Carlos Andrés Pena

Carlos Andrés Pena is a Professor and Director of the Institute of Information and Communication Technologies (IICT) at HEIG-VD. His research focuses on Machine Learning, Artificial Intelligence, and Bioinformatics, with applications in healthcare, environmental science, and computational biology. He leads projects like ImpTox and EXPLaiN, addressing challenges in nanotoxicology, phage therapy, and ethical AI. His work bridges AI with real-world problems, including antimicrobial resistance and soil health monitoring.

• Education: Not explicitly listed in the provided text.

Research Interests: Pena’s research integrates AI with interdisciplinary domains. Key areas include:

• Machine learning for healthcare diagnostics (e.g., diabetic retinopathy, perinatal health)
• Phage genome engineering using deep learning to combat antibiotic resistance
• Protist bioindicators for soil quality assessment using metabarcoding
• Fuzzy logic systems for biomarker discovery and disease classification

Grants & Projects: He has secured over CHF 1M in funding, including EU Horizon 2020 projects and Swiss National Science Foundation grants. Notable projects include:

• ImpTox (2021–2025): Investigating nanoplastics’ toxicity on allergies
• PERPHECT (2019–2021): Engineering phages via LSTM networks
• HES-XPLAIN (2023–2024): Open platform for explainable AI

Labs/Teams: Directs the IICT lab, collaborating with institutions like CNRS and University of Fribourg on bioinformatics and environmental studies.