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Artificial Intelligence for Bioengineering (NET-IA)  

Description

This network’s aim is to equip IBEC researchers with knowledge about the latest machine learning (ML) techniques for bioengineering and create a specialized ML toolkit tailored for IBEC’s needs.  Key focus areas include biomarker development, targeted drug delivery, cellular and tissue engineering, biosensing, microscopy, and advanced data analysis and signal processing methods. These efforts will be supported through a series of designed workshops to address common challenges and integrate ML at IBEC.  

The workshops will cover practical applications of ML in signal processing, biomarker development, and optical and scanning probe microscopy, providing insights into the practical implications of ML methods in bioengineering and addressing typical pitfalls. A retreat will strategize the future role of AI at IBEC. Moreover, a collaborative project will be launched to demonstrate a proof-of-principle idea, ensuring it is impactful, feasible, and leverages the network’s existing strengths. Finally, the development of a comprehensive toolkit will encapsulate best practices and tools for spectral and image processing, dimensionality reduction, and biomedical signal processing, among others. 

NET-IA counts on the participation of the following IBEC research groups:  

Contact us:  

Main contact: Manuel Lozano, mlozano@ibecbarcelona.eu 
Additional contact: Gotthold Fläschner gflaschner@ibecbarcelona.eu 

Network Members

Network Coordinator

Manuel Lozano García

Senior Researcher

He works on exploring non-invasive physiological biomarkers of respiratory muscle and pulmonary function in obstructive lung diseases.

    
Network Representatives:  

Santiago Marco

Group Leader

He works on signal processing and machine learning for chemical instrumentation, including sensors, and spectrometers with applications in health, food and the environment.

Javier Ramón Azcón

Group Leader

He works on the development of organs-on-a-chip (OOC) platforms by a combination of sensor technology and nanotechnology with tissue engineering.

Lorena Ruiz Perez

Senior Researcher

She works on the dynamics and structure of misfolded proteins linked to neurodegenerative diseases, and the design of polymeric systems that can navigate the blood-brain barrier.

Valentina Schastlivaia

PhD Student

She develops AI-driven methods for next-generation nanomedicine development with optimized targeting potential, multifunctionality, and the ability to overcome biological barriers

Gotthold Viktor Fläschner

Postdoctoral Researcher

He works on employing analytical, numerical, and AI-based methods to delve into the molecular mechanisms of force transduction in cells.

Gabriel Gomila

Group Leader

He works on the development of autonomous scanning probe microscopes powered by Artificial Intelligence for applications in life sciences and medicine.

Network Programme

NET-AI will organize 4 half-day workshops  and a final retreat, each focusing on key topics in the application of IA in IBEC research. The first workshop will help to identify IBEC research groups challenges and needs, whereas the rest of the workshops will feature a seminar led by a distinguished national or international expert as well as IBEC group presentations on projects and use-cases.  

Workshops Topics. Speakers and dates to be confirmed.  

Launch workshop: “Activities of AI in health at IBEC

Date and venue 

Friday 8/11/2024 · 09:00 – 13:00 H, Baobab room, Tower I, Floor 11 (Parc Científic de Barcelona) 

The aim of this first workshop is to explore and share AI use cases and needs within IBEC groups. Each group will have the opportunity to present its AI use cases and needs. Groups willing to participate should prepare a brief presentation (10-15 min max). After the presentations, we will engage in an open discussion to exchange ideas and identify future opportunities for collaboration and workshops. 

09:00   –   Welcome and introduction  

09:15   –   Presentations by the network groups  

10:30   –   Coffee break  

10:50   –   Presentations by other IBEC groups  

11:45   –   Roundtable discussion  

13:00   –   Closure 

WS 1: “Advances in biomedical imaging for knowledge extraction

Goal: to foster an understanding of image processing tools and their application in IBEC research projects 

WS  2: “Spectrometry, NMR, spectroscopy, time-series: Insights mining techniques

Goal: to foster an understanding of signal processing tools and their application in IBEC research projects  

WS  3: “Feature selection for biomarker development, single-cell and nuclear RNA analysis, and DNA analysis

Goal: to highlight applicability to different research projects and showcase the availability of experts within IBEC. 

WS4: “Into the rabbit hole: dimensionality reduction, latent space, and embeddings”

Goal: to explore innovative data analysis techniques and their relevance to bioengineering  

Retreat topic: “Future development of AI for health at IBEC”. It will help to identify opportunities and risks for the growth of AI within IBEC and sketch a roadmap for the development of AI skills within IBEC groups. 

All IBEC groups are welcome to join the network and actively participate by sharing their insights.