Gandhinagar (Gujarat) [India], September 24 : Women are excelling in education, sports, and industry, and the number of women entrepreneurs is increasing across the globe, with Gujarat showcasing its own inspiring examples. One such example is Shilpa Malik, a woman entrepreneur from Gujarat, who leads the startup BioScan Research. Under her leadership, the startup has become a thriving venture, creating medical devices that facilitate the early diagnosis of life-threatening diseases, saving countless lives, according to a release.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has always prioritised women's economic empowerment. During his tenure as Gujarat's Chief Minister, he introduced initiatives like Mission Mangalam Yojana, Women Special Economic Zone, Special Women Industrial Park (Women Entrepreneurship Park), and the Women's Economic Development Corporation to support women entrepreneurs. Today, Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel continues this vision, advancing women-led development through these schemes and initiatives, the release stated.
BioScan Research Private Limited was established in September 2017 in Ahmedabad by co-founders Shilpa Malik and Anupam Lavania. Shilpa Malik is also the Chief Technology Officer of BioScan Research. A successful technopreneur, she brings over a decade of experience in hardware innovation. She has previously worked as a scientist in the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), contributing to the design and management of military sensor systems, the release said.
Under Shilpa Malik's leadership, BioScan Research develops, tests, manufactures, and markets medical devices that enable non-invasive, early diagnosis of life-threatening conditions such as traumatic brain injury. The company leverages advanced technologies in optics, electronics, mechanics, and software to create portable, onsite detection tools for intracranial haemorrhage. These innovations allow for timely diagnosis, helping to save lives, the release added.
BioScan Research has received financial support from the International Centre for Entrepreneurship and Technology (i-Create), an autonomous organisation under the Government of Gujarat that supports tech-based start-ups. Additionally, the company has received backing from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur, the Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC), the Department of Health Research (DHR), and the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).
Reflecting on the journey of BioScan Research Private Limited, Shilpa Malik says, "A member of our family experienced a traumatic brain injury, and during his treatment, we realised that the real challenge was not the injury itself, but the lack of early detection. Many patients suffer further complications because their conditions are not diagnosed promptly. This experience became our motivation. Drawing on our technical expertise, we decided to establish a start-up dedicated to developing medical devices for early diagnosis. We received full support from i-Create, an organisation under the Government of Gujarat that provides financial assistance to tech-based start-ups. After investing four to five years in research, we established BioScan Research in September 2017."
After developing a medical device for brain injury, they received support from the Gujarat government to file its patent. They then dedicated three years to clinical research, during which the device was tested on patients. Following the trials in Gujarat, it was further tested in hospitals across India, involving neurosurgeons from leading institutions such as NIMHANS, Bangalore, and AIIMS, Bhopal. Over two years of clinical research, tests were conducted on 1,500 patients, and more than 11,000 brain scans were performed. After these successful trials, the device was officially launched for commercial use.
70 Units Sold Across India, Predominantly to Government Health & Community Centres
Shilpa Malik said that around 70 units of the device have been sold across India so far. The medical device demonstrates a performance accuracy of 95% and a sensitivity of 97%. The device has received an excellent response from government departments, with most sales going to primary health centres, community health centres, and trauma centres. Its high accuracy has also earned the trust of doctors.
BioScan Research has received more than 50 prestigious awards and recognitions, including the Best Extramural Research Award (2024) by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and the Winner of the India-Israel Innovation Challenge, the release added.