The University of Cape Town invites you to an inaugural lecture by Professor Sudesh Sivarasu.

Topic: Engineering Tomorrow’s Medical Devices for Africa's Unique Needs

Professor Sudesh Sivarasu’s lecture will explore the pioneering frontiers of biomedical engineering tailored to Africa’s distinct healthcare landscape. As the DSI/NRF South African Research Chair in Biomedical Engineering & Innovation, Prof Sivarasu will address the challenges and opportunities presented in developing healthcare technologies specifically suited for low-resource environments in Africa.

The lecture will feature Prof Sivarasu’s innovative FrugalBiodesign™ methodology, which focuses on designing accessible, affordable, and contextually appropriate medical devices. His methodology has gained recognition for revolutionising medical technology development in resource-constrained settings. Drawing on his extensive body of work, including a substantial portfolio of patent applications and numerous peer-reviewed publications, Prof Sivarasu will demonstrate the journey from conceptualisation to the real-world implementation of these technologies.

In addition, the lecture will share insights into the successful commercialisation of biomedical innovations (4 startup companies), including open-source medical technologies currently deployed in 16 countries. The lecture will also underscore the vital role of biomedical engineering in pandemic preparedness, highlighting Prof Sivarasu’s significant contributions to the South African National Ventilator Project during the COVID-19 pandemic and the development of ventilation technologies that hold promise for future public health emergencies.

Looking ahead, Prof Sivarasu will discuss emerging trends in healthcare technology across the African continent and reflect on the potential for young innovators to contribute to this dynamic and evolving field. In addition, the lecture will emphasise the transformative impact of biomedical engineering in improving healthcare delivery across Africa, with the potential to save millions of lives. This presentation promises to merge engineering innovation with Africa's pressing healthcare needs, offering a forward-looking vision for a technologically empowered and healthier continent.

About our speaker:

Professor Sudesh Sivarasu holds the DSI/NRF South African Research (SARChI) Chair in Biomedical Engineering & Innovation and is the Director of UCT’s Biomedical Engineering Research Centre. He is a professor of biomedical engineering at the University of Cape Town, Department of Human Biology. He is the creator of the innovative FrugalBiodesign™ methodology and has established award-winning labs under UCT MedTech, producing ground-breaking medical technologies. His research focuses on developing health technologies for low-resource settings, and he has supervised over 85 students in their post-graduate academic journey. Prof Sivarasu has an extensive patent portfolio with over 67 patent applications across various countries, and his innovation has led to the launch of 4 start-up companies from UCT’s MedTech laboratories and several open-source innovations used in over 16 countries. He was part of the South African National Ventilator Project, which led to the production of 20,000 ventilators during the COVID-19 pandemic. He is leading the efforts on medical devices for future pandemics within the recently formed National Institute for Pandemic Preparedness and Prevention (NIP3). Prof Sivarasu is an accomplished author with over 125 peer-reviewed publications and has received numerous awards, including the UCT Deputy Vice-Chancellor’s Award for Innovation, NSTF TW Khambule Award and 22 other awards in 4 different continents. He is an elected member of the Global Young Academy (GYA) and South African Young Academy of Science (SAYAS), to which he served on the Exco and as a Co-Chair. Sivarasu edited the textbook on ‘Medical Device Innovation for Africa’.

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