Santiago Alférez has a dual education in physics and electronic engineering. As a physicist he has qualified scientific knowledge and vocation to the development of research. As an engineer, that gives him abilities to develop practical applications. He has studied a Master in Electronic Engineering and he has completed his PhD in Biomedical Engineering.

His experience particularly includes the development of computational methods related to machine learning and professional software design in different frameworks. His major areas are signal processing, infrared thermography in medicine, biomedical digital image processing, deep learning and other statistical techniques in the context of machine learning.

He has worked for more than a year as a Postdoctoral researcher at the International Center of Numerical Methods (CIMNE) in Barcelona. He has also worked in a research project supported by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness, making two years as a Postdoctoral researcher at the Technical University of Catalonia (UPC), in the development of new methodologies for the automatic recognition of blood cells related to multiple haematolofical diseases (leukaemias, lymphomas, viruses).

Santiago Alférez has also been a researcher in the Department of Mathematics of the UPC, where he has collaborated in teaching statistics and has launched a new course on Bio-statistical Learning. He has also been adjunct professor (collaborator) of the Master of Statistics and Bioinformatics offered by the Open University of Catalonia (UOC) and the University of Barcelona.

The current motivation of Santiago Alférez is to progress in the development of new methodologies of machine learning applied to different fields such as computer vision, image processing and information technology, with a solid mathematical and technological base.

Name of the award: ISLH 2017 Berend Houwev Travel Award. Year 2017. Grounds/work acknowledged: Automatic Cell Recognition of Abnormal Cells in Peripheral Blood using Digital Images Obtained by a Conventional Microscope. Result: First prize. Awarding body: International Society of Laboratory Hematology.

Name of the award: ISLH 2016 Trainee Travel Award. Year 2016. Grounds/work acknowledged: Automatic Classification of Normal, Reactive Lymphocytes, Abnormal Lymphoid Cells and Blast Cells. Result: First prize. Awarding body: International Society for Laboratory Hematology.

Awarded: Bigorra, L., Merino, A., Alferez, E., Rodellar, J.. Name of the award: Premio a la mejor comunicación. Year 2015. Grounds/work acknowledged: Identificación automática de células blásticas de diferente estirpe, y células linfoides reactivas, utilizando imágenes digitales de sangre periférica. Result: Second prize. Awarding body: IX Congreso Nacional del Laboratorio Clínico.

Awarded: Alférez, E. Name of the award: Young Investigator Award. Year 2015. Grounds/work acknowledged: Atypical lymphoid cells detection and classification on digital blood image analysis. Result: First prize. Awarding body: International Society for Laboratory Hematology.

Awarded: Merino, A., Alferez, E., Rodellar, J., Ruiz, M., Mujica, L.E.. Name of the award: MIHealth Innovation Award 2014 in the category of Technology. Year 2014. Grounds/work acknowledged: The award for the Technology category went to the CellsiMatic project developed jointly by the Technical University of Catalonia and the Hospital Clinic of Barcelona for the automatic diagnosis of haematological diseases by means of high-resolution microscopic images. Result: First prize. Awarding body: MIHealth Management and Clinical Innovation Forum.

Journal papers

Acevedo, A.; Alférez, S.; Merino, A.; Puigví, L.; Rodellar, J. Recognition of peripheral blood cell images using convolutional neural networks. Computer Methods and Programs in Biomedicine 2019. doi.org/10.1016/j.cmpb.2019.105020105020.

Boldú, L.; Merino, A.; Alférez, S.; Molina, A.; Acevedo, A.; Rodellar, J. Automatic recognition of different types of acute leukaemia in peripheral blood by image analysis. Journal of Clinical Pathology 2019. DOI:10.1136/jclinpath-2019-205949.

Alférez, S.; Merino, A.; Acevedo, A.; Puigví, L.; Rodellar, J. Colour clustering segmentation framework for image analysis of malignant lymphoid cells in peripheral blood. Medical & Biological Engineering & Computing 2019. DOI:10.1007/s11517-019-01954-7.

Puigví, L.; Merino, A.; Boldú L.; Acevedo, A.; Alférez, S.; Rodellar, J. Quantitative cytological descriptors to differentiate CLL, Sézary, granular and villous lymphocytes through image analysis. American Journal of Clinical Pathology 2019. DOI: 10.1093/ajcp/aqz025.

Rodellar, J.; Alférez, S.; Acevedo, A.; Molina A.; Merino A. Image processing and machine learning in the morphological analysis of blood cells. International Journal of Laboratory Hematology 2018. DOI: 10.1111/ijlh.12818.

Merino, A.; Puigví, L.; Boldú, L.; Alferez, S.; Rodellar, J. Optimizing morphology through blood cell image analysis. International Journal of Laboratory Hematology 2018. DOI:10.1111/ijlh.12832.

Ruiz, M.; Mujica, L.E.; Alférez, S.; Acho, L.; Tutivén, C.; Vidal, Y.; Rodellar, J.; Pozo, F.; Wind turbine fault detection and classification by means of image texture analysis. Mechanical Systems and Signal Processing 2018. DOI:10.1016/j.ymssp.2017.12.035.

Puigví, L.; Merino, A.; Alférez, S.; Acevedo, A.; Rodellar, J. New quantitative features for the morphological differentiation of abnormal lymphoid cell images from peripheral blood. Journal of Clinical Pathology 2017; 70:1038-48. DOI: 10.1136/jclinpath-2017-204389.

Alferez, E.; Merino, A.; Bigorra, L.; Rodellar, J. Characterization and automatic screening of reactive and abnormal neoplastic B lymphoid cells from peripheral blood. International Journal of Laboratory Hematology 2016; 38(2):209-19. DOI: 10.1111/ijlh.12473.

Bigorra, L.; Merino, A.; Alferez, E.; Rodellar, J. Feature Analysis and Automatic Identification of Leukemic Lineage Blast Cells and Reactive Lymphoid Cells from Peripheral Blood Cell Images. Journal of Clinical Laboratory Analysis 2016. DOI: 10.1002/jcla.22024.

Alferez, E.; Merino, A.; Bigorra, L.; Mujica, L.E.; Ruiz, M.; Rodellar, J. Automatic recognition of atypical lymphoid cells from peripheral blood by digital image analysis. American Journal of Clinical Pathology 2015;143(2):168-76. DOI: 10.1309/AJCP78IFSTOGZZJN.

Alferez, E.; Merino, A.; Mujica, L.E.; Ruiz, M.; Bigorra, L.; Rodellar, J. Automatic classification of atypical lymphoid B cells using digital blood image processing. International Journal of Laboratory Hematology 2014;36(4):472-80. DOI: 10.1111/ijlh.12175.

Fernández-Ovies F.J., Alférez S., et al. Detection of Breast Cancer Using Infrared Thermography and Deep Neural Networks. In: Rojas I., Valenzuela O., Rojas F., Ortuño F. (eds) Bioinformatics and Biomedical Engineering. IWBBIO 2019. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, vol 11466. Springer,
Cham. DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-17935-9_46
Acevedo, A.; Merino, A.; Alférez, S.; Puigví, L.; Rodellar J.. Training a Convolutional Neural Network for Automatic Classification of Peripheral Blood Cells. Abstract Proceedings of the 2018 Annual Meeting of the International Society for Laboratory Hematology. International Journal of Laboratory Hematology, Issue S2, vol 40, pp. 1-165, 2018. Pages: 1.
Boldú, L.; Alférez, S.; Puigví L.; Acevedo, A.; Rodellar J.; Merino, A.. Definition of New Quantitative Features for the Automatic Classification of Blast Cells in Peripheral Blood by Image Analysis. Abstract Proceedings of the 2018 Annual Meeting of the International Society for Laboratory Hematology. International Journal of Laboratory Hematology, Issue S2, vol 40, pp. 1-165, 2018. Pages: 2.
Alférez, S.; Merino, A.; Puigví, L.; Boldú, L.; Acevedo, A.; Rodellar J.. Automatic Recognition of Acute Leukemia from Peripheral Blood Smears. Abstract Proceedings of the 2018 Annual Meeting of the International Society for Laboratory Hematology. International Journal of Laboratory Hematology,
Issue S2, vol 40, pp. 1-165, 2018. Pages: 1.
Molina A.; Pladevall C.; Alférez, S.; Rodellar J.; Merino, A.. Automatic Classification of Sickle Cells in Peripheral Blood Through Digital Image Analysis. Abstract Proceedings of the 2018 Annual Meeting of the International Society for Laboratory Hematology. International Journal of Laboratory Hematology, Issue S2, vol 40, pp. 1-165, 2018. Pages: 99.
Puigví L.; Merino A.; González C.; Redín M.E.; Alférez S.; Boldú L.; Acevedo A.; Rodellar J.. Quantitative Features in Peripheral Blood Cell Images Obtained by Different Hospitals and Acquisition Methods: Utility for Reactive and Neoplastic Lymphoid Cell Discrimination. Abstract Proceedings of the 2018 Annual Meeting of the International Society for Laboratory Hematology. International Journal of Laboratory Hematology, Issue S2, vol 40, pp. 1-165, 2018. Pages: 119.
Alférez, S.; Merino, A.; Puigví, L.; Raris, S.; Acevedo, A.; Rodellar J.. Automatic Cell Recognition of Abnormal Cells in Peripheral Blood using Digital Images Obtained by a Conventional Microscope. Abstract Proceedings of the 2017 Annual Meeting of the International Society for Laboratory Hematology. International Journal of Laboratory Hematology, Issue S2, vol 39, pp. 3-133, 2017. Pages: 11.
Puigví, L; Merino, A.; Alférez, S.; Acevedo, A.; Rodellar J.. New Quantitative Features Obtained by Image Analysis to Standardize Morphological Assessment of Abnormal Lymphoid Cells in Peripheral Blood. Abstract Proceedings of the 2017 Annual Meeting of the International Society for Laboratory Hematology. International Journal of Laboratory Hematology, Issue S2, vol 39, pp. 3-133, 2017. Page: 95.
Merino, A; Alférez, S.; Puigví, L; Acevedo, A.; Rodellar J.. Detection of the Presence of Blasts, Atypical Promyelocytes, Abnormal and Reactive Lymphoid Cells in Peripheral Blood using Image Analysis. Abstract Proceedings of the 2017 Annual Meeting of the International Society for Laboratory Hematology. International Journal of Laboratory Hematology, Issue S2, vol 39, pp. 3-133, 2017. Pages: 74 ~ 75.
Ruiz, M.; Mujica, L.E.; Alferez, E.; Quintero, M.; Villamizar, R. Multidimensional big data processing for damage detection in real pipelines using a smart pig tool. 8th European Workshop on Structural Health Monitoring (EWSHM 2016): Bilbao, Spain, 5-8 July 2016. Bilbao, Spain. Curran. 2016. Pages: 1 ~ 10. ISBN/ISSN: 978-1-5108-2793-6.

Mujica, L.E.; Ruiz, M.; Acho, L.; Alferez, E.; Tutivén, C.; Vidal, Y.; Rodellar, J.. Texture analysis for wind turbine fault detection. 8th European Workshop on Structural Health Monitoring (EWSHM 2016): Bilbao, Spain, 5-8 July 2016. Town/city: Bilbao, Espanya. Publisher: Curran. Year 2016. Pages: 1 ~ 10. ISBN/ISSN: 978-1-5108-2793-6.

Bigorra, L.; Merino, A.; Alferez, E.; Rodellar, J.. Identificación automática de células blásticas de diferente estirpe y células linfoides reactivas, utilizando imágenes digitales de sangre periférica. IX Congreso Nacional del Laboratoro Clínico. Libro de Comunicaciones. Town/city: Madrid, Espanya. Year 2015. Pages: 415 ~ 415. ISBN/ISSN: 978-84-608-2118-2.

Bigorra, L.; Alferez, E.; Merino, A.; Ruiz, M.; Mujica, L.E.; Rodellar, J.. Methodology for leukemia identification from digital peripheral blood cell images. Poster Presentation Abstracts of the XXVII International Symposium on Technological Innovations in Laboratory Hematology. International Journal of Laboratory Hematology, Issue s1, vol 36, pp. 1-136, June 2014. Town/city: La Haya. Publisher: Wiley. Year 2014. Pages: 110 ~ 110. Link to text: http://www.islh.org/2014/index.php?pid=.

Alferez, E.; Bigorra, L.; Merino, A.; Ruiz, M.; Mujica, L.E.; Rodellar, J.. Atypical lymphoid cells detection and classification on digital blood image analysis. Poster Presentation Abstracts of the XXVI International Symposium on Technological Innovations in Laboratory Hematology. International Journal of Laboratory Hematology, Issue s1, vol 36, June 2013. Town/city: Toronto, Canada. Year 2013. Pages: 100 ~ 101.

Bigorra, L.; Alferez, E.; Ruiz, M.; Mujica, L.E.; Merino, A.; Rodellar, J.. Blast cell detection and lineage classification using mathematical morphology and fuzzy clustering on digital blood image analysis. Poster Presentation Abstracts of the XXVI International Symposium on Technological Innovations in Laboratory Hematology. International Journal of Laboratory Hematology, Issue s1, vol 36, June 2013. Town/city: Toronto, Canada. Year 2013. Pages: 100 ~ 101.

Alferez, E.; Ruiz, M.; Merino, A.; Mujica, L.E.; Rodellar, J.. Atypical lymphoid cells detection and classification using mathematical morphology and fuzzy clustering on digital blood image analysis. Poster Presentation Abstracts of the XXV International Symposium on Technological Innovations in Laboratory Hematology. International Journal of Laboratory Hematology, Issue s1, vol 34, pp. 1-180, June 2012. Town/city: Nice, France. Publisher: Wiley. Year 2012. Pages: 75 ~ 75. Link to text: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1751-553X.2012.01437.x/abstract.

Merino, A.; Alferez, E.; Mujica, L.E.; Rodellar, J.. Análisis morfológico de las células linfoides atípicas mediante técnicas de segmentación: aplicaciones al diagnóstico. V Congreso nacional de laboratorio clínico, 9-11 de noviembre 2011 Málaga. Town/city: Málaga, Espanya. Publisher: Elsevier. Year 2011. Pages: 425 ~ 426. ISBN/ISSN: 1888-4008. Link to text: http://www.elsevier.es/es/revistas/revista-laboratorio-clinico-282/hematimetria-coagulacion -90035867-v-congreso-nacional-laboratorio-clinico-2011.

Alferez, E.; Merino, A.; Mujica, L.E.; Rodellar, J.. Morphological features analysis by microscopic blood cell segmentation using digital image processing in lymphoid neoplasias. Poster Presentation Abstracts of the XXIV International Symposium on Technological Innovations in Laboratory Hematology. International Journal of Laboratory Hematology, Issue s1, vol 33, pp. 1-139, June 2011. Town/city: New Orleans, United States of America. Publisher: Wiley. Year 2011. Pages: 53 ~ 56. Link to text: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/ijlh.2011.33.issue-s1/issuetoc.

Ariza, L.; Alferez, E.; Alvarez, O.; Gualdrón, O.. Segmentación de glándulas mamarías utilizando la transformada Hough. Memorias del XIV Simposio de Tratamiento de Señales, Imágenes y Visión Artificial. Town/city: Pereira, Colombia. Year 2009. ISBN/ISSN: 978-958-722-047-6.

Alferez, E.; Oscar, M.; Gualdrón, O.. Algoritmo de segmentación automática para la detección de defectos en imágenes termográficas. Memorias del XI Simposio de tratamiento de señales, imágenes y visión artificial. Town/city: Bogotá, Colombia. Year 2006. ISBN/ISSN: 9586839341.