Alekya

Greetings, and Welcome to the digital realm of my domain!

I am Dr. Alekya Bejgam, a PhD in Electronic Systems Engineering with a passion for biomedical research and project consultancy. Having obtained my doctoral degree from the prestigious Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, my primary focus as a biomedical researcher is advancing healthcare through developing state-of-the-art medical device sensors and tools, bridging the gap between laboratory innovations and practical bedside applications. My expertise lies in various aspects of Micro-electromechanical Systems-based (MEMS) sensor technology, including design, fabrication, characterization, packaging, and integration. I have practical hands-on experience working in a cutting-edge class 1000 semiconductor clean room at the esteemed Centre for Nano Science and Engineering (CeNSE) at the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore.

One of my significant accomplishments during my PhD was the development of a steerable intubation catheter integrated with microthermal flow sensors and boron-doped piezoresistive force sensors. This pioneering catheter, designed to enhance chronic airway management, underwent rigorous testing on excised sheep tracheal tissues in a pseudo-respiratory simulation test bench. The utility and efficacy of this invention have been validated through multiple international peer-reviewed journals such as Clinical Biomechanics, Journal of Micromechanics and Microengineering, IEEE TBME, IEEE TBioCAS, and IEEE Sensors.

As a technology transfer project consultant specializing in medical projects, I provide strategic guidance to clients in diverse areas such as point-of-care diagnostics, implantable and wearable devices, regenerative medicine, immunology, infectious disease prevention, and precision medicine. My expertise lies in identifying market trends, evaluating commercial potential, managing projects from ideation to commercialization, and overcoming barriers to market entry. I excel in project management, creating comprehensive plans, coordinating teams, and ensuring timely and budget-compliant completion. With skills in Agile Methodologies, CRM, business consulting, market analysis, risk assessment, financial planning, project management, and scientific writing, I facilitate clients’ success in bringing innovative ideas to market.

On this website, you will find detailed information about my expertise in various areas, including:

Technology transfer experience in the health industry
Lab-on-a-chip
Medical device sensors
Precision Medicine
Point-of-care diagnostics
Microelectromechanical Systems (MEMS) for Medical Applications

Thank you for visiting my website, and I look forward to collaborating with you to drive innovation in the biomedical field and improve healthcare outcomes.

Academic Summary

Journal Publications: 6

Patents: 4

Awards: 2

Clean Room Chronicles: 11

Scientific Meetings/ Talks: 5

International Peer Reviewed Conferences : 6

Certifications and Skills: 10

Personal Philantrophy: 2

Work Experience

Scientific Meetings Presented

Publications

Alekya B, V S N Sitaramgupta V, Arjun BS and Hardik J. Pandya. “Sensor for Meso-scale tissue stiffness characterization.” In IEEE Sensors Journal, vol. 22, no. 7, pp. 6442-6453, 1 April1, 2022, doi: 10.1109/JSEN.2022.3154533. (https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/9721234)
Alekya, B., and Hardik J. Pandva. “Stiffness Characterization of Healthy and Deficient Tracheal Cartilage Segments using Micromachined Piezoresistive Force Sensor.” IEEE Biomedical Circuits and Systems Conference (BioCAS), pp. 01-05. IEEE, 2021. (https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/9644960)
Alekya B, V S N Sitaramgupta V., Arjun BS, Bhushan V, Kevin Abishek, Sanjay Rao, Kim Y, Hardik J. Pandya. “An intubation catheter integrated with flow sensors and smart actuators for characterizing airflow patterns in stenosed trachea: an objective guide for CAO management.” Journal of Micromechanics and Microengineering. 2021 Apr 9;31(5):055007. (https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1361-6439/abf335)
Alekya B., Sanjay Rao, and Hardik J. Pandya. “Engineering approaches for characterizing soft tissue mechanical properties: A review.” Clinical Biomechanics 69 (2019): 127-140. (https://www.clinbiomech.com/article/S0268-0033(18)31069-6/fulltext)
Alekya B, V S N Sitaramgupta V, and Hardik J. Pandya. “Stiffness Characterization of Healthy and Deficient Tracheal Cartilage Segments using Micromachined Piezoresistive Force Sensor,” in IEEE Biomedical Circuits and Systems Conference (BioCAS), 2021, pp. 01-05, doi: 10.1109/BioCAS49922.2021.9644960. (https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/9644960)
Arjun BS, Alekya B, Member, IEEE, Hari RS, Vikas V, Anita Mahadevan, and Hardik J. Pandya, Member, IEEE “Electromechanical Characterization of Human Brain Tissues: A Potential Biomarker for Tumor Delineation.” IEEE Transactions on Biomedical Engineering, 2022. (https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/9765737)

Alekya B, Aswin S, Akhil M, Siddesh S Shenoy, and Hardik J. Pandya, “A Multi-armed Unfurling Actuator for Airway Lumen Measurement” 45th IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology, July 24-28 Sydney, Australia, 2023 (Accepted)
Alekya B, and Hardik J. Pandya, “Sensorized Catheter for Assessing Airway Stenosis”, 44th IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology, July 11-15 Glasgow, Scotland, UK, 2022
Alekya B, and Hardik J. Pandya, “Sensorized Catheter for Quantitative Assessment of the Airway Caliber”, 13th EECS Research Students Symposium, IISc, April 2022
Alekya B, Bhushan V, Kevin Abishek, Sanjay Rao, and Hardik J. Pandya, “A Steerable Intubation Catheter Integrated With MEMS-based Sensors for Chronic Airway Management” Biomedical Engineering and Instrumentation Summit, Boston, Massachusetts 2021
Alekya B, Sanjay Rao, and Hardik J. Pandya, “A steerable Intubation catheter Integrated with MEMs-Based Sensors for Chronic Upper Airway management” 13th International Research Conference on BioMEMS and Medical Microsystem, December 02-03, 2019 Amsterdam, The Netherlands, Online ISSN:1307-6892
Alekya B, and Hardik J. Pandya, “Design and development of a dual-functional intubation catheter for chronic airway management”, EECS Research Student Symposium IISc, 2021 May.
Anil Vishnu G K, Bhagaban Behera, Alekya B, Arjun B S, Suman Chatterjee, Arun Baby, SaeedRila, Misaal Khan, Arpitha R, Prathik B H and Hardik J. Pandya, “A Novel Microengineering-based Portable Platform for Rapid Real-time Antibiotic Susceptibility Testing” International Conference on Nanoscience and Materials World, Barcelona, Spain, November 18-19, 2019.

Patents

Utility Patent -1

Invention Title: A Diagnostic Tool for Grading Stenosis In Upper Airway
Inventors: Alekya B, V S N Sitaramgupta, Arjun B. S., Bhushan V, S Siddesh Shenoy, Sanjay Rao, Mayur Bhuva, Kevin Abhishek, and Hardik J. Pandya
International Application No. PCT/IB2021/054690, WO2021260461 (Date of Filing: May 28, 2021)

Utility Patent -2

Invention Title:Apparatus for high-throughput rapid antibiotic susceptibility testing and methods thereof
Inventors: Anil Vishnu G. K., Bhagaban Behera, Alekya B., Arun Baby, Saeed Rila, Arjun B. S., Midhun C. Kachappilly, Prathik B.H., Nagasuma Chandra, Dipshikha Chakravortty, Hardik J. Pandya
Indian patent application filing no: 202041024394 (Date of Filing: June 08, 2021)

Utility Patent -3

Invention Title:A Device and Method for Point-of-Care Detection of Protein-Protein Interactions.
Inventors: Hardik J. Pandya, Anil Vishnu G K, Alekya B, Hari R. S., and Manjula Das
Indian patent application filing no: 202241039127 (Date of Filing: July 07, 2022)

Design Patent:

Invention Title:Device to Measure Airway Patency
Inventors: Alekya B, Aswin S, Akhil M, Siddesh Shenoy S, Hardik J. Pandya
Reference Number: 364765-001, Locarno Class (Date of Filing: May 25, 2022)

Awards

A. Recipient of Gandhian Young Technological Innovation award 2021 (GYTI) issued by Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC) in association with Students Innovations for Translation & Advancement of Research Explorations (SITARE) (Rs. 15,00,000/-)

(Students Innovations for Translation & Advancement of Research Explorations (SITARE) Scheme is aimed at supporting innovative student projects in the area of biotechnology. The scheme’s mandate is to promote and encourage young students for embracing translational research to develop innovative products and technologies addressing unmet needs. SITARE-GYTI Award Grant is not a usual research fellowship. The scheme also provides an opportunity for orientation, training and mentoring through residential workshops etc.)

B. Tata Trusts Travel Grant for International scientific conferences (Rs. 2,00,000/-)

Featured Links

Newspaper – TOI https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/now-catheter-to-sense-obstructions-in-airways/articleshow/82212488.cms

https://iisc.ac.in/events/iisc-students-receive-sitare-gyti-and-sristi-gyti-awards-2021/

https://kernel.iisc.ac.in/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Kernel-Issue-5-2021.pdf

Clean Room Chronicles: My Experience in a Semiconductor Clean Room

Lecture Video: Smart Alloys (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k5drmpBt9XU )
Clean Room Protocol : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ldVHNNeM9P8&t=957s
Clean Room Equipments: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PzUdoWZV478&t=281s
Biosafety Hood (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gS3UaQ-iD1I&t=460s )
Microfluidics and PDMS Moulding (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ogXmu0wYsJU&t=238s)
Metallurgical, Stereo and Compound Microscopy (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r-9to7kRJak&t=544s )
Cleanroom Desiccator (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l3u3Rdm6rnY&t=95s )
Incubator (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2oK-IC9YRx8&t=139s )
Hotplate and Microcentrifuge https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a_lSVKoYzdI&t=11s
Signal Conditioning Circuit for Hot wire Anemometer ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-EvGf_JPqzs&t=65s )
Temperature Compensation Module (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2UDqREXH94o&t=95s )

Scientific Meetings/ Talks

Leadership

Led the procurement of lithography system (Mask aligner) valued USD $1,20,000. Drafted the RFQ with detailed requirements and specifications, floated tender, performed technical evaluations and supported commercial evaluation process, recorded MOMs, coordinated with finance & accounts team, purchase department, sponsored schemes & projects and customs office for successful installation and commissioning of the system in Advanced Microsystems lab at DESE.
Represented student body for SAP User Acceptance Test (UAT) developed for IISc Student Lifecycle Management (SLcM)
Coordinator for IEEE-IISc Women in Engineering group
Promoter of Green Movement at IISc

Certifications and Skills

Microengineered Devices, Healthcare Technologies, Point-of-care diagnostics, BioMEMS, Microfabrication, Engineering in Medical Research/Biomedical Engineering, Sensors and Actuators for Advanced Healthcare Systems

Certified Lean Six Sigma Green Belt
Medical Device QualityManagement System ISO13485
Foundations of Project Management

As a biomedical engineer, I have acquired a range of valuable skills that can be applied across Medical Device R&D and technology consulting roles. The transferable skills include:

Information Analysis and Communication: I have the ability to gather, assess, evaluate, interpret, and communicate technical and scientific data effectively.

Literature Review: I am skilled in conducting comprehensive literature reviews (prior art) to identify existing knowledge gaps and research opportunities.

Technical Writing: Adept at creating technical documents, including product specifications, user manuals, and white papers.

Prototype Development: I can design and develop functional prototypes that meet user requirements and regulatory standards.

Market Research: Knowledgeable in conducting market research to identify potential opportunities and challenges, and to inform product development strategies.

Investor Relations: Have experience in engaging with potential investors and presenting investment opportunities in a clear and compelling manner.

Proposal Writing: I can craft compelling proposals that highlight the novelty, societal relevance, market potential, frugal aspect of innovation, intangible outcomes, objectives, deliverables, Gantt charts, budget split, and audit reports SOE/UC.

Technical Writing: A Government Regulations: Have a good understanding of government regulations and schemes relevant to biomedical engineering, such as FDA guidelines and grants.dept at creating technical documents, including product specifications, user manuals, and white papers.

Fund Management: Skilled in managing project budgets and ensuring that funds are allocated effectively to achieve project objectives.

Collaboration: Can work collaboratively with clinical, industrial, and academic partners to advance research and development initiatives, and to ensure successful commercialization of products.