DIEGO
CASTILLO BARNES

With a degree in Telecommunications Engineering from the University of Seville and a Ph.D. in Information and Communication Technologies from the University of Granada, I have a background in the private sector and a career focused on health research. Throughout my professional journey, I have specialized in studying neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. In collaboration with the Medical Oncology Service at the San Cecilio University Hospital in Granada, I have also developed methods that contribute to a deeper understanding of cancer. Currently, I am part of the ORACLE project team, an international initiative funded by the European Research Council (ERC) that employs artificial intelligence to predict cardiovascular risks, working closely with the Virgen de la Victoria University Hospital in Málaga and the University of Messina in Italy. My commitment to public health research has been realized through various high-level international collaborations. One of the most notable milestones in my career is the development of the first AI model for hereditary Alzheimer’s analysis, achieved in collaboration with the University of Cambridge (United Kingdom), the University of Munich (Germany), and prestigious research centers like DZNE. This pioneering model has significantly contributed to understanding genetic profiles and heterogeneity in the presymptomatic stages of hereditary Alzheimer’s. Since joining the University of Málaga in my postdoctoral phase through a Juan de la Cierva Fellowship, I have also advanced innovative methods for EEG signal analysis, aiming to gain a better understanding of the cognitive mechanisms involved in reading. This project is supported by the LEEDUCA platform and is carried out in collaboration with international teams such as the Evolutionary Systems and Biomedical Engineering Lab (LaSEEB) at the Instituto Superior Técnico of the University of Lisbon, with whom I collaborate as an external researcher.