Abhishek Appaji is on a mission. The IEEE senior member and associate professor at B.M.S. College of Engineering in Bengaluru, India, has dedicated his career to bringing life-saving technology to underserved communities. Moreover, he believes the most powerful breakthroughs happen at the intersection of artificial intelligence, biomedical engineering, deep learning, and neuroscience.
“The intersection of these fields is where the most impactful breakthroughs in diagnostic precision occur,” Appaji says.
His work has earned global recognition. This year, Appaji receives the IEEE Theodore W. Hissey Outstanding Young Professional Award for his contributions to accessible AI-driven healthcare solutions and his leadership in empowering young professionals.
The Vision Behind the Innovation
Appaji holds a deep conviction that engineering success is measured not by publications alone — but by the real-world impact technology has on people’s lives. Furthermore, he believes empowering the next generation of leaders is equally vital. This philosophy drives every project he undertakes, from AI diagnostic tools to smart hospital beds.
His inventions now serve remote areas across India. Physicians in underserved regions use his AI-powered machines to diagnose conditions that would otherwise go undetected. Consequently, patients receive timely, accurate care that was previously out of reach
From Engineering Classroom to Global Impact
MIT Bootcamp Sparks Entrepreneurial Drive
After earning his bachelor’s degree in engineering from B.M.S. in 2010, Appaji joined the institution as a lecturer in medical electronics engineering. He simultaneously pursued a master’s degree in bioinformatics at the University Visvesvaraya College of Engineering in Bengaluru, graduating in 2013.
In 2017, Appaji enrolled in the MIT Global Entrepreneurship Bootcamp — a two-week intensive hybrid program combining online coursework with a five-day residential stay at MIT. The program gave aspiring innovators a structured framework to move ideas from lab to market.
“I had the technical expertise, but I needed a structured framework to transition my research from the laboratory to the market,” he explains.
Founding Glucotek in Australia
During the bootcamp, Appaji’s team tackled a pressing healthcare challenge: gestational diabetes. Together, they designed a noninvasive blood glucose measurement device. After the program ended, Appaji and two Australian teammates founded Glucotek in Brisbane to commercialize the device.
This experience motivated Appaji further. He then pursued a doctorate in mental health and neurosciences at Maastricht University in the Netherlands. His thesis focused on computational methods for identifying retinal vascular patterns as biomarkers for psychiatric disorders. In 2020, he earned his Ph.D. and received the university’s prestigious Best Thesis Award.
The Smart Eye Kiosk: Retina Meets AI
An AI-Powered Breakthrough in Psychiatric Screening
Appaji’s doctoral research formed the foundation for his most innovative creation — the Smart Eye Kiosk. This AI-powered tool scans the network of small blood vessels that deliver blood to the inner retina. It monitors stress levels, screens for basic eye diseases like diabetic retinopathy, and detects early signs of psychiatric conditions.
The kiosk analyzes key retinal vascular measurements using trained AI models. These measurements include vessel thickness and branching angles, both of which act as biomarkers for mental health disorders. Specifically, conditions like schizophrenia and bipolar disorder cause microvascular changes in the brain that appear in the retina.
Appaji developed the kiosk in collaboration with Tan Tock Seng Hospital and Nanyang Technological University, with funding from the Ng Teng Fong Healthcare Innovation Program.
How the Retina Reveals Brain Health
A Window Into the Central Nervous System
The retina is unique. It is the only place in the human body where the central nervous system and the vascular system can be observed directly and noninvasively. Because the retina is anatomically an extension of the posterior brain, physiological changes in the brain often reflect in the eyes.
“The patterns we analyze — including the curvature of the vessels, the angles at which they branch out, and their dimensions — reveal the health of the microvascular system,” Appaji says. “With conditions like schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, microvascular changes mirror neurovascular changes in the brain.”
To strengthen his research, Appaji invited relatives of patients with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder to participate in a clinical study. India’s Cognitive Science Research Initiative’s Department of Science & Technology funded this study. The clinical data it generates can enable earlier and more accurate psychiatric diagnoses — a significant advance for mental healthcare.
A Wireless Smart Bed for Continuous Monitoring
Vital Signs Tracking Without Wires or Wearables
Beyond the eye, Appaji works to improve how hospitals monitor patients overall. He enhanced the sensor performance of a wireless smart bed developed in collaboration with Bengaluru-based health AI company Dozee (Turtle Shell Technologies).
The smart bed places a thin, industrial-grade sensor sheet under the mattress. These sensors detect minute mechanical vibrations produced by the body with each heartbeat. Additionally, they track the expansion and contraction of the chest during breathing. Deep learning algorithms developed by Appaji and his team then analyze the resulting electrical signals.
“These sensors are incredibly sensitive,” he says. “They pick up minute mechanical tremors through the mattress material.”
The technology now serves more than 200 hospitals across India and thousands of households. Therefore, it gives healthcare professionals a powerful, non-invasive way to continuously monitor patients — without wires or discomfort.
Mentoring the Next Generation of Innovators
Appaji’s impact extends well beyond the laboratory. As Executive Director of the BMSreenivasiah Innovators Guild (BIG) Foundation, he mentors student and faculty entrepreneurs across the BMS group of institutions. The not-for-profit foundation provides a structured ecosystem for innovation, incubation, and startup growth.
Under his guidance, the foundation has incubated more than 10 ventures. The majority focus on healthcare applications and have secured investor backing and seed funding. Appaji advises mentees on business plans, product pitches, marketing strategies, and licensing — bridging the gap between technical expertise and commercial success.
IEEE: A Global Platform for Change
From Volunteer to Global Leader
Appaji’s relationship with IEEE began during his undergraduate years when a professor encouraged him to volunteer at an IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society conference. That experience proved transformative.
“I was amazed to find myself in the same room with the speakers and scientists who had authored the very textbooks I was studying,” he recalls.
Since then, Appaji has held several IEEE leadership roles, including chair of the IEEE Young Professionals Bangalore Section. Today, he serves as treasurer of the IEEE Education Society, chair of the IEEE Computer Society Bangalore Chapter, and a member of multiple IEEE boards.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, IEEE supported Appaji’s humanitarian work with a grant that funded 3D-printed protective equipment for underserved communities in Bengaluru. Nearly 500 households received hygiene kits — including contactless door openers and elbow-operated soap dispensers — helping protect high-density neighborhoods where social distancing was nearly impossible.
Conclusion: Technology That Transforms Lives
Abhishek Appaji exemplifies what it means to engineer for humanity. His AI-powered retinal screening tool opens a non-invasive window into mental health. His wireless smart bed keeps patients safe without a single wire. Moreover, his mentorship programs equip tomorrow’s innovators with the tools to make their own lasting impact.
“This award validates my core belief that our success as engineers is not solely measured by research outcomes or publications but by the tangible impact we have on lives through accessible technology,” he says.
His advice to young engineers is clear: say yes to responsibility, start small, and let service shape your career.
