PANEL DISCUSSION (ACM-WE & RSG-Spain)

CHALLENGES OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IN BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH

Artificial intelligence (AI) is gradually transforming a wide range of sectors, including medicine and life sciences. In the near future, AI is expected to bring innovations in healthcare, medical data processing systems, and biomedical research. However, the current limitations of AI, including the reliability of the methods, data and gender biases and ethical concerns, remain a challenge. Successful applications of AI will rely on the fruitful combination and collaboration of specialists in AI and biomedicine. The panellists will share the state of the art information and discuss both relevant topics and future directions of AI in biomedical research. 

The panel discussion "Challenges of Artificial Intelligence in Biomedical Research" will take place on Friday, November 29th, from 14:45h to 15:45h in the La Pedrera Auditorium as part of the scientific programme. This activity is organised by the ACM Women Europe (ACM-W Europe) and the ISCB Regional Student Group Spain (RSG-Spain).

Moderators:

Bedour Alshaigy (ACM-W Europe) and Carlota Rubio (RSG-Spain)

Panellists:

Ángela del Pozo Maté has a degree in Physical Sciences from the Autonomous University of Madrid with the specialities of Solid State Physics and Theoretical Physics. She began as a bioinformatician in 2004, and since then she has worked in leading national research centres such as the National Biotechnology Center (CNB-CSIC) and the National Oncology Research Center (CNIO). Previously, she developed her research work in private companies as an R&D analyst, developing and implementing solutions based on Artificial Intelligence and Pattern Recognition applied to the area of document processing. Currently, she coordinates the Bioinformatics Section of the Institute of Medical and Molecular Genetics (INGEMM) of La Paz University Hospital in Madrid where it is carried out the analysis of the diagnostic studies based on NGS. During this time, she has published more than 30 scientific articles, has participated in numerous international conferences and has been part of competitive projects financed in public and private calls as principal and associate researcher. Her scientific interests are focused on human genetics and the study of the pathogenic mechanisms involved in diseases. Her expertise is related to the processing and analysis of genomic data from omics techniques of DNA and RNA sequencing, as well as the development of integrative methodologies of such data.

Laia Subirats is a data science researcher at Eurecat - Technology Centre of Catalonia and a part-time lecturer at the Open University of Catalonia. She holds an MSc in Telecommunications Engineering by Pompeu Fabra University, an MSc in Telematics Engineering by the Technical University of Catalonia, and a PhD in Computer Science by Autonomous University of Barcelona. Since 2006, she has worked in the field of research and innovation, and since 2016, she has also been a lecturer at university. She has worked in national and international centres (Eurecat, Telefónica R&D and European Organization of Nuclear Research (CERN)) and initiatives such as the Google Summer of Code. She is the co-author of more than 25 scientific publications in journals and congresses and one international patent. She has participated in collaborative national and international research projects, and she has been a speaker at different courses, conferences, and congresses. She is interested in spreading science, in encouraging women to pursue technical careers and in the use of free software. 

Núria Castell is an associate professor at the Computer Science Department of Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC). Teaching at the Barcelona's School of Informatics (FIB) since 1982. Dean of FIB from June 2010 to June 2017. She is a researcher of the Natural Language Processing group (GPLN), a member of the Intelligent Data Science and Artificial Intelligence centre (IDEAI). She has participated in several national and European research projects, as well as in several international academic projects, being the coordinator in some of them. She has participated in the design of IT curricula, at national and international (Atlantis, Erasmus +) level. Interdisciplinarity is one of her skills both in research and academic projects. She participates actively in actions related to increasing the number of women in the IT area.

Vicky Schneider is an evolutionary biologist at heart and founder of Tecklings, an initiative centred around conversation and reflections on the human side of technology.  Vicky is the Senior Scientific Program Manager at the Amazon Development Centre in Cambridge, UK. Previous to this, Vicky was the Deputy Director of EMBL Australian Bioinformatics Resource and Associate Professor at the University of Melbourne. Vicky was at The Genome Analysis Centre (TGAC), as part of the Senior Management Team and Head of Training and Outreach which evolved to Head of Scientific Training, Education and Learning Division. In the previous years, she was responsible for the strategic coordination and implementation of the EMBL-EBI’s User-Training programme, which provides training for the scientific users of the EMBL-EBI’s data services. Before joining the EMBL-EBI in 2007 Vicky held an Assistant Professor position at the University of Bern and the Institute for Aquatic Sciences (EAWAG) and postdocs at the University of Zurich and University of Rome (Torvergata). Vicky studied biology at the University of Rome and obtained her PhD on the evolution of sex at the University of Leiden (NL) and Lyon (France). Vicky has been extensively involved in the acquisition, management and implementation of funded research and training projects throughout my career. Vicky is a sole parent of a daughter who has travelled and moved with her as she balanced her professional and personal life.

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MEETING WITH WOMEN LEADERS

Thanks to the L'Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science initiative the participants will have the opportunity to interact personally with women leaders in the fields of IT, academia research and politics that support the conference, in small round tables and in an informal, relaxed environment.

• Carmen Vela Olmo. Former Secretary of State for Research, Development and Innovation (SEIDI), 2012-2018.
• Ángeles Delgado. President of Fujitsu in Spain.
• Gemma Fargas Ribas. Vice-Chancellor of Social Responsibility and Equality of the Polytechnic University of Catalunya BarcelonaTech (UPC).
• Guayente Sanmartin. General Manager of the HP’s Large Format Design Business.
• Sonia Ruiz.Director of the Gender Mainstreaming Department, Barcelona City Council.
• Cristina Espinosa. Associate Director of Policy Government Affairs in Oncology of MSD. Member of the Board of Directors of the Spanish Chapter of the ISPOR Society. 
• Janet Kelso. Group leader of the Minerva Research Group for Bioinformatics, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology.

This activity requires prior registration and is free of charge. There are limited places, the organization will contact attendees to inform on the table they have been assigned to.

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SCHEDULE

 Vote the best posters of Thursday's session

 Vote the best posters of Friday's session

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 GALA DINNER

The Gala Dinner is one of the highlights of the social programme of the AdvCompBio 2019. It is an excellent opportunity to get to know and network with the Conference chairs, organizers and attendees.

The AdvCompBio Gala Dinner will be hosted at the historic 7 Portes Restaurant.

Please note that the registration fee does not include the Gala Dinner. Participants willing to join will be requested to pay 50€/person.

THEATER PERFORMANCE

We are pleased to announce that the programme includes a live theater performance created especially for the occasion. The piece, directed by Berty Tovias - International Teatre, will have commentary and themes from the world of science and technology, and was conceived through conversations with female scientists.  

This activity is free of charge.  

GUIDED TOUR - LA PEDRERA

La Pedrera (Casa Milà) was Gaudí’s last commission, a dynamic building that has been declared a World Heritage site by UNESCO and a Historical and Artistic Monument of National Interest. It has an amazing rooftop, where you will be able to enjoy spectacular views of Barcelona and Passeig de Gràcia. It is a unique space and a masterpiece of Gaudi’s imagination.

Please note that the registration fee does not include the Guided Tour - La Pedrera. Participants willing to join will be requested to pay 26€/person.

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