Abstract:
Feature selection (biomarker discovery) and Knowledge Discovery is often the primary goal of data analysis. In this talk, we examine the relationship between feature selection and the casualties underlying the data generation, and present the design of efficient and optimal feature selection algorithms. We'll discuss how these can be embedded within AutoML systems that automatically optimize the analysis pipeline to deliver optimal results and present applications on real biomedical data. We'll then discuss how the automation of predictive modeling can be extended to the automatic induction of causal models that can optimize treatments, perform counterfactual inference, and root-cause analysis.

Bio:
Ioannis Tsamardinos, Ph.D., is a Professor at the Computer Science Department of the University of Crete, CEO and co-founder of JADBio, a University start-up. He obtained his Ph.D. from the Intelligent Systems Program at the University of Pittsburgh in 2001. He then worked as an Assistant Professor at the Department of Biomedical Informatics at Vanderbilt University until 2006, when he returned to Greece. Prof. Tsamardinos’ main research directions include machine learning, bioinformatics, and artificial intelligence. More specifically, his work emphasizes automated machine learning, feature selection, and causal discovery. Prof. Tsamardinos has over 150 publications in international journals, conferences, and books. Distinctions with colleagues and students a Gold Medal in the Student Paper Competition in MEDINFO 2004, the Outstanding Student Paper Award in AIPS 2000, the NASA Group Achievement Award for participation in the Remote Agent team and others. Statistics on recognition of work include more than 15000 citations (1400+ a year), and h-index of 53 (as estimated by Google Scholar). Ioannis has been awarded the European and Greek national grants of excellence, the ERC Consolidator, ERC Proof of Concept, and the ARISTEIA II grants, respectively. Prof. Tsamardinos’ entrepreneurial activities have been awarded the “Spin Off of the Year 2021” for JADBio by the Greek Ministry and the EIC Transition grant.