Alfred Michael Franz

Prof. Dr. Alfred Michael Franz serves as a Professor of Medical Informatics and Dean of Studies for Computer Science at Ulm University of Applied Sciences (THU). He leads research in the Intelligent Medical Systems division and maintains active collaboration with the German Cancer Research Center in Heidelberg. His academic career spans computer-assisted medical interventions, image-guided therapy, and medical artificial intelligence applications.

Dr. Franz completed his PhD at the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) in Heidelberg in 2015 with research on "workflow-integrated electromagnetic tracking for navigated ultrasound-guided interventions." Prior to his professorship at THU, he worked as a scientist and deputy research group leader in the Department of Computer-Assisted Medical Interventions at DKFZ.

Professor Franz's research focuses on developing innovative technologies for medical interventions, particularly in cancer and stroke treatment. His work bridges the gap between computer science and clinical medicine, with emphasis on:

• Navigated percutaneous, endoscopic, and catheter-based interventions
• Medical instrument tracking and localization systems
• Ultrasound imaging and multimodal image fusion
• Augmented reality applications for surgical guidance
• Artificial intelligence for medical image analysis and intervention support

With over 50 scientific publications, Professor Franz has established himself as a significant contributor to the field of computer-assisted medical interventions. His research demonstrates consistent innovation in applying computer science to solve clinical challenges in minimally invasive procedures.

Professor Franz has received recognition through various professional activities:

• Program Committee Member, International Conference on Medical Image Computing and Computer Assisted Intervention (MICCAI) 2017
• Program Committee Member, International Conference on Information Processing in Computer-Assisted Interventions (IPCAI) 2021
• Reviewer for Medical Physics Journal
• Reviewer for International Journal of Computer Assisted Radiology and Surgery

At THU, Professor Franz actively mentors students through research projects, theses, and project work. He teaches courses including Programming, Algorithms and Data Structures, Computer Graphics, and Navigation for Medical Interventions. His research group, the "Navigation for Medical Interventions" laboratory, provides opportunities for students from various programs including Data Science in Medicine, Computer Science, Intelligent Systems, and Medical Devices. Outstanding master's graduates have opportunities for doctoral studies through university collaborations.

The "Navigation for Medical Interventions" laboratory conducts cutting-edge research on medical instrument tracking, ultrasound imaging, and augmented reality for medical procedures. Current projects focus on cancer therapy (particularly ablation techniques), stroke treatment technologies, and systems for precise instrument navigation during minimally invasive procedures. The lab emphasizes open science principles, with several projects shared through platforms like the Open Science Framework.