Program

7th April 2025

Data science for omics data
09:00 - 09:30

Rogers Room

Registration
09:15 - 09:45

Rogers Room

Welcome

Francesca Ieva, Donatella Sciuto, Irene Sabadini, Paola Antonietti (Politecnico di Milano)

Marino Zerial, Emanuele Di Angelantonio (Human Technopole)

09:45 - 10:45

Rogers Room

Plenary Session

PREDICTION OF DISEASE ONSET AND PROGRESSION USING NATIONWIDE GENETIC AND HEALTHCARE DATA

Andrea Ganna (Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland)

Chair: Emanuele Di Angelantonio (Human Technopole)

10:45 - 11:15

Vetrata Room

Coffee Break
11:15 - 12:00

Rogers Room

Talk

Uncovering latent structure in omics features: a strategy to enhance discoveries in biomedicine

Sylvia Richardson (University of Cambridge, University of Oslo)

12:15 - 13:30

Rogers Room

Round Table

ROUND TABLE 1

Moderator: Michela Carlotta Massi (Human Technopole)

Panelists:

  • Marco Masseroli (Politecnico di Milano)
  • Piergiuseppe Pelicci (University of Milan, IEO - European Institute of Oncology)
  • Nicola Pirastu (Human Technopole)
  • Davide Risso (University of Padova)
  • Nicole Soranzo (Human Technopole, Wellcome Sanger Institute, University of Cambridge)
13:30 - 14:30

Vetrata Room

Lunch
14:30 - 16:15
Tutorial 1.2 | T.0.2 Room

Genomic causal inference for drug target identification

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Claudia Giambartolomei
Nicola Pirastu
Giulia Pontali
Sodbo Sharapov
Luisa Zuccolo

Tutorial 1.4 | T.0.3 Room

Microfluidic Technologies for Biomolecular Applications

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Marco Bianchessi
Marco Cereda

Tutorial 1.5 | T.0.4 Room

AI-based platform for small molecules liability profiling

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Marta Cicchetti
Filippo Lunghini

16:15 - 17:00

Vetrata Room

Aperitif
17:00 - 18:00

Vetrata Room

Poster session

Session Details Day 1

Speaker Photo
Plenary Session

PREDICTION OF DISEASE ONSET AND PROGRESSION USING NATIONWIDE GENETIC AND HEALTHCARE DATA

Speaker: Andrea Ganna (Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland)

Abstract: I will show approaches to predict disease onset combining nationwide electronic health records (EHR)-based phenotype risk scores with polygenic scores (PGS). I will show how these integrated models can capture both genetic predispositions and the dynamic health status of individuals. I will then discuss how prediction of disease onset compares with prediction of disease progression. While the models demonstrate robustness in predicting the risk of initial disease development, they exhibit limitations in forecasting disease progression. Finally, I will assess the transferability of these predictive models across various healthcare systems. The presentation will underscore the critical role of combining genetic insights with real-world clinical data in enhancing the precision of disease predictions and healthcare interventions, especially in stratifying risk and tailoring preventative strategies effectively.

Bio: Andrea is an Associate Professor at Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland (FIMM), HiLIFE and a research associate at Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School. Andrea's research interests lie at the intersection between epidemiology, genetics, and statistics. Andrea’s team, utilizes AI and machine learning to improve early disease detection and improve public health interventions.

More about Andrea Ganna

Speaker Photo
Talk

Uncovering latent structure in omics features: a strategy to enhance discoveries in biomedicine

Speaker: Sylvia Richardson (MRC Biostatistics Unit, University of Cambridge & Norwegian Centre for Knowledge-driven Machine Learning, University of Oslo)

Abstract: By being creative in exploiting the rich data sets that are currently being collected in genomics, and in particular by elucidating their latent structures, data scientists can enhance discoveries in biomedicine. In this talk, I will illustrate the benefits of such a strategy through the discussion of two commonly encountered challenging analysis tasks: (i) estimating graphical network structures when confronted with large sets of related features and (ii) inferring latent time dynamics driving the time course of sets of biomarkers.
I will discuss some of the statistical challenges faced by data scientists, e.g. how to borrow information across structures in a flexible way, or to deal with longitudinal data which is sparse and irregularly measured in time. I will outline how each task can be formulated within a Bayesian framework, discuss key modelling ingredients, such as graphical networks and functional PCA, and briefly review computational strategies that can be adopted for making inference on such models scalable.
Case studies will illustrate the benefit of estimating such latent structures. I will discuss a comparative network analysis of proteomics data from responders and non-responders from the NeoAva breast cancer trial. I will also demonstrate the applicability of functional PCA to estimate the molecular disease course and recovery of individual patients by analysing longitudinal measurements of SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Bio: Sylvia Richardson CBE FMedSci is Emeritus Director at the MRC Biostatistics Unit, leading the Unit from 2012 to 2021. Sylvia also held a Research Professorship at the University of Cambridge between 2012 and 2023.
Sylvia has worked extensively in many areas of biostatistics research and made important contributions to the statistical modelling of complex biomedical data, in particular from a Bayesian perspective. Her work has contributed to progress in epidemiological understanding and has covered spatial modelling and disease mapping, measurement error problems, mixture and clustering models as well as integrative analysis of observational data from different sources. Her recent research has focused on modelling and analysis of large data problems such as those arising in genomics. She is particularly interested in developing new analytical strategies for integrative and translational genomics, including statistical methodology for risk stratification, discovering disease subtypes, and large scale hierarchical analysis of high dimensional biomedical and multi-omics data.

More about Sylvia Richardson

Round Table

Round Table 1

Marco Masseroli Photo

Marco Masseroli

Associate Professor of Bioinformatics and Computational Biology
Department of Electronics, Information and Bioengineering, Politecnico di Milano
Co-Coordinator Master Degree in Bioinformatics for Computational Genomic
Politecnico di Milano and University of Milan
Head of Computational Multi-Omics of Neurological Disorders (MIND) Lab
Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico "Carlo Besta" Hospital

Piergiuseppe Pelicci Photo

Piergiuseppe Pelicci

Full Professor of Pathology
University of Milan
Director of Research, Chairman of the Department of Experimental Oncology
IEO - European Institute of Oncology
Vice-President
ACC - Alliance Against Cancer

Nicola Pirastu Photo

Nicola Pirastu

Senior Manager at Genomics Research Centre
Human Technopole

Davide Risso Photo

Davide Risso

Associate Professor of Statistics
University of Padova

Nicole Soranzo Photo

Nicole Soranzo

Head of Genomics Research Centre, Population and Medical Genomics Programme
Human Technopole
Senior Group Leader
Wellcome Sanger Institute
Professor of Human Genetics
School of Clinical Medicine, University of Cambridge

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Tutorial 1.1

Data science for genetic data analysis and disease prediction

Tutors: Andrea Lampis, Andrea Vergani (Human Technopole)

Abstract: In this hands-on workshop, participants will learn to apply data science techniques to analyze genetic data and predict disease risk. You will be guided through the basics of genome-wide association studies (GWAS), including how to load and clean genetic data, perform statistical tests to uncover links between genetic variants (SNPs) and diseases, visualize the results, and investigate their biological relevance. With practical insights and tools, you will uncover how genetic data can shape disease prediction and drive personalized medicine strategies. This workshop is ideal for anyone interested in the intersection of genetics, data science, and health, whether you are a beginner or have some prior knowledge.

Bio: Andrea Lampis and Andrea Vergani are PhD students in Data Analytics and Decision Sciences @ Di Angelantonio & Ieva Group, Health Data Science Centre, Human Technopole & Politecnico di Milano

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Tutorial 1.2

Genomic causal inference for drug target identification

Tutors: Claudia Giambartolomei, Nicola Pirastu, Giulia Pontali, Sodbo Sharapov, Luisa Zuccolo (Human Technopole)

Abstract: Mendelian Randomization (MR) is revolutionizing the search for causal links between biomarkers and disease, providing a powerful method for identifying modifiable and druggable targets for conditions like cardiovascular disease. By using genetic variations as natural experiments, MR enables researchers to distinguish correlation from causation in complex biological pathways. This session introduces the principles of MR and how genetic markers like eQTLs (for gene expression) and pQTLs (for protein levels) enable researchers to link genes or proteins directly to diseases. Through engaging examples, we’ll illustrate how MR guides drug discovery efforts, transforming genetic data into actionable insights for medical innovation. Join us to see how MR can reveal promising therapeutic targets and open new avenues in biomedical research—no prior genetics experience required.

Bio: Claudia Giambartolomei is Senior Manager @ Health Data Science Centre, Human Technopole
Nicola Pirastu is Senior Manager @ Genomics Centre, Human Technopole
Giulia Pontali is a Bioinformatician @ Health Data Science Centre, Human Technopole
Sodbo Sharapov is a Statistical Geneticist @ Genomics Centre, Human Technopole
Luisa Zuccolo is Research Group Leader @ Zuccolo Group, Health Data Science Centre, Human Technopole

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Tutorial 1.3

Computational Tools for pre-processing, optimisation, and drug-discovery-oriented analysis of CRISPR-screens

Tutor: Francesco Iorio (Human Technopole)

Abstract: This lecture will explore a variety of computational tools and analytical approaches for processing data from large-scale genetic perturbation screens conducted across panels of immortalised in vitro cancer models. We will also discuss how to integrate these data with multi-omic characterisations of the models, as well as datasets from public cancer genomics repositories. The ultimate aim of these analyses is to identify novel biomarkers for oncology, new therapeutic targets, opportunities for drug repositioning, and clinically relevant somatic variants. I will present both results and methods developed by my research team and address the computational challenges involved, proposing potential solutions. Following an introductory lecture on foundational concepts and algorithms, we will proceed to a hands-on session where participants will analyse sample datasets from real CRISPR-Cas9 screens through guided exercises and interactive coding. To reinforce learning, participants will receive homework assignments and will be invited to a follow-up online session a few weeks after the lecture to present their findings, discuss challenges, and clarify any questions that may have arisen.

Bio: Francesco Iorio is Research Group Leader @ Iorio Group, Computational Biology Centre, Human Technopole

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Tutorial 1.4

Microfluidic Technologies for Biomolecular Applications

Tutors: Marco Bianchessi, Marco Cereda (STMicroelectronics)

Abstract: Microfluidic technologies are revolutionizing biomolecular applications by enabling precise manipulation of tiny fluid volumes. This session delves into the impact of microfluidics on DNA analysis, biomolecular sensing, and cell manipulation. Key topics will include:

  • Advances in microfabrication and materials
  • Lab-on-a-chip and point-of-care diagnostics
  • Compact systems for on-the-field applications
The overview highlights how technologies borrowed from microelectronics can benefit precision medicine and personalized healthcare.

Bio: Marco Bianchessi is Research and Innovation Manager at STMicroelectronics
Marco Cereda is Advanced Research Team Leader at STMicroelectronics

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Tutorial 1.5

AI-based platform for small molecules liability profiling

Tutors: Marta Cicchetti (SAS), Filippo Lunghini (Dompè farmaceutici)

Abstract: In this tutorial, we will illustrate an Artificial Intelligence-based method to anticipate the adverse effects of a potential drug at an early stage, an activity that is necessary to minimize risks to patient health, animal testing and economic costs.
Indeed, off-target drug interactions are one of the main reasons for candidate failure in the drug discovery process. As the size of virtual screening libraries continues to increase, AI-driven methods can be exploited as first-level screening tools to provide an estimate of the liability of drug candidates. We will present an AI-driven suite of machine learning models capable of profiling small molecules on 7 relevant toxicity groups: cardiotoxicity, neurotoxicity, gastrointestinal toxicity, endocrine disruption, renal, pulmonary, and immune system toxicities. Experimental affinity data were collected from public and commercial data sources.
Gradient boosting and random forest algorithms were initially employed and ensembled for the selection of a champion model. Models were validated according to the OECD principles, including robust internal (cross validation, bootstrap, y-scrambling) and external validation.

Bio: Marta Cicchetti is Customer Advisor in the Advanced Analytics & Artificial Intelligence team at SAS, where she oversees the Life Sciences & Healthcare sectors.
Filippo Lunghini is an Artificial Intelligence Senior Specialist at Dompé farmaceutici, where he leads tech platform development within the Exscalate BU. With a strong focus on AI-driven solutions, he specializes in data analysis, machine learning, and computational modeling to accelerate early drug discovery, from feasibility to Hit to Candidate Lead.

Data science for medical imaging
09:00 - 09:30

Rogers Room

Registration
09:30 - 10:30

Rogers Room

Plenary Session

AI & deep learning for medical image analysis

Nicholas Ayache (INRIA)

Chair: Giacomo Boracchi (Politecnico di Milano)

10:30 - 11:00

Vetrata Room

Coffee Break
12:15 - 13:30

Rogers Room

Round Table

ROUND TABLE 2

Moderator: Lara Cavinato (Politecnico di Milano)

Panelists:

  • Arturo Chiti (Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, IRCCS San Raffaele Hospital)
  • Francesco Fiz (Galliera Hospital - Genova)
  • Sara Garbarino (University of Genova, IRCCS San Martino Polyclinic Hospital)
  • Antonio Gatti (Microsoft)
  • Maria Gabriella Signorini (Politecnico di Milano)
13:30 - 14:30

Vetrata Room

Lunch
16:15 - 17:00

Vetrata Room

Aperitif
17:00 - 18:00

Vetrata Room

Poster session

Session Details Day 2

Speaker Photo
Plenary Session

AI & deep learning for medical image analysis

Speaker: Nicholas Ayache (INRIA)

Abstract: Artificial intelligence and deep learning algorithms have brought about a revolution in medical image analysis, often achieving accuracy comparable to that of medical specialists. It can also help build a digital twin of the patient from his or her medical images and available complementary information (clinical, biological, behavioral, environmental, etc.) This digital twin can be used to guide diagnosis, and then to simulate, optimize and guide therapy. In this talk, I will also illustrate the role of mathematical and biophysical models of anatomy and physiology in forcing these digital medicine algorithms to deliver reliable and interpretable results.

Bio: Nicholas Ayache is a research director at Inria, where he leads the EPIONE research team, dedicated to the digital patient and digital medicine. He is also the Scientific Director of the Interdisciplinary AI Institute 3IA Côte d'Azur, where he holds a research chair. His current research focuses on the introduction of AI algorithms to guide the prevention, diagnosis, prognosis and therapy of patients based on their medical images and all available data.
N. Ayache is a member of the French Academy of Sciences and of the French Academy of Surgery. In 2013-2014 he was a visiting professor at the Collège de France, where he introduced a new course on the "personalized digital patient". He has received numerous prestigious awards including in 2020 the International Steven Hoogendijk Award, in 2014 the Grand Prix Inria-Académie des science, in 2012-2017 an advanced ERC Grant from the European Research Council, in 2008 the Microsoft Grand Prize for Research in Europe (Royal Society), and in 2006 the EADS Foundation Information Science Award.
N. Ayache published over 400 highly cited scientific articles and a dozen of industrial patents, and co-founded seven high-tech companies. He has been a member of several strategic boards in France and abroad.

More about Nicholas Ayache

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Talk

Deep Learning for Micro-Scale Imaging: Challenges and Advances in Osteoporosis Analysis

Speaker: Eleonora D'Arnese (School of Informatics, University of Edinburgh)

Abstract: Although medical imaging is a fundamental tool for studying the genesis and the evolution of multiple pathologies, it generates a considerable amount of data that proves to be burdensome to analyze. Deep learning has emerged as a valuable support tool for clinical practice focusing on repetitive tasks like segmentation. This talk will focus on the study of osteoporosis by analyzing images at the micro-scale - where the pathology originates - and, in particular, on the classification and segmentation of such data. It will also focus on micro-scale images' challenges and possible directions for applying Deep Learning to such data.

Bio: Eleonora D’Arnese received her Ph.D. in Information Technology from Politecnico di Milano in 2023. Additionally, she got her B.Sc. and M.Sc. in Biomedical Engineering from Politecnico di Milano in 2016 and 2018, respectively and in 2018 she also received her M.Sc. in BioEngineering from the University of Illinois at Chicago. She worked as a Postdoctoral Researcher at Politecnico di Milano, and at Università Vita-Salute San Raffaele. She is currently a Lecturer in Biomedical AI at the School of Informatics, University of Edinburgh and her research interests mainly revolve around medical image analysis and computer vision.

More about Eleonora D’Arnese

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Talk

Deep Learning in Medical Imaging for Radiotherapy: Applications and Challenges

Speaker: Daniele Loiacono (Politecnico di Milano)

Abstract: Deep learning is quickly transforming the field of medical imaging and has shown great potential in radiotherapy. This talk provides an overview of how deep learning techniques might enhance several tasks in radiotherapy — including image segmentation, dose distribution prediction, and treatment planning — to improve accuracy and efficiency in treatment procedures. The presentation will also address the main challenges faced in this domain, such as data annotation, model interpretability, and integration into clinical workflows.

Bio: Daniele Loiacono was born in Lecco, Italy, in 1980. He graduated cum laude in 2004 in Computer Engineering and he received a Ph.D. in Computer Engineering in 2008 from Politecnico di Milano. He is currently an associate professor at the Department of Electronics and Information of Politecnico di Milano. His main research interests include machine learning, evolutionary computation, games and AI applications for healthcare.

More about Daniele Loiacono

Round Table

Round Table 2

Speaker 1

Arturo Chiti

Full Professor of Imaging Diagnostics and Radiotherapy
Vita-Salute San Raffaele University
Medical Director
Department of Nuclear Medicine, IRCCS San Raffaele Hospital

Speaker 2

Francesco Fiz

Medical Director
Department of Nuclear Medicine, Galliera Hospital, Genoa

Speaker 3

Sara Garbarino

Tenure-track researcher (RTT)
Department of Mathematics, University of Genoa, and Liscomp Lab, IRCCS San Martino Polyclinic Hospital

Speaker 4

Antonio Gatti

EMEA Managing Director for Pharma, Life Sciences and MedTech
Microsoft

Speaker 5

Maria Gabriella Signorini

Full professor in Biomedical signal processing and medical images
Department of Electronics, Information and Bioengineering, Politecnico di Milano

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Tutorial 2.1

On how to let Osteocytes Teach SR-MicroCT Bone Lacunae Segmentation

Tutors: Eleonora D'Arnese (University of Edinburgh), Isabella Poles (Politecnico di Milano)

Abstract: Synchrotron Radiation micro-Computed Tomography (SR-microCT) is a promising imaging technique for osteocyte-lacunar bone pathophysiology study. However, acquiring them costs more than histopathology, thus requiring multi-modal approaches to enrich limited/costly data with complementary information. This tutorial will present LOTUS, a novel histopathology-enhanced disease-aware distillation model for bone microstructure segmentation from SR-microCTs. Exploring its components, we will discuss its peculiarity and applicability to different datasets while providing an overview of single-, multi-modal, and state-of-the-art distillation methods for image segmentation.

Bio: Isabella Poles received her B.Sc. and M.Sc. degrees in Biomedical Engineering from Politecnico di Milano in 2019 and 2022, respectively. In 2022, she also got her M.Sc. in Bioengineering at the University of Illinois at Chicago. In 2024, Isabella was a Research Trainee at the Mahmood Lab at Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston. Currently, she is a third-year Ph.D. student in Information Technology at NECSTLab of Politecnico di Milano. Her research focuses on developing a deep learning-based framework for image analysis in biopsy, integrating multi-scale and multi-modal images to support clinicians and researchers in their pathology analysis needs.

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Tutorial 2.2

Implementing 3D neural networks on advanced neuroimaging approaches to monitor disease progression and outcome after traumatic brain injury

Tutors: Marcello De Salvo, Federico Moro, Elisa R. Zanier (Mario Negri Institute)

Abstract: In this tutorial, we will provide an overview of traumatic brain injury (TBI), exploring the role of rodent models in TBI research as valuable tools for studying the mechanisms of secondary injury evolution commonly observed in patients. Among various neuroimaging techniques, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) stands out for its strong translational potential, providing detailed insights into both primary injuries and the progression of secondary damage. We will introduce challenges in conducting preclinical MRI studies with a focus on strategies to perform brain segmentation to monitor the evolution of brain damage in selected vulnerable regions. After the introduction, we will conduct a hands-on session where participants will explore the structure and implementation of a 3D multi-task CNN for segmenting TBI rodent brains.

Bio: Marcello De Salvo is a researcher at the Unit of Pathobiology and Neuroimaging in the Laboratory of Traumatic Brain Injury and Neuroprotection @ Mario Negri Institute for Pharmacological Research IRCCS
Federico Moro is the head of the Unit of Pathobiology and Neuroimaging in the Laboratory of Traumatic Brain Injury and Neuroprotection @ Mario Negri Institute for Pharmacological Research IRCCS
Elisa R. Zanier is the head of the Department of Acute Brain and Cardiovascular Injury and the head of the Laboratory of Traumatic Brain Injury and Neuroprotection @ Mario Negri Institute for Pharmacological Research IRCCS

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Tutorial 2.3

Denoising microscopy images with deep-learning

Tutors: Melisande Croft, Diya Srivastava, Igor Zubarev (Human Technopole)

Abstract: Denoising is a useful image processing step that can drastically improve downstream analysis. Because microscopy images are often subjected to noise from the imaging process and from the detectors themselves, a wide range of methods have been developed to reduce its impact on post-processing and quantification. Deep-learning algorithms have established themselves as the most performant approaches in that regard and are nowadays in common use in scientific image processing. In this tutorial, we will focus on Noise2Void, a widely used deep-learning algorithm that does not require ground-truth images to train. Using its implementation in the CAREamics library, we will discuss its use in the context of scientific analysis and its limitations, as well as describe the current landscape of existing algorithms.

Bio: Melisande Croft is Research Software Engineer @ National Facility for Data Handling and Analysis, Human Technopole
Diya Srivastava is Data Scientist and Research Software Engineer @ Jug Group, Human Technopole
Igor Zubarev is Bioimage Analyst and Research Software Engineer @ Jug Group, Human Technopole

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Tutorial 2.4

Segmenting microscopy images with shallow- and deep-learning

Tutors: Eugenia Cammarota, Damian Dalle Nogare (Human Technopole)

Abstract: Image segmentation is a fundamental step in many image analysis workflows. The separation of images into foreground and background classes (semantic segmentation), or into individual objects of a given class (instance segmentation) is critical to enable downstream data processing and quantification by separating an image into computationally tractable regions or objects. In recent years, both classical (shallow) machine learning approaches and deep learning approaches have been leveraged to perform this task. In this tutorial, we will consider two methods for image segmentation. Firstly, we will perform pixel classification (semantic segmentation) using a random forest approach implemented in the Labkit plugin for Fiji/ImageJ. Secondly, will use the cellpose package, which leverages deep learning to generate an instance segmentation of microscopy data. We will discuss the application and limitations of these technologies in the context of scientific image analysis.

Bio: Eugenia Cammarota is Bioimage Analyst and Research Software Engineer @ Bioimage Analysis Infrastructure Unit, National Facility for Data Handling and Analysis, Human Technopole
Damian Dalle Nogare is Manager Image Analysis Facility @ Bioimage Analysis Infrastructure Unit, National Facility for Data Handling and Analysis, Human Technopole

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Tutorial 2.5

Beyond Labels: Advancing Medical Imaging Through Unsupervised Learning for Anomaly Detection, Vessel Segmentation, and Phenotype Discovery

Tutor: Soumick Chatterjee (Human Technopole)

Abstract: Unsupervised learning and limited annotation methods have emerged as powerful paradigms in medical imaging, enabling automated feature extraction and pattern recognition while reducing reliance on extensive manual annotations. This tutorial talk will explore state-of-the-art techniques for three key applications: anomaly detection, vessel segmentation, and phenotype extraction. Unsupervised learning methods, such as autoencoders and generative adversarial networks, can model the distribution of normal anatomical structures, facilitating the detection of pathological deviations without the need for labelled abnormal samples. For vessel segmentation, both unsupervised and weakly supervised approaches have shown promise, with self-supervised learning and clustering-based techniques leveraging intrinsic image patterns, while weakly supervised methods utilise limited annotations, such as scribbles or image-level labels, to enhance segmentation accuracy. Finally, representation learning techniques, including autoencoders and contrastive learning, enable the extraction of clinically relevant phenotypic features from medical images, supporting disease subtyping, biomarker identification and Genotype-phenotype associations. This session will provide a comprehensive discussion of these methods, highlighting their role in advancing medical imaging analysis. A hands-on tutorial will accompany the talk, demonstrating practical implementations and evaluation strategies to equip researchers with the necessary tools to apply unsupervised and weakly supervised learning effectively in medical imaging.

Bio: Soumick Chatterjee is a post-doc researcher @ Glastonbury Group, Genomics Research Centre, Human Technopole, and a Lecturer in AI for Medical Imaging @ Faculty of Computer Science, Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg, Germany

Data science for electronic health records
09:00 - 09:30

Rogers Room

Registration
09:30 - 10:30

Rogers Room

Plenary Session

Reality-Centric AI

Mihaela van der Schaar (University of Cambridge)

Chair: Francesca Ieva (Politecnico di Milano)

10:30 - 11:00

Vetrata Room

Coffee Break
11:00 - 12:00

Rogers Room

Talk

Assessing brain diseases using smartphones

Oliver Chen (Lausanne University Hospital, University of Lausanne)

12:15 - 13:30

Rogers Room

Round Table

ROUND TABLE 3

Moderator: Paolo Locatelli (Fondazione Politecnico di Milano)

Panelists:

  • Sandro Girolami (Meteda)
  • Emanuele Lettieri (Politecnico di Milano)
  • Sabina Nuti (Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna)
  • Claudio Passino (Fondazione Toscana Gabriele Monasterio, Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna)
  • Chiara Sgarbossa (Osservatorio Sanità Digitale)
13:30 - 14:30

Vetrata Room

Lunch
16:15 - 17:00

Vetrata Room

Aperitif
17:00 - 18:00

Vetrata Room

Poster session
18:00 - 18:15

Vetrata Room

Closing Remarks

Francesca Ieva (Politecnico di Milano)

Session Details Day 3

Speaker Photo
Plenary Session

REALITY-CENTRIC AI

Speaker: Mihaela van der Schaar (University of Cambridge)

Abstract:

Bio: Mihaela van der Schaar is the John Humphrey Plummer Professor of Machine Learning, Artificial Intelligence and Medicine at the University of Cambridge. In addition to leading the van der Schaar Lab, Mihaela is founder and director of the Cambridge Centre for AI in Medicine (CCAIM). Mihaela was elected IEEE Fellow in 2009 and Fellow of the Royal Society in 2024. She has received numerous awards, including the Johann Anton Merck Award (2024), the Oon Prize on Preventative Medicine from the University of Cambridge (2018), a National Science Foundation CAREER Award (2004), 3 IBM Faculty Awards, the IBM Exploratory Stream Analytics Innovation Award, the Philips Make a Difference Award and several best paper awards, including the IEEE Darlington Award. She was a Turing Fellow at The Alan Turing Institute in London between 2016 and 2024. Mihaela is personally credited as inventor on 35 USA patents, many of which are still frequently cited and adopted in standards. She has made over 45 contributions to international standards for which she received 3 ISO Awards. In 2019, a Nesta report determined that Mihaela was the most-cited female AI researcher in the U.K.

More about Mihaela van der Schaar

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Talk

EVIDENCE BASED TREATMENT OF CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE: THE ROLE OF REAL-WORLD DATA AND MACHINE LEARNING

Speaker: Alicia Uijl (Amsterdam UMC)

Abstract: We will discuss the use of electronic health records in real-world evidence with several use cases in cardiovascular disease.

Bio: Alicia is an epidemiologist specialised in Cardiovascular Epidemiology. Currently, she is an Assistant Professor at Amsterdam University Medical Center and affiliated researcher at Karolinska Institutet, Sweden. In her research, Alicia focuses on applying advanced epidemiological methodology and data science on real-world data sources to obtain real-world evidence for patients with cardiovascular diseases, with a particular interest in heart failure.

More about Alicia Uijl

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Talk

Assessing brain diseases using smartphones

Speaker: Oliver Y. Chen (Lausanne University Hospital, University of Lausanne)

Abstract: About one in six people worldwide suffer from neurological disorders. Traditional brain disease assessments are typically performed by a physician during infrequent clinic visits, often involving expensive and time-consuming data acquisition techniques, such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). In contrast, smartphone-based assessments enable remote, frequent evaluation at home without supervision and with minimal patient burden. The relatively low cost and increasing availability of smartphone devices, compared to the cost and waiting times for hospital equipment and shortage of medical professionals, make digital health solutions accessible and affordable to a large population. Here, I present two examples of how smartphones can be used to assess Parkinson’s disease and multiple sclerosis.

Bio: Oliver Yibing Chén has a multidisciplinary academic background in engineering (PhD, Oxford), neurobiology (Honorary Fellow, University College London), psychology (Research Associate, Yale), biostatistics (Master, Johns Hopkins), theoretical statistics (Research Assistant, Northwestern) and mathematical statistics (Master, Washington). He has worked not only in industry, at Axio Research in Seattle (statistics) and at F. Hoffmann-La Roche in Basel (Pharma Research and Early Development - pRED), but also in the clinic, at the Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel (neurology) and the Nationaal MS Centrum (multiple sclerosis).
From 2021 to 2022, he was Assistant Professor in Artificial Intelligence and Big Data Analytics at the University of Bristol, before being granted tenure in September 2022. He then joined Switzerland in early 2023 where he is Chief of the Platform of Bioinformatics at Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV), and Assistant Professor on conditional pre-tenure at the level of Associate Professor in Artificial Intelligence and Statistical Science at University of Lausanne (UNIL).

More about Oliver Y. Chen

Round Table

Round Table 3

Speaker 1

Sandro Girolami

Foreign Affairs and R&D Manager
METEDA s.r.l.

Speaker 2

Emanuele Lettieri

Full professor of Health Care Management
Department of Management Engineering, Politecnico di Milano

Speaker 3

Sabina Nuti

Rector
Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna

Speaker 4

Claudio Passino

Full Professor of Cardiology
Health Science Interdisciplinary Center, Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna
Medical Director
Clinical Research Unit, Fondazione G. Monasterio Hospital

Speaker 5

Chiara Sgarbossa

Head of the Digital Innovation in Healthcare and Life Science Innovation Observatories
School of Management, Politecnico di Milano

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Tutorial 3.1

Mastering Real-World Health Data in Regional Healthcare Databases: Challenges and Opportunities

Tutors: Katherine Logan, Laura Savaré (Human Technopole)

Abstract: This tutorial will focus on electronic health records held in regional health databases in Italy, with a particular emphasis on the crucial role of real-world data (RWD) in generating empirical evidence essential for informed decisions in clinical and policy contexts, especially within the Italian National Health System (NHS). We will cover the structure of these datasets, strategies for overcoming common challenges, and offer practical, worked examples from a variety of fields, such as pharmacoepidemiology. Additionally, there will be applied examples in the cardiovascular field, demonstrating how RWD can drive insights into cardiovascular health and treatment outcomes. A key objective is to explore advanced statistical methodologies that fully harness RWD, providing a more accurate reflection of real-world clinical practice and addressing the limitations of controlled clinical studies, which often struggle to capture the diverse behavioral dynamics of patients and the real-world effectiveness of treatments. The tutorial will highlight the unique challenges in this field and present the most suitable data analysis techniques for maximizing the value of RWD in medical research and policy.

Bio: Katherine Logan is a PhD student in Data Analytics and Decision Sciences @ Di Angelantonio & Ieva Group, Health Data Science Centre, Human Technopole & Politecnico di Milano
Laura Savaré is a post-doc researcher @ Di Angelantonio & Ieva Group, Health Data Science Centre, Human Technopole

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Tutorial 3.2

Smart Remote Monitoring

Tutors: Luigi della Torre, Alessandro Gumiero (STMicroelectronics)

Abstract: The importance of remote monitoring is dramatically growing following the evolution of the technologies and the request for a medicine closer to the user. The COVID period highlighted the necessity to have something simple capable to acquire vital signs everywhere, continuously and correctly. The amount of data collected by this kind of devices allows to develop AI models augmenting the reliability of the parameters computed and precision of the feedbacks. Key topics:

  • Remote monitoring
  • Edge AI
  • Wearable sensors
An example of what it means to design and create a medical device for remote monitoring is presented, keeping particular attention to user needs and medical grade of the signals and parameters calculated.

Bio: Luigi della Torre is System R&D Health Remote Monitoring & Sensors Application Manager at STMicroelectronics, involved in the development of health remote monitoring low power E2E platforms and system algorithm for biometrics signal acquisition.
Alessandro Gumiero is electronic designer at STMicroelectronics, involved in the development of innovative integrated electron systems in the medical and fitness field.

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Tutorial 3.3

Revolutionizing Maternal and Child Care: The Power of Real-World Evidence

Tutor: Anna Cantarutti (Laboratory of Healthcare Research and Pharmacoepidemiology, University of Milano-Bicocca)

Abstract: Real-World Evidence (RWE) has emerged as a powerful tool in healthcare research, offering valuable insights into the real-world effectiveness and safety of interventions. This review explores the potential of RWE to revolutionize maternal and child care. By leveraging data from electronic health records, clinical registries, and other real-world sources, researchers can better understand disease burden, treatment patterns, and patient outcomes. This knowledge can inform evidence-based decision-making, optimize clinical practice, and improve patient outcomes. In this workshop, we will delve into the methodological challenges associated with observational studies, particularly immortal time bias and confounding. We will also explore practical applications of integrating diverse Real-World Data (RWD) sources, including the implementation of artificial intelligence in clinical practice and the use of geospatial analysis to assess area-level socioeconomic disparities.

Bio: Anna Cantarutti is Assistant Professor (RTDB) in Medical Statistics @ Laboratory of Healthcare Research and Pharmacoepidemiology, University of Milano-Bicocca

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Tutorial 3.4

Personalized care pathways and optimization of the emergency room resources thanks to the analysis of health records

Tutors: Luca Barbanotti (SAS), Jacopo Lenkowicz, Carlotta Masciocchi (Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS)

Abstract: In this tutorial we will show how it is possible to respond to the demand for services generated in an emergency department, in a way that is effective for the health of patients and efficient in the operational management of a hospital, through collaboration with services and departments involved in the emergency: the emergency/urgency sector to try to predict the impact of the influx of cases in the short term; the inpatient and intensive care units to analyze the diagnostic/therapeutic information collected from the electronic medical records; the management control for reporting and optimal resource allocation; and research, to prepare the tools for computational analysis with AI algorithms.
By exploiting the information obtained from the SAS analytics, optimal resource planning in the short and medium term is enabled and answers are given, responding with customised paths for each patient.

Bio: Luca Barbanotti is Senior Customer Advisor in Advanced Analytics and AI. He's leading SAS AI advisory initiatives across multiple industries and since 2024 He's part of SAS EMEA & AP Healthcare Industry Board Leadership Team.
Jacopo Lenkowicz is a physicist with a PhD in Oncological Sciences, specializing in data science and machine learning for healthcare. Experienced in working with medical imaging and integrating data from data warehouses to support clinical decision-making and research. Focused on improving healthcare outcomes through data-driven approaches.
Carlotta Masciocchi is a biomedical Engineer with a PhD in Oncological Sciences. She has been involved in national and international projects regarding Radiomics and Machine Learning applications in Radiotherapy and Oncology and she is currently the coordinator of the Gemelli Generator Real World Data laboratory at Fondazione Policlinico Gemelli. She focuses her research activity on the development of privacy-preserving algorithms, healthcare terminological systems and development of predictive models using data from Electronic health records.

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Tutorial 3.5

Data re-use for public good: a collaboration between Fondazione Cariplo and Novartis Farma

Tutors: Diana Pozzoli (Fondazione Cariplo) Noaomi Viapiana (Novartis), Saverio D'Amico (Humanitas University), Bernardo Nipoti (University of Milano-Bicocca)

Abstract: Data are an essential part of our daily lives. When high quality data is sourced, made accessible and reused in a responsible way, it can help us all make more informed decisions. In this tutorial we will explore a concrete case of data re-use for public good starting with the fruitful collaboration between Fondazione Cariplo and Novartis Pharma S.p.A. The two entities launched a call for proposals to fund projects investigating the representativeness gap between the populations enrolled in clinical trials and the general population affected by the same pathology. Starting from the dataset provided by Novartis Pharma S.p.A. applicants have been required to formulate original working hypotheses and to develop models and guidelines to foster more effective treatments for all. Specific projects funded under the call will be illustrated during the presentation.

Bio: Diana Pozzoli is Deputy Director of the Science and Technology area of Fondazione Cariplo
Naomi Viapiana is Biostatistician at Novartis
Saverio D'Amico is Data Scientist and Machine Learning Engineer at Humanitas University
Bernardo Nipoti is Associate Professor of Statistics at Department of Economics, Management and Statistics - University of Milano-Bicocca