For Stephen Lloyd Abenoja, support from Security Bank Foundation, Inc. (SBFI) extended far beyond educational financial assistance. As an SBFI scholar, he was given the stability, trust, and encouragement needed to pursue a demanding research project that brought him beyond the classroom and into an international academic setting, where his work in artificial intelligence and healthcare began to take shape.
A fourth-year BS Computer Science student at Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (PLM), Stephen worked with his thesis partner on an AI-driven study in ophthalmic diagnostics, focusing on retinal vessel segmentation. Motivated by their shared interest in biomedical technology, they chose a topic with real-world impact, particularly for early detection of eye diseases such as diabetic retinopathy and glaucoma.
“In the Philippine context, there are still very limited studies that focus specifically on retinal vessel segmentation,” Stephen explains. Rather than replicating existing approaches, the group developed a distinct methodology that addressed real-world challenges in medical images, such as thin vessels and inconsistent image quality. Their work aimed not only to segment blood vessels accurately, but to produce reliable vessel maps that could support further analysis and serve as a foundation for broader diagnostic or decision-support systems.
The study was enriched through PLM’s collaboration with National Cheng Kung University (NCKU) in Taiwan. After a thesis defense, a panelist—also PLM’s VP for Academic Research—encouraged them to pursue part of their research abroad. Following coordination with PLM’s international office and NCKU, Stephen and his partner were selected to work under Prof. Kuo-Sheng Cheng, becoming the first PLM undergraduates to participate in a research collaboration at NCKU.
Their stay in Taiwan strengthened the study through Prof. Cheng’s lab access, advanced computing resources, and ongoing mentorship. On-site work enabled efficient consultations, while collaboration with professional ophthalmologists helped validate datasets and refine methods for real clinical needs. A key breakthrough was recognizing that high performance scores alone don’t ensure practical usability; missing thin vessels or false patterns can compromise real-world reliability. This shifted their focus toward consistency and dependable outputs beyond ideal lab conditions.
Throughout this process, SBFI’s support played a critical role. “Beyond easing financial pressures, SBFI gave me the security and confidence to fully commit to my research and uphold higher standards of discipline, integrity, and responsibility,” Stephen shares. His work in ophthalmic AI also closely reflects SBFI’s own commitment to early eye care through its Vision Screening and Eyeglasses Program for public school elementary students launched in 2024, both rooted in the belief that early detection and timely intervention can create lasting impact.
As he looks ahead, Stephen and his thesis partner plan to present their study internationally, believing that AI in healthcare should support professionals, enabling large-scale screening, standardizing analysis, and strengthening research capacity responsibly.
For students like Stephen, support from the Security Bank Foundation goes beyond helping them stay in school; it empowers them to reach meaningful milestones that shape who they become. As he prepares to graduate from college this year, Stephen sees the scholarship as more than a means to earn a degree. “It gave me the confidence to pursue work that truly matters,” he says, knowing that throughout his journey, he never had to walk alone.
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