AI in biomedical applications
We design machine learning models for biomedical data to identify biomarkers, predict outcomes, and support precision medicine, with a focus on neurology and neurodegenerative diseases.
Research
Research topics
Data visualization for complex systems
We combine AI and design to create interactive visualizations that make complexity interpretable across science and society
Machine Learning for Evolving Systems
We apply machine learning to analyze evolving systems across domains, uncovering patterns and trends in areas like academic research and sports
Ethical AI
We tackle key obstacles to reliable AI—limited reproducibility, intrinsic methodological constraints, and fragmented knowledge dissemination—that hinder its proper development and responsible use.
Research projects
Most recent research projects
- PRIN-ExpAI-CC
Integrating network science and explainable AI to forecast the impact of climate change on infectious disease risk
Leading scientist Annalisa Barla (Head of unit)Duration 2023 - 2026Sponsors MUR | PRIN - RAISE
Robotics and AI for Socio-economic Empowerment
Theme Ethical AIAn innovation ecosystem conceived by IIT, CNR and UNIGE, which is its proponentLeading scientist Annalisa Barla (Head of unit)Duration 2022 - 2025Sponsors MURTotal funding 120 M€Funding for the Institution 752 k€Funding for the Unit 160 k€ - DECIPHER-ALS
Deconstruct and rebuild phenotypes: a multimodal approach toward personalized medicine in ALS
Duration 2019 - 2021Sponsors MUR | PRINFunding for the Unit 85 k€ - UniGeWeb
UniGe Web - Data driven web redesign
Theme Data-driven methods for large-scale web redesignLeading scientist Annalisa Barla (co-Principal Investigator)Duration 2017 - 2020Sponsors UniGeTotal funding 550 k€
Publications
Most recent publications
| Title | Year | Author | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tracking Interdisciplinary Patterns in Italian Computer Science Networks | 2026 | Pretolesi, Daniele; Monteverde, Marco; Lupi, Federico; Vian, Andrea; Barla, Annalisa | Complex Networks & Their Applications XIV. COMPLEX NETWORKS 2025. Studies in Computational Intelligence |
| Supervised EEG-Based Vigilance State Classification in Preterm Infants | 2026 | Burlando, Gaia; Marazzotta, Valentina; Lanino, Sara; Uccella, Sara; Barla, Annalisa; Ramenghi, Luca A.; Nobili, Lino; Arnulfo, Gabriele | 12th Annual International IEEE/EMBS Conference on Neural Engineering, NER 2025 |
| Artificial intelligence and network science as tools to illustrate academic research evolution in interdisciplinary fields: The case of Italian design | 2025 | Pretolesi, Daniele; Stanzani, Ilaria; Ravera, Stefano; Vian, Andrea; Barla, Annalisa | PLOS ONE |
| Mapping the evolution of design research: a data-driven analysis of interdisciplinary trends and intellectual landscape | 2025 | Vian, Andrea; Carella, Gianluca; Pretolesi, Daniele; Barla, Annalisa; Zurlo, Francesco | DRS Biennial Conference Series: DRS2024: Boston, 23–28 June, Boston, USA. |
| Deep learning-based Alzheimer's disease detection: reproducibility and the effect of modeling choices | 2024 | Turrisi, R.; Verri, A.; Barla, A. | FRONTIERS IN COMPUTATIONAL NEUROSCIENCE |
Conferences and talks
Navigating the complexities of machine learning in healthcare: Case studies, insights, and challenges
Invited talkLuxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine (LCSB) - University of Luxembourg, 4/05/2026
Modeling with Purpose: Robust and Interpretable AI From Clinical Use\r
Cases to Mapping Interdisciplinarity and Research ImpactKeynote4th Workshop of UMI Group - Mathematics for Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning\nSapienza Università di Roma - Department of Mathematics "G. Castelnuovo", 22/01/2026
The presentation introduces ML frameworks for addressing methodological complexity and discusses strategies for handling data scarcity through careful cross-validation design.
MAPPING THE EVOLUTION OF DESIGN RESEARCH: A DATA-DRIVEN ANALYSIS OF INTERDISCIPLINARY TRENDS
Conference contributionDRS conference - Boston, USA, 26/06/2024
Le prospettive degli stakeholder in sanità e ricerca biomedica
PanelWorkshop presso Fondazione Giannino Bassetti - Milano, 27/05/2024
Lo spazio europeo dei dati sanitari: quali sfide e opportunità per il sistema Paese Italia?