Projects per year
Personal profile
General quality indicators of scientific research
I am an Associate Professor in the Department of Computer Science at the Autonomous University of Barcelona and an Associate Researcher at the Computer Vision Center. My main research activity in recent years has focused on the development and validation of intelligent systems for colonoscopy, specifically for polyp characterization (detection, segmentation, and in vivo histology). Below is a summary of my scientific output, extracted from Google Scholar:
- Total Citations: 4500 (since 2020: 3833)
- h-index: 20 (since 2020: 18)
- i10-index: 31 (since 2020: 23)
My publications include 26 indexed journals with impact factors (15 Q1), 25 international conference proceedings, one edited book, and nine book chapters. Among my publications, I highlight four key contributions:
- Our contribution to Pattern Recognition (Q1), which consolidated our position in the field of endoscopic image processing, and which has been cited more than 600 times.
- Our contribution to the journal Endoscopy (Q1), presenting a preliminary study on the potential of our polyp classification method for assisting in histological prediction during endoscopic examinations, with 73 cites, an outstanding number for a clinical journal.
- Our contribution to IEEE Transactions on Medical Imaging (Q1), presenting an extensive comparative analysis of different methodologies for automatic polyp detection in colonoscopy images, within the context of a challenge associated with the most important international conference in medical image analysis (MICCAI), with already 434 cites.
- Our very recent contribution to Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, standardizing criteria for intelligent support systems in detection and diagnosis.
Regarding funding, I have been the Principal Investigator of a technology transfer project – PRODUCTE 2014, AGAUR – in the field of videobronchoscopy image analysis and another competitive project – IVENDIS DPI2015-65286-R – on the development of intelligent systems for endoscopy. I currently coordinate the Image Sequence Evaluation lab (ISE lab). Currently I am the Principal Investigator of a project under the Retos de la Sociedad call (ALETHEIA, PID2020-120611RB-I00), the coordinator of the Spanish network devoted to artificial intelligence in colonoscopy (AI4POLYPNET, RED2022-134964-T), both funded by Spanish government and Principal Investigator of a knowledge transfer with Generalitat de Catalunya in which we will deploy a prototype of a polyp detection system in Hospital Clinic.
I am active reviewer of Spanish and local research projects (MICINN, AGAUR) and of indexed journals and conferences (IEEE TMI, IEEE JBHI, Medical Image Analysis, MICCAI, MIUA).
Lastly, I have made 12 months of postdoctoral stages in 2 international universities: Trinity College (4 months in 2011), University of Cergy Pontoise (8 months between 2016 and 2019).
Finally, I would like to mention my active participation in preparing funding applications (MICINN, PRODUCTE 2014, NIH, HORIZON 20/20), signing collaboration agreements with key clinical partners (Hospital Clinic, Hospital de Bellvitge), and establishing strategic research collaborations with international groups dedicated to endoscopic image processing (Arizona State University, ETIS group at ENSEA, University of Cergy-Pontoise, UCLAN, DKFZ).
- Contributions to Society:
My research career context involves using computer vision as a transversal tool applicable in various domains: healthcare, quality control, video surveillance, document analysis, etc. My main research activity focuses on developing intelligent systems to assist in clinical interventions, specifically in developing colonoscopy image processing methods. The objective of my research is to develop methods that can improve the efficiency of current colonoscopy explorations by providing accurate and explainable outputs while reducing the number of unnecessary biopsies and surgeries by means of an accurate in vivo lesion detection and characterization. In this context, I have participated in developing state-of-the-art algorithms for polyp localization, segmentation, and histological prediction.
Additionally, I have pioneered creating publicly annotated databases to propose a global validation framework for testing developed methods, which has been used by more than 1000 researchers worldwide. Under the premise of transferring knowledge from research to society, I have dedicated significant efforts to establishing strategic alliances with local institutions, such as Hospital Clinic, to create synergies between technical and clinical personnel to develop systems that can be used in the examination room. I have also played a significant role in preparing research articles, contributions to international conferences, funding applications, and signing collaboration agreements between institutions.
Finally, I have taken part in more that 30 dissemination activities oriented to general population, including schools and other research institutes, and I held the role of area chair in conferences such as iSMIT or MIUA.
- Contributions to Training of Young Researchers:
I have supervised three finished PhD thesis: one in the field of videobronchoscopy image analysis and the other two on the clinical benefits associated to using AI systems for colonoscopy (PhD in Medicine). Currently I am the advisor of two PhD thesis: one focused on the development and validation of polyp characterization methods in colonoscopy and another on the development of digital pathology methods.
- Contributions to Society:
My research career context involves using computer vision as a transversal tool applicable in various domains: healthcare, quality control, video surveillance, document analysis, etc. My main research activity focuses on developing intelligent systems to assist in clinical interventions, specifically in developing colonoscopy image processing methods. The objective of my research is to develop methods that can improve the efficiency of current colonoscopy explorations by providing accurate and explainable outputs while reducing the number of unnecessary biopsies and surgeries by means of an accurate in vivo lesion detection and characterization. In this context, I have participated in developing state-of-the-art algorithms for polyp localization, segmentation, and histological prediction.
Additionally, I have pioneered creating publicly annotated databases to propose a global validation framework for testing developed methods, which has been used by more than 1000 researchers worldwide. Under the premise of transferring knowledge from research to society, I have dedicated significant efforts to establishing strategic alliances with local institutions, such as Hospital Clinic, to create synergies between technical and clinical personnel to develop systems that can be used in the examination room. I have also played a significant role in preparing research articles, contributions to international conferences, funding applications, and signing collaboration agreements between institutions.
Finally, I have taken part in more that 30 dissemination activities oriented to general population, including schools and other research institutes, and I held the role of area chair in conferences such as iSMIT or MIUA.
- Contributions to Training of Young Researchers:
I have supervised three finished PhD thesis: one in the field of videobronchoscopy image analysis and the other two on the clinical benefits associated to using AI systems for colonoscopy (PhD in Medicine). Currently I am the advisor of two PhD thesis: one focused on the development and validation of polyp characterization methods in colonoscopy and another on the development of digital pathology methods.
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
Education/Academic qualification
Ph. D., Doctor en Informática, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB)
Award Date: 17 Dec 2012
Masters, Máster en Visión por Computador e Inteligencia Artificial, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB)
Award Date: 30 Sept 2009
Engineer, Ingeniero de Telecomunicación, University of Valladolid (UVa)
Award Date: 17 Mar 2008
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Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
Projects
- 1 Active
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ThinkGame: Cooperation to implement Creative Thinking and Gamification for innovative online training of STEM students
Vilanova Arbos, R. (Principal Investigator), Meneses Benitez, M. (Investigator), Pedret Ferré, C. (Investigator) & Bernal del Nozal, J. (Investigator)
1/10/23 → 30/09/26
Project: International educational programme
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Artificial intelligence for disease diagnosis: the criterion standard challenge
Mori, Y., Misawa, M., Bernal, J., Bretthauer, M., Kudo, S.-E., Rastogi, A. & Fernández-Esparrach, G., 2022, In: Gastrointestinal Endoscopy. 96, 2, p. 370-372 3 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
6 Citations (Scopus) -
In vivo computer-aided diagnosis of colorectal polyps using white light endoscopy
Garcia-Rodriguez, A., Tudela, Y., Córdova, H., Carballal, S., Ordás, I., Moreira, L., Vaquero, E., Ortiz, O., Rivero, L., Sánchez, F. J. & Bernal del Nozal, J., 2022, In: Endoscopy International Open. 10, 09, p. E1201-E1207Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
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Polyp fingerprint: automatic recognition of colorectal polyps' unique features (vol 34, pg 1887, 2020)
Garcia-Rodriguez, A., Bernal, J., Sanchez, F. J., Cordova, H., Garces Duran, R., Rodriguez de Miguel, C. & Fernandez-Esparrach, G., Dec 2022, In: Surgical Endoscopy and Other Interventional Techniques. 36, 12, p. 9484-9484 1 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
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Computer-Aided Analysis of Gastrointestinal Videos
Bernal, J. & Histace, A., 2021Research output: Book/Report › Book › Research › peer-review
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Establishing key research questions for the implementation of artificial intelligence in colonoscopy: a modified Delphi method
Ahmad, O. F., Mori, Y., Misawa, M., Kudo, S.-E., Anderson, J. T., Bernal, J., Berzin, T. M., Bisschops, R., Byrne, M. F. & Chen, P.-J., 2021, In: Endoscopy. 53, 09, p. 893-901 9 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
48 Citations (Scopus)
Thesis
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Polyp Localization and Segmentation in Colonoscopy Images by Means of a Model of Appearance for Polyps
Bernal Del Nozal, J. (Author), Sánchez Pujadas, F. J. (Director) & Vilariño Freire, F. L. (Director), 17 Dec 2013Student thesis: Doctoral thesis