Biomedical Engineering Initiative: Creating the next generation of healthcare innovators in

Africa

Muhammad H. ZamanDirector,

LEED, Boston Universityzaman@bu.edu

http://buleed.org

Opportunities

• Africa has the among highest entrepreneurial activity in the World (according to Global Entrepreneurship Monitor, 2009).

• Approximately 454 Universities• Most countries have schools of Engineering

and Schools of Medicine• A great national need for innovation

MDGs

• Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger• Achieve universal primary education• Promote gender equality and empower women• Reduce child mortality rate• Improve mental health• Combat HIV/Malaria and Other diseases• Ensure environmental sustainability• Develop a global partnership for development

What can (and should) Engineers do?

• Diagnostics– Rapid diagnostics for TB, Malaria, HIV etc– Hand-held, cheap, robust, low power diagnostics

• Prevention– Vaccinations– Drug design, delivery and quality control

• Quantification and Analysis– Sample preps, tests, storage

The Promise of Biomedical Engineering

• Biotech is $24 Billion dollar industry in India alone.• Better functioning hospitals• Improved healthcare and rapid diagnosis• Capacity to innovate equipment and design robust

solutions for all environments• New businesses, growth, jobs and economic impact• A next generation of interdisciplinary innovative

scholars, teachers and business leaders

Four-Pronged Approach

Innovation and Entrepreneurship

• Design Competition– Robust Diagnostics– Hospital Management and Infrastructure– Information and Communications

• Multidisciplinary teams: Required to have – Mentor/ Mentors– Clearly defined local impact– Business plan

Rounds and judging

Engineering the Future: Summer School for the innovators

• The most talented scholars will get intensive 1-2 month training in thinking about innovation, challenges to innovation, IP, commercialization etc.

• Lecturers are business leaders, academics, patent lawyers from the region and abroad

• Creates a next generation of most talented innovators in the region

Engineering Healthcare

• Creation of BME programs• Using the network of existing hospitals,

medical schools, colleges of engineering to create innovative curricula.

• Working with LEED in designing locally appropriate curriculum for local challenges

• Creating the next generation of problem solvers in BME in next 5-10 years.

Building Capacity

• Building local capacity through technical education

• Short courses designed for technicians and working together with World Bank, ADC, USAID, DFID etc on maintaining equipment.

• Opportunities for small-scale innovation.• Procurement, typical problem solving and

upkeep of small and large equipment in healthcare facilities.

Sustainability

The LEED ApproachTo bring affordable technologies, build capacity and

create innovation

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Diagnostics: Solar Powered Pulse-Oximeter

Counterfeit Drug Detection

• Microfluidic system with fluorescence detection for the active ingredient

• Cheap to mass produce• No scientific expertise needed to use

• Counterfeit drugs make up 10-30% of drugs worldwide– Some times as high as 40%

• Current regulatory methods are expensive and require extensive training and equipment

Problem: Proposed Solution:

Input Solutions Fluorometric Interrogation

Implementation Plan• Initial implementation in Zambia and Kenya• Identification of initial ideas and teams with LEED (~4 weeks)• Idea brainstorming, mentorship, guidance (~1-2 months)• Initial designs (~4-6 months)• Initial presentations, selections of finalists and awards (~2-3

months)• First summer school: 1 year after the launch• BME graduate and undergraduate program: Initial discussions at

UNZA have progressed smoothly, now will be discussing in Kenya and discussing implementation.

• Capacity building: Working with DFID, UNZA and UTH to analyze challenges and start a program.

Fundraising

• Initial support from the Govt. of Korea.• Major support needed for all initiatives.• Expansion of the project from Kenya and

Zambia to other partners.• Supporting innovative spirit requires funds for

design and implementation of the projects.

The Future

• Creating the next generation of African innovators and entrepreneurs who are world leaders in Biomedical Engineering, Biotechnology and competitive in all respects of the field.