Date/Time
Date(s) - December 13, 2023
3:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Categories No Categories
OncoEng, in particular its OncoEng+ network, together with colleagues at BioTrib, are pleased to announce the following seminar, by Professor Sudesh Sivarasu
Title: Navigating the Complexity and Multifaceted Realities of Frugal Healthcare Innovations
Link: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/oncoeng-seminar-navigating-complexity-of-frugal-healthcare-interventions-tickets-718424837027?aff=oddtdtcreator
Abstract:
The presentation will focus on the complexity of frugal innovations in healthcare which aim to improve the accessibility and affordability of medical devices. Frugal innovations, born from resource constraints, challenge the simplistic notion of cost-effectiveness, demanding substantial research, development, and regulatory compliance investments. This multidimensional process involves non-traditional stakeholders and opportunities for customisation and refurbishment. The talk objectives include: identifying catalysts for frugal healthcare innovations; understanding the roles of non-conventional actors; exploring customisation and refurbishment prospects; addressing regulatory challenges; delving into the multifaceted nature of costs. This seminar contributes to a nuanced understanding of frugal innovations in healthcare, recognising their transformative potential, while acknowledging their intricate development and financial implications.
Bio:
Professor Sudesh Sivarasu holds the prestigious DSI/NRF – SARCHi South African Research Chair position in Biomedical Engineering Innovation. As a professor of biomedical engineering at the University of Cape Town’s Department of Human Biology, he plays a pivotal role in academia. Prof. Sivarasu is the Director of UCT’s Biomedical Engineering Research Centre and leads UCT MedTech. Additionally, he holds an adjunct appointment at North-Western University in Chicago, USA, as an adjunct international professor specialising in Global Health and Technology.
Prof. Sivarasu has supervised numerous students, including 5 PhD candidates, 31 MSc students, and 9 Honours students who have completed their programs. He is currently supervising 28 students, including 10 pursuing PhDs and 18 working towards MSc degrees. Dr. Sivarasu has made significant contributions with over 52 peer-reviewed journal publications, 57 peer-reviewed conference publications, one textbook, and 12 book chapters.
Prof. Sivarasu is widely recognised for his prolific contributions to innovation, being listed as UCT’s most active inventor with an extensive portfolio. He boasts over 65 patent applications spanning 22 patent families, with more than 27 patents granted in various countries, including the USA, UK, South Africa, the EU, and India. Notably, he has also contributed three open-source innovations to the field. His inventions have catalysed the formation of three successful start-up companies originating from UCT: reScribe Therapy, Impulse Biomedical, and VAS MedTech, all nurtured by student innovators trained in UCT’s MedTech laboratories. His research is dedicated to developing healthcare technologies tailored for low-resource settings, with an emphasis on their suitability and practicality..
Dr. Sivarasu is behind the multi-award-winning FrugalBiodesign™ methodology for medical device innovation. He founded the Medical Devices Lab and played a key role in establishing the Orthopaedic Biomechanics Lab, which has received multiple accolades. This lab has yielded a range of medical technologies, including reScribe, Laxmeter, PatRig, OpenSource Ptosis Crutches, Zibipen, Easysqueezy, and the FlexiGyn platform.
His outstanding contributions have earned him numerous awards, including the UCT Deputy Vice-Chancellor’s Award for Achievement in Innovation, DST’s Innovation Bridge Award, NSTF-South32 TW Khambule Award for Emerging Researcher, and 16 MedTech awards spanning four continents. He is also an esteemed elected member of the Global Young Academy (GYA) and the South African Young Academy of Science (SAYAS).