APPL Academy · Digital Ophthalmology Dialogues

Certification in Translational Research

Where AI Meets Vision. A one-year, two-semester programme run by Athreya MedTech, with certification through Validus Institute. Designed for healthcare professionals, engineers, and researchers entering ophthalmic AI.

10 Sessions Complete — First Batch
Platform: Aider Digital LMS
Certificate: Validus Institute Inc.
First Batch

10 Sessions Completed

February – April 2026 · Digital Ophthalmology Dialogues

S1
February 22, 2026Complete

Consortium Kickoff & Program Overview

Dr. Hadi M. Khazaei

Program launch, research vision, consortium introductions, and MERIT AI roadmap overview.

S2
March 1, 2026Complete

MERIT AI Demo Review

Moinuddin Qureshi

Live demonstration of MERIT AI system capabilities, phase 1 results, and pipeline overview.

S3
March 8, 2026Complete

Technical Architecture Overview

Moinuddin Qureshi

System architecture concepts, data flow, AI pipeline design principles, and development methodology.

S4
March 10, 2026Complete

Current State Review & Phase 2 Planning

Dr. Hadi M. Khazaei

Phase 1 outcomes review, data collection status, Phase 2 targets (10,000 images), and team roles.

S5
March 16, 2026Complete

Segmentation Overview & Annotation Standards

Dan Khazaei

Medical image segmentation fundamentals, annotation protocols, phantom lab dataset introduction.

S6
March 29, 2026APPLComplete

Ultrasound Physics & Instrumentation

Dr. Hadi M. Khazaei

Fundamentals of ultrasound physics, transducer types, image formation, and clinical instrumentation. APPL Batch 1 launch.

S7
April 5, 2026APPLComplete

Ocular Ultrasound & Biometry — Clinical Applications

Dr. Kaneez Abbas

A-scan and B-scan biometry techniques, clinical measurement standards, and ophthalmic imaging workflows.

S8
April 12, 2026Complete

Research Methodology & Study Design

Dr. Majd Oteibi

Clinical research design, IRB processes, data governance, statistical foundations, and NIH grant fundamentals.

S9
April 18, 2026APPLComplete

Butterfly iQ3 Probe & Phantom Introduction

Dr. Hadi M. Khazaei

Hands-on introduction to the Butterfly iQ3 portable ultrasound probe, wireless operation, and phantom tissue models.

S10
April 26, 2026APPLComplete

Phantom Lab Inauguration & Advanced Biometry

Dr. Kaneez Abbas

Official inauguration of the De Cure Phantom Lab. Advanced biometry techniques, 3D imaging integration, and data collection protocols.

APPL Sub-Track

Advanced Prosthetics & Phantom Lab

A specialised clinical skills sub-track within the Academy, combining ocular prosthetics expertise with ultrasound phantom training. APPL participants gain hands-on skills in phantom tissue models, Butterfly iQ3 probe operation, and the clinical integration of prosthetics with AI-assisted diagnostics.

Clinical Skills Covered

  • Phantom tissue model preparation and imaging
  • Butterfly iQ3 wireless probe operation
  • Ocular and orbital prosthetics clinical basics
  • Biometry data collection and QA

Location: De Cure Center, HSR Layout, Bengaluru

APPL

Inside the Sessions

Advanced Prosthetics & Phantom Lab training at De Cure Center, Bengaluru.

Published with the consent of the people photographed.

APPL participants gathered around a probe and tablet during a training session
Hands on the probe: participants scanning during an APPL session.
Gowned participant preparing phantom material at the bench under a lamp
Preparing phantom material at the bench.
Participant working at the laboratory bench during APPL training
Bench work — the phantoms are built by the participants themselves.
Group of APPL participants working together around a scanning case
A cohort works through a scanning exercise together.
Gowned participant at the training station with materials laid out
Each participant works a full station, start to finish.
Participant seated with a tablet while a colleague assists during a session
Reviewing a scan on the tablet during the session.
Two participants preparing phantom tissue at the laboratory bench
Mixing and setting phantom tissue, step by step.
HIPAA training

First Cohort

Certificate presentations from the first HIPAA training batch, and the room it ran in.

Certificates are issued through Validus Institute. Published with the consent of the people photographed.

A participant receiving a certificate of completion at the HIPAA training
Certificates of completion, issued through Validus Institute.
A participant receiving a certificate of completion at the HIPAA training
Certificates of completion, issued through Validus Institute.
A participant receiving a certificate of completion at the HIPAA training
Certificates of completion, issued through Validus Institute.
The training room during the HIPAA course, participants at workstations
The first HIPAA training cohort at work.
A participant receiving a certificate of completion at the HIPAA training
Certificates of completion, issued through Validus Institute.
The training room during the HIPAA course, participants at workstations
The first HIPAA training cohort at work.
A participant receiving a certificate of completion at the HIPAA training
Certificates of completion, issued through Validus Institute.
A participant receiving a certificate of completion at the HIPAA training
Certificates of completion, issued through Validus Institute.
A participant receiving a certificate of completion at the HIPAA training
Certificates of completion, issued through Validus Institute.
Curriculum

Programme Structure

1-year, 2-semester post-graduate certification in translational research and ophthalmic AI.

S1

6 months

Foundations of Translational Research

Core fundamentals: ultrasound physics, AI concepts, research methodology, clinical data governance, and ocular biometry.

  • Ultrasound Physics & Instrumentation
  • Introduction to Ophthalmic AI
  • Clinical Research Design & IRB
  • Data Collection & Annotation Standards
  • HIPAA & DPDPA Compliance Basics
  • Qualifying Examination
30 credits
S2

6 months

Applied Research & Clinical Practice

Project-based learning with a personal research mentor. Application of Semester 1 concepts to real MERIT AI datasets and clinical scenarios.

  • Advanced Biometry & Segmentation
  • MERIT AI Research Participation
  • Grant Writing Foundations
  • Personal Research Project
  • Final Project Presentation
30 credits
Faculty

Programme Faculty

Expert practitioners from across the Athreya MedTech consortium

DH

Dr. Hadi M. Khazaei

Series Lead

Ultrasound PhysicsResearch VisionButterfly iQ3
DM

Dr. Majd Oteibi

Research Methodology Lead

Study DesignIRB ProcessesNIH Grant Fundamentals
DK

Dr. Kaneez Abbas

Biometry & Ultrasound Lead

A-Scan BiometryB-Scan UltrasoundPhantom Lab
JM

Jibran Munaver

Clinical Implementation

Prosthetics IntegrationClinical Workflows
MQ

Moinuddin Qureshi

AI & Systems

MERIT AI DemoTechnical ArchitectureAI Pipelines
DK

Dan Khazaei

Segmentation & Annotation Lead

Image SegmentationAnnotation StandardsPhantom Lab Dataset
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