Biology
AI-Augmented Precision Medicine
Portable diagnostics powered by safe, advisory-only intelligence. Enhancing clinical decisions without replacing clinical judgment.
Our Purpose
Bridging the gap between cutting-edge technology and patient care through research, collaboration, and innovation.
Our Mission
To build translational AI tools that bring ophthalmic diagnostics within reach of every patient — especially in settings where trained ophthalmologists are scarce — through rigorous research, clinical partnerships, and responsible AI engineering.
Our Vision
A world where a portable device guided by AI can screen, classify, and triage 250+ blinding conditions within 48 hours — from rural Karnataka to remote Oregon — because we built the bridge from lab to clinic.
Core Values
The principles that guide our research, collaborations, and commitment to advancing healthcare.
Innovation with Purpose
Every tool we build serves a clinical need. We leverage AI and novel imaging methods to solve real diagnostic gaps — not for innovation's sake, but for the patient's.
Patient-Centered Impact
Patients with blinding conditions cannot wait years for commercial AI. We design for the 48-hour diagnostic window — where speed and accuracy save sight.
Interdisciplinary Innovation
Ophthalmologists, AI engineers, ocularists, and research methodologists work as one team. No siloes — from lab to clinic in a single coordinated pipeline.
Integrity & Trust
HIPAA and DPDPA compliant from day one. IRB-overseen data collection, immutable audit logs, on-premise architecture. Research participants deserve nothing less.
Global Responsibility
India has 1 ophthalmologist per 70,000 rural residents. Our portable, teleguidance-capable AI is designed to bridge this gap — globally scalable, locally deployed.
What Sets Us Apart
Combining global expertise, multidisciplinary collaboration, and a focus on real-world clinical impact.
On-Premise, Zero-Cloud Dependency
Patient data never leaves the facility. Our entire AI stack runs on dedicated hardware — no AWS, no Azure, no third-party cloud.
- Dedicated GPU and CPU nodes on-premises
- SHA-256 encrypted data at rest and in transit
- Air-gapped from public internet where required
Embedded Clinical Partnership
De Cure Center is not just a data source — it's the physical home of Phase 2 data collection, with 700 sq ft of research infrastructure and 100+ hospital affiliations.
- 5,000+ patient history and ophthalmic equipment in place
- Karnataka government school and college screening camps
- Director: 12+ years of ocular and facial prosthetics expertise
US-Accredited Research & Certification
Validus Institute Inc. (San Diego) provides US institutional accreditation for Academy certifications and NIH SBIR co-applicant status.
- Certificate of Completion issued through Validus Research
- Dr. Majd Oteibi (MD, DHSc, CCRP, FRSPH) leads research methodology
- NIH SBIR co-applicant — federal grant submission pathway
Integrated Education Pipeline
Aider Digital's LMS distributes training across 186 AI courses. The Academy creates a direct pipeline from student to medical research intern.
- Digital Ophthalmology Dialogues — monthly expert sessions
- APPL sub-track: phantom tissue & Butterfly iQ3 probe training
- Research Coordinator → Principal Investigator certification pathway
MERIT AI
Medical Expertise & Research Intelligence Technology
250+ blinding conditions. A 48-hour diagnostic window that determines whether a patient loses their sight. MERIT AI is our ophthalmic AI diagnostic project — designed to screen, classify, and triage ocular disease using a portable ultrasound device guided by on-premise AI.
Explore MERIT AI Research
4-Stage Pipeline
Classification
Multi-class disease identification
Segmentation
In ProgressAnatomical structure delineation
Detection
Lesion and anomaly localisation
Diagnosis
Full differential with confidence scoring
Teleguidance · Telediagnosis · Tele-treatment — portable, on-premise, zero-cloud
Patient-Centered Outcomes
Every innovation, every research project, and every collaboration is designed with one goal: improving patient care and outcomes.
Evidence-Based Protocols
Rigorously validated measurement protocols ready for clinical implementation.
AI-Assisted Diagnostics
Machine learning algorithms that enhance accuracy and reduce variability.
Point-of-Care Solutions
Portable, accessible tools for bedside and emergency settings.
Global Standards
Contributing to international consensus guidelines for best practices.
“Our commitment to patient-centered research means that every advancement we make has the potential to directly impact clinical decision-making and patient care.”
Meet Our Researchers
A global collective of physicians, engineers, and scientists dedicated to advancing healthcare through innovation.
Dr. Hadi M. Khazaei
MBBS, MS, MCR, FRSPHChief Medical Scientist
Founder and Chief Medical Scientist of Athreya MedTech. Translational researcher in ophthalmic AI, orbital ultrasonography, and point-of-care diagnostics. Visiting Professor at Portland State University.
Bala Balaguru
MDCEO & Business Lead
CEO and Business Lead of Athreya Inc. (Edison, NJ). Leads business operations, investor relations, NIH SBIR grant management, and hardware procurement for the consortium.
Dr. Majd Oteibi
MD, DHSc, CCRP, FRSPHCEO & Clinical Research Director
CEO of Validus Institute Inc. (San Diego, CA). Leads research methodology training, NIH SBIR co-applicant, and US accreditation for APPL Academy certifications.
Kaneez Abbas
Healthcare AnalystHealthcare Analyst & Researcher
Healthcare Analyst and ophthalmic imaging researcher at Athreya MedTech. 4 years of ophthalmic technology experience at Legacy Devers Eye Institute. Leads Biometry and Ocular Ultrasound training in the APPL Academy.
Post-Graduate Certification in Translational Research
Digital Ophthalmology Dialogues — Where AI Meets Vision. A 1-year, US-accredited programme via Atrium MedTech & Validus Research. Designed for healthcare professionals, engineers, and researchers entering ophthalmic AI.
First Batch — 10 Sessions Complete
February – April 2026 · Aider Digital LMS · Certificate via Validus Institute
2 Semesters
1-Year Programme
US-Accredited
Atrium MedTech + Validus
APPL Sub-Track
Phantom Lab & Prosthetics
PSU Optional
2-Week Portland, OR
Session Highlights
Feb 22
Consortium Kickoff
Dr. Hadi
Mar 29
Ultrasound Physics & Instrumentation
Dr. Hadi
Apr 5
Ocular Ultrasound & Biometry
Dr. Kaneez Abbas
Apr 12
Research Methodology
Dr. Majd Oteibi
Apr 26
Phantom Lab Inauguration
Dr. Kaneez Abbas
+ 5 more sessions completed
Advanced Prosthetics & Phantom Lab
De Cure Center brings 12+ years of ocular and facial prosthetics expertise, 5,000+ patients, and a 700 sq ft research lab to the MERIT AI pipeline. The Phantom Lab — using synthetic ultrasound phantoms and the Butterfly iQ3 probe — generates the training data that powers Phase 2.
12+
Years Expertise
5,000+
Patients Served
100+
Hospital Affiliations
700 sq ft
Research Facility
Services
Phantom Lab
PSU Phantom Lab (175 training images, 600 frames/scan) + De Cure Bangalore (Butterfly iQ3 portable probe, phantom tissue models)
Health AI CON 2026
May 16–18, 2026 · Eros Hotel, Nehru Place, New Delhi
Organised by Medical Dialogues & National Medical Forum
NAIDM Launch — National AI Doctors Mission (Govt. initiative) | Phoenix Health Innovation Awards — 7 categories
MERIT AI Showcased — Attending
Athreya MedTech in Action
Conferences, training sessions, and the team driving ophthalmic AI innovation.
Consortium & Institutional Partners
Athreya Inc.
Edison, NJ
Validus Institute Inc.
San Diego, CA
De Cure Center
Bengaluru, India
Portland State University
Portland, OR
OHSU
Portland, OR
Digital Mega Factory
Bengaluru, India
Aider Digital
Bengaluru, India
Athreya Inc.
Edison, NJ
Validus Institute Inc.
San Diego, CA
De Cure Center
Bengaluru, India
Portland State University
Portland, OR
OHSU
Portland, OR
Digital Mega Factory
Bengaluru, India
Aider Digital
Bengaluru, India
Shape the Future of Healthcare With Us
Whether you're a researcher, clinician, engineer, or institution, we invite you to collaborate with us in advancing healthcare through innovation and evidence-based research.
Trusted by researchers and institutions worldwide