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uvilla@austin.utexas.edu
Office Location: BME 5.202T
Umberto Villa
Assistant Professor
Department Research Area
Imaging and Image-Guided Interventions
Computational Biomedical Engineering
Research Interests
- Computational modeling and AI
- Medical imaging systems and design
Research Focus
Umberto Villa’s research aims to accelerate biomedical innovation and help resolve major challenges in medicine and public health, including early detection of cancers and improved treatment outcomes, by exploiting the power of computing and artificial intelligence (AI). His lab develops novel computational, statistical and AI approaches to advance emerging biomedical imaging modalities; optimizes the design of medical imaging instruments and improves diagnostic or screening performance; and supports informed clinical decision-making for patient-specific treatment regimes.
A major focus of Umberto Villa’s current research is virtual imaging trials. These trials use advanced computational modeling to simulate everything from patient anatomy to how an imaging device collects data, without needing to build a physical prototype or recruit live participants. Using virtual imaging trials, Umberto Villa’s lab can systematically explore and optimize imaging system designs and image reconstruction methods, helping to push promising new medical technologies closer to the clinic—faster and with fewer ethical or financial barriers.
Related Websites
Villa Lab
Optimization, Inversion, Machine Learning, and Uncertainty for Complex Systems
Predictive Engineering and Computational Sciences
