João C. Guimarães

has a BSc in Computer Science and Systems Engineering (2007) and a PhD in Artificial Intelligence (2013) from University of Minho, Braga, Portugal. He leads the research group in health data science and genomics at Lisbon School of Medicine, using “big data” and cutting-edge technology to develop computational models for improving human disease management.

During his PhD studies, João developed several machine learning models to predict sequence-activity relationships in the model organism E. coli. His discoveries led to a better understanding of gene expression regulation in microorganisms and how related biological processes could be harnessed to optimize the production of biochemical compounds for human benefit. For his postdoctoral studies, Joao shifted his focus to studying mammalian systems and developed a strong interest in building computational models to understand normal physiology and disease development. His work focused on integrating biological “big data” (genomics) to reveal insights into human health-related open questions in the areas of immunology, cancer, and aging.

In 2023, João was selected to be the ERA Chair Holder for the iSTARS (Informatics and Statistical Tools for the Advancement of Research Success) project at the Lisbon School of Medicine, where he is an Invited Full Professor leading a multidisciplinary team working in the biomedical and healthcare fields, combining data science, machine learning, computational biology, genomics, and systems biology. His research interests include the development of machine learning models that integrate distinct health-related data modalities to better understand normal physiology and disease development.