Winning the Gold Medal for the Most Promising Innovation at the 2021 Techblazer Awards has been “one of the highlights of our journey,” according to EyRIS Pte Ltd CEO, Lai Teik Kin.
“The recognition gave EyRIS credibility and helped in opening many doors; from business partnerships to funding organisations,” he said.
The Healthtech company won the award for its path-breaking solution called Singapore Eye LEsioN Analyser+ or SELENA+.
EyRIS is a great example of how home-grown technology companies are stepping up to provide products and solutions that are best in class, not only for Singapore but for the world as well.
There is significant global interest in the SELENA+ solution.
How it works
Describing how the technology works, Lai said SELENA+ is an artificial intelligence (AI) driven Deep Learning System (DLS) that performs automated image analysis for eye diseases such as diabetic retinopathy (DR) with add-on modules for glaucoma and age-related macular degeneration.
“The technology can significantly reduce public health care costs while maintaining the standard of care,” he added.
SELENA+ automates the entire process and provides a high degree of accuracy.
He noted that eye screening is a highly skilled process to help detect the possibility of eyesight loss or deterioration.
“It takes significant resources and time to train human graders, and subsequently maintain a reading centre with a pool of skilled graders. Image grading is a repetitive and laborious task that puts a limit on the number of patients that could be screened a day.”
Talking about the other advantage of SELENA+, Lai added that since it runs on basic computing power, “the solution is able to carry out multiple fundus image interpretation in mere seconds.
“Furthermore, the AI algorithm can detect three retinal diseases versus just DR in many other AI software,” Lai added.
Aside from speed and scalability, we have also demonstrated the grading accuracy to be at least as good as a trained human grader, Lai said.
“It is precisely the combination of these factors that will make SELENA+ a game-changer in bringing rapid screening to the masses for early detection and treatment to prevent further complications,” he added.
Diabetes Singapore has deployed SELENA+ to diagnose diabetic retinopathy.
How it is making an impact
Lai said EyRIS is making an impact in eye care delivery through:
- Access to screening facilities – in many countries, national healthcare systems are unable to cope with spending to keep up with ever-increasing demands but at the same time, need to identify where treatments need to be prioritised. “Under such scenarios, SELENA+ provides a possible paradigm shift in how we can overcome financial and skilled-manpower challenges hindering the deployment of a more comprehensive screening for the population.”
- Cultural bias – unlike more mature societies where regular health screening or check-ups are seen as common and even a necessity, this may not be applicable in many Asian societies, where people tend to only seek treatment when they experience vision problems. “In such markets, we work with stakeholders such as public institutions or non-profit organisations on education programs to explain the benefits of regular screening and get them back into the system,” he said.
Lai added that the company has since gone on to license or develop algorithms for other diseases.
In 2021, we licensed our second algorithm from SERI to detect Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) through automated analysis of fundus retinal images, he said.
“In 2022, we signed a research collaboration agreement with the Centre for Medical Technologies & Innovations (CMTi), National Healthcare Group (NHG) and National Skin Centre to develop a new proprietary AI that detects melanoma using a mobile phone camera, Lai added.
Company history
The company was set up in 2018 when novaHEALTH incorporated EyRIS as a joint spin-off with inventors from the Singapore Eye Research Institute (SERI) and NUS School of Computing (NUS-SoC) to further develop and commercialize SELENA+.
Among the founders are two of the top global experts in the field of Opthalmology.
They are:
- Prof Wong Tien Yin, who was the previous Medical Director of SNEC, one of the largest tertiary eye hospitals in Asia, with a faculty of more than 70 ophthalmologists. In 2020, Prof Wong was elected to the US National Academy of Medicine considered one of the highest honours in the fields of health and medicine and recognises individuals who have demonstrated outstanding professional achievement and commitment to service.
- Prof Daniel Ting is the current Associate Professor in Ophthalmology at Duke-NUS Medical School in Singapore. Aside from his clinical work at Singapore National Eye Centre, he serves as the Head, of AI and Digital Innovation at, Singapore Eye Research Institute (SERI) and is currently Chair of the AI and Digital Innovation Standing Committee, at the Asia-Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology.
Both are among the top two percent of global experts in their field.
Apart from them, Prof Wynne Hsu and Prof Mong Li provided the AI expertise that made SELENA+ a reality.
Lai became the founding CEO of this start-up.
Nominations for this year’s Techblazer Awards are open until April 3, 2023. Organisations interested in submitting nominations for the awards can do so here.
