leadership in empowering young professionals.” The honor, sponsored by the IEEE Photonics and Power & Energy societies as well as IEEE Young Professionals, will be presented during the IEEE Honors Ceremony in New York City this month.

Developing Accessible Healthcare Technology

Appaji’s career has focused on bridging the gap between technological advancements and the needs of under-resourced populations. He combines artificial intelligence, biomedical engineering, deep learning, and neuroscience to create diagnostic tools that are both effective and accessible.

“The intersection of these fields is where the most impactful breakthroughs in diagnostic precision occur,”

Abhishek Appaji

One of Appaji’s key inventions is the Smart Eye Kiosk, an AI-powered device that scans the retina to monitor stress levels, mental health, and screen for basic eye diseases like diabetic retinopathy. The kiosk analyzes the network of small veins in the retina, looking for patterns that can indicate underlying health conditions.

This technology builds on Appaji’s doctoral research at Maastricht University in the Netherlands, which focused on identifying retinal vascular patterns as biomarkers for psychiatric disorders. He found that changes in the retina’s blood vessels can mirror neurovascular changes in the brain, offering a noninvasive way to assess neural health.

According to Appaji, “The retina is the only place in the human body where the central nervous system and the vascular system can be visualized directly and noninvasively. Anatomically, the retina is an extension of the posterior part of the brain. Physiological changes in the brain are often reflected in the eyes.”

The Smart Eye Kiosk was developed in collaboration with Tan Tock Seng Hospital and Nanyang Technological University, with funding from the Ng Teng Fong Healthcare Innovation Program.

From Blood Glucose Monitoring to Smart Beds

Appaji’s commitment to accessible healthcare extends beyond retinal scanning. He also co-founded Glucotek in Brisbane, Australia, after participating in the MIT Global Entrepreneurship Bootcamp in 2017. The company developed a noninvasive blood glucose measurement device to manage gestational diabetes.

More recently, Appaji has been working on a wireless smart bed that continuously monitors a patient’s vital signs without the need for wires or wearable sensors. This project, done in collaboration with Dozee (Turtle Shell Technologies) in Bengaluru, uses sensors to detect mechanical microvibrations produced by the body, providing data on heartbeat and respiration.

The smart bed technology is currently used in over 200 hospitals throughout India and in thousands of households, according to Appaji.

Empowering the Next Generation of Engineers

In addition to his research and development work, Appaji is dedicated to mentoring aspiring entrepreneurs. As executive director of the BMSreenivasiah Innovators Guild Foundation, he provides guidance to students and faculty on business plans, product pitches, and marketing strategies.

The foundation has incubated more than 10 ventures, many of which focus on healthcare applications.

Appaji’s involvement with IEEE began as an undergraduate student, and he has since held several leadership positions within the organization, including chair of the Young Professionals Bangalore Section and treasurer of the IEEE Education Society. He emphasizes the importance of volunteering and taking on leadership roles within IEEE to gain valuable skills and networking opportunities.

“My journey has shown me that IEEE is much more than a professional society; It’s a global platform that allows me to collaborate with a diverse network of experts to solve local humanitarian challenges.”

Abhishek Appaji

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Appaji received a grant from the IEEE Humanitarian Technologies Board and Region 10 to develop 3D-printed protective equipment for underserved communities in Bengaluru. This initiative provided nearly 500 households with door openers and elbow-operated soap dispensers to reduce the spread of the virus.

“This work remains one of my most meaningful contributions to humanitarian technology,” Appaji says, “demonstrating how engineering can be rapidly deployed to protect vulnerable populations during a global crisis.”