Research Centre of Computational Health
The devision of Computational Health is specialised in the confluence of data-driven and mechanistic modelling approaches in medicine and biology. The methods encompass machine learning for image and signal analysis, graphical networks, optimization of stochastic models and physiological simulations.
About us
The centre Computational Health addresses fundamental questions in biology and medicine using computer-assisted, data-driven methods. Important tools are machine learning for image and signal analysis, parameter estimation for differential equation systems and multiphysics simulation. Effective validation strategies are used to deal with the unknown.
Biomedical Simulation
The research group specializes in modeling biological and medical systems. New approaches are developed to simulate physiological processes and to predict pathological changes. In particular, in-depth knowledge of biological/physiological processes is incorporated into multi-physics simulations.
The group develops algorithms for parameter and uncertainty estimation of physically motivated stochastic models. In particular, machine learning methods are combined with Bayesian modeling for dimensionality reduction. These methods are widely used in medicine and life sciences.
Medical Image Analysis
The research group applies machine learning techniques to interpret medical image data. This way, features are extracted for the characterization of disease patterns and for use as diagnostic markers. Of particular interest are the radiomic and morphological analysis of diagnostic medical imaging data. The group pursues the goal of establishing reproducible, image-based biomarkers by means of explainable artificial intelligence and ensuring their clinical utility.
Medical Data Modelling
The research group uses statistical and machine learning methods to model and uncover causal relations in medical data, especially to study pathophysiological processes. Categorial patient data and imaging date, e.g. magnetic resonance imaging, are processed to extract clinical knowledge.
Biosensor Analysis und Digital Health
The research group studies data from wearables and biosensors using time series analysis and combines them with biological-physical models to robustly characterize physiological systems. These data sources are used for Patient Reported Outcomes in clinical practice and for the further development of patient-centered medicine.
Teaching Activities
The courses offered by the centre of Computational Health cover topics in mathematical and physical modeling. At Bachelor level it is responsible for the specialization Digital Health. The specialization teaches physics and mathematics for other BSc programs at the department. In the MSc Applied Computational Life Sciences and the PhD program Data Science advanced courses in modeling of complex systems are taught.
Projects
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Deep Brain Vessel Profiler
The architecture of the supplying brain blood vessels is believed to impact the occurrence and severity of common cerebrovascular diseases such as ischemic strokes or intracranial aneurysms. In this project, we study methods to efficiently quantify the variability in human cerebral vasculature and how this ...
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Smart Hospital – Integrated Framework, Tools & Solutions (SHIFT)
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Automated Release Testing System (ARTS)
Acthera Therapeutics AG and ZHAW propose to build an Automated Release Testing System (ARTS) for mechanotherapeutic drugs. The device is important for Acthera for testing new drugliposome formulations, controlling quality, keeping an edge over competition and collaborating with regulatory bodies. ...
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Machine learning for NMR spectroscopy
The goal of this project is to make NMR spectroscopy available to a wider range of applications and to non-experts by the automation of data reduction and analysis steps, in particular by combining deep learning methods for the extraction and a Bayesian approach for the integration and refinement of information. ...
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Data-driven decision support for intracranial aneurysms and hospital catering using Bayesian networks
Clinical decisions in medicine and management decisions in facility management are regularly made on the basis of little evidence or extrapolations and are also influenced by subjective and economic aspects. While data is generated exponentially in medicine due to increasing digitization, there is no framework for ...
Publications
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Juchler, Norman; Schilling, Sabine; Bijlenga, Philippe; Kurtcuoglu, Vartan; Hirsch, Sven,
2017.
Measuring the perceived morphological complexity of intracranial aneurysms [poster].
In:
Abstract Book, 3rd International SystemsX.ch Conference on Systems Biology.
SystemsX.ch Conference, Zurich, 4-7 September 2017.
pp. 160.
Available from: https://doi.org/10.3929/ethz-b-000176201
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Hirsch, Sven; Juchler, Norman; Schilling, Sabine; Bijlenga, Philippe; Rüfenacht, Daniel,
2017.
Big Data : machine learning to identify shape biomarkers in intracranial aneurysm.
In:
Annual Meeting of the Swiss Society for Biomedical Engineering (SSBE), Winterthur, 30 August 2017.
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Juchler, Norman; Schilling, Sabine; Wanke, Isabel; Rüfenacht, Daniel; Bijlenga, Philippe; Kurtcuoglu, Vartan; Hirsch, Sven,
2017.
Using shape descriptors to categorize intracranial aneurysms.
In:
CMBE17 : 5th International Conference on Computational and Mathematical Biomedical Engineering.
CMBE 2017, Pittsburgh PA, USA, 10-12 April 2017.
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Anzai, Hitomi; Juchler, Norman; Ohta, Makoto; Hirsch, Sven; Rüfenacht, Daniel A.; Wanke, Isabel,
2017.
Where does CFD identify lesion instability in small aneurysms?.
In:
CMBE17 : 5th International Conference on Computational and Mathematical Biomedical Engineering.
CMBE 2017, Pittsburgh PA, USA, 10-12 April 2017.
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Schilling, Sabine; Morel, Sandrine; Bochaton-Piallat, Marie-Luce; Kwak, Brenda; Hirsch, Sven,
2017.
In:
Nithiarasu, P; Robertson, A M, eds.,
5th International Conference on Computational and Mathematical Biomedical Engineering, CMBE2017.
5th International Conference on Computational and Mathematical Biomedical Engineering (CMBE2017), Pittsburgh, USA, 10-12 April 2017.
Swansea, United Kingdom:
Zeta Computational Resources.
pp. 850-852.