Fulbright scholarship awarded to e-health expert

The award will enable Dr Yogesan Kanagasingam, Research Director for the Australian e-Health Research Centre (AEHRC), to spend four months at Stanford University School of Medicine developing and validating a new ‘non-invasive’ system to screen newborn babies. 

CSIRO Chief Executive, Dr Megan Clark, said Dr Kanagasingam’s work has application across a wide range of areas, ranging from remote, non-invasive diagnosis of eye disease to early detection of Alzheimer’s disease.

“We are very proud of Dr Kanagasingam’s research and his success in attracting a prestigious Fulbright scholarship,” Dr Clark said. 

“His collaboration with colleagues at Stanford University is further evidence of how world-class multi-disciplinary research institutions can cooperate in a concerted effort to solve global health challenges.”

Dr Kanagasingam is responsible for developing a novel ophthalmic imaging device, EyeScan, which is expected to replace the 150 years old direct ophthalmoscope used by doctors. It is portable, low-cost and easy to use.

“My experience at Stanford will enable me to develop a new imaging module for screening of newborn babies for sight threatening conditions such as Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP),” Dr Kanagasingam said.

“This is the major cause of blindness in newborns and a major cause of litigation in the US, however if found early enough it can be treated with laser therapy.”

Dr Clark said she is pleased to see CSIRO’s involvement with the Fulbright Commission and its programs strengthen in recent years, including joint sponsorship of a new PhD scholarship for US students to work with CSIRO’s National Research Flagships.

“This is in line with CSIRO’s strategy of strengthening its international collaboration through links with key research institutions in the United States,” Dr Clark said.

A leading national facility in healthcare innovation, the Australian e-Health Research Centre is a joint venture between CSIRO and the Queensland Government.