Lab News

Special Issue Call for Papers: Explainable AI in Medical Imaging

/ / Lab News

The SIPPRE Research Group is pleased to announce a Special Issue on “Explainable AI in Medical Imaging: Toward Transparent and Trustworthy Diagnostic Systems” in the journal Applied Sciences (ISSN 2076-3417).

About the Special Issue

Artificial intelligence (AI) offers tremendous potential for improving medical imaging diagnostics. However, the “black box” nature of many AI models—particularly deep learning systems—presents significant challenges for clinical adoption. This Special Issue focuses on the rapidly evolving field of explainable AI (xAI), which aims to enhance transparency, interpretability, and trust in automated diagnostic systems.

Topics of Interest

We welcome submissions on various aspects of explainable AI in medical imaging, including but not limited to:

  • Novel methods and frameworks for interpretable AI in medical imaging
  • Theoretical foundations of explainable AI for medical applications
  • Algorithmic developments that enhance model transparency
  • Evaluation strategies for explainable medical imaging systems
  • Clinical validations of xAI techniques
  • Approaches balancing high performance with meaningful insights for clinicians

Guest Editors

  • Dr. Athanasios Koutras – University of the Peloponnese, Greece
  • Dr. Dermatas Evangelos – University of Patras, Greece
  • Dr. Ioanna Christoyianni – University of Patras, Greece
  • Dr. George Apostolopoulos – University of Patras, Greece

Important Information

  • Submission Deadline: November 20, 2025
  • Journal Section: Biomedical Engineering
  • Submission Types: Research articles, review articles, and short communications

How to Submit

Manuscripts should be submitted through the MDPI submission system. Please visit the Special Issue website for detailed submission instructions.

All submissions will undergo a rigorous peer-review process. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal and listed together on the Special Issue website.

Contact

For questions related to this Special Issue, please contact any of the Guest Editors or the SIPPRE Research Group.

Applied Sciences is an international, peer-reviewed, open-access journal published by MDPI. The journal has a CiteScore of 3.7 (2023) and is indexed in the Science Citation Index Expanded (Web of Science), Scopus, and other databases.

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Research Participants Needed: Music & Brain Activity Study

/ / Brain Computer Interface, Experiments, Lab News

The SIPPRE Group at the ECE Department, is seeking volunteers to participate in our innovative NeuroRock EEG study.

The Experience
  • Listen to carefully selected instrumental rock music through high-quality headphones
  • Wear Enophones, a comfortable and non-invasive EEG headset that feels similar to regular headphones
  • Share your emotional responses to different music styles
  • Total time commitment: Approximately 60 minutes
What to Expect

During this relaxing session, you’ll listen to various rock music selections while we record your brain’s natural responses. The Enophones provide a comfortable recording experience with minimal setup—no gels or extensive preparation required.

This research supports our groundbreaking NeuroRock Hackathon where EUNICE students will analyze how the brain processes emotional aspects of music.

How to Participate

Please contact Associate Professor Athanasios Koutras (koutras [AT] uop.gr) for scheduling or additional information.

All data will be anonymized and handled according to research ethics guidelines.

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Announcing: NeuroRock Hackathon 2025!

/ / Brain Computer Interface, Lab News
Decode the Brain’s Response to Music

The SIPPRE Group is thrilled to announce our first-ever NeuroRock Hackathon, exclusively for EUNICE students enrolled in the “Decoding Life Signals: Innovations in Biomedical Engineering” course.

The Challenge

Teams will analyze EEG data recorded while participants experience emotional rock music. Your mission: develop algorithms to decode emotional states from brain activity and predict subjective experiences.

Key Information
  • Deadline: June 5, 2025
  • Format: Work in pairs to develop Python-based analysis
  • Experience Required: None! We provide starter code and guidance

This is your chance to apply classroom knowledge to real neuroscience data and explore the fascinating intersection of music, emotions, and brain activity.

Ready to Rock Your Brain?

Keep an eye on your course announcements for complete details, or contact Prof. Athanasios Koutras with questions.

For EUNICE students only. No prior EEG experience necessary.

Announcing: NeuroRock Hackathon 2025! Read More »

Special Issue on Audio, Speech and Music Processing and Analysis

/ / Lab News

We are excited to announce that members of the SIPPRE Research Group are serving as Guest Editors for a special issue of the journal Electronics, titled:

“Recent Advances in Audio, Speech, and Music Processing and Analysis”

This special issue aims to highlight state-of-the-art research in audio, speech, and music processing, focusing on emerging applications, algorithms, and systems. Topics of interest include:

  • Speech recognition, speaker verification, and voice synthesis.
  • Audio compression and noise cancelation.
  • Music information retrieval and recommendation systems.
  • Autonomous and semi-autonomous computer musicians.

Guest Editors:

  • Dr. Athanasios Koutras (University of the Peloponnese, Greece)
  • Dr. Chrisoula Alexandraki (Hellenic Mediterranean University, Greece)

Submission Details:

  • Deadline: January 15, 2025
  • Impact Factor: 2.6
  • CiteScore: 5.3

This is an excellent opportunity for researchers and practitioners to disseminate innovative work in the field of audio, speech, and music processing. Accepted manuscripts will be published open-access, ensuring global visibility and accessibility.

For more information and manuscript submissions, visit the Special Issue Page.

We look forward to your contributions to this exciting field of research!

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Announcement: Special Issue Guest Edited by SIPPRE Lab Members

/ / Lab News

We are delighted to announce that members of the SIPPRE Research Group are serving as Guest Editors for a special issue of the journal Applied Sciences, titled:

“Diagnosis of Medical Imaging”

This special issue focuses on the latest advancements in medical imaging, including novel techniques, machine-learning approaches, and innovative diagnostic tools that push the boundaries of healthcare technology.

Guest Editors:

Dr. Athanasios Koutras, Dr. Evangelos Dermatas, Dr. Ioanna Christoyianni, Dr. George Apostolopoulos

Submission Details:

  • Deadline: April 20, 2025
  • Impact Factor: 2.5
  • CiteScore: 5.3

We invite researchers, practitioners, and industry professionals to contribute their work and share insights into this exciting field. Accepted papers will be published in an open-access format, ensuring maximum visibility and accessibility.

For more information and to submit your manuscript, visit the Special Issue Page.

We look forward to receiving your contributions and advancing the field of medical imaging together!

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Keynote Speech by Prof. Athanasios Koutras at the IEEE EMBS SAC Summer/Winter School

/ / Lab News

We are proud to announce that Prof. Athanasios Koutras, Associate Professor at the Electrical & Computer Engineering Department, University of Peloponnese, and founder of the SIPPRE Lab, will be delivering a keynote speech at the prestigious IEEE EMBS SAC Summer/Winter School.

🗓️ Date: Wednesday, September 25, 2024
🕖 Time: 07:00 PM – 08:00 PM (GMT+9, JST Time Zone)
🎙️ Title: “Integrating Generative AI into BCI: Transforming Healthcare with Intelligent Systems”

During this session, Prof. Koutras will explore the fascinating intersection of Generative AI and Brain-Computer Interfaces (BCI), highlighting how these technologies are shaping the future of healthcare. Key topics include:

  • How BCIs translate brain signals into commands for neural rehabilitation and communication devices.
  • The role of Generative AI in enhancing signal processing and neural decoding.
  • Applications in neuroprosthetics, augmented reality (AR), and virtual reality (VR).
  • Ethical considerations and the need for interdisciplinary collaboration in this evolving field.

This keynote promises to provide deep insights into how AI-powered BCIs are revolutionizing healthcare, offering personalized treatments and improved outcomes for individuals with motor disabilities.

Join us for this exciting session to learn more about the transformative potential of Generative AI and BCIs in healthcare innovation!

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Sound and Music Processing Workshop

/ / Lab News

We are thrilled to announce the Sound and Music Processing Workshop, that will be held on Thursday, September 19, 2024, in Room K0.04. The workshop will showcase the exceptional projects created by students for the course Sound and Music Processing, under the supervision of Prof. Athanasios Koutras.

The presentations will cover a diverse range of innovative topics, including:

  • Emotion-based music playlist creation.
  • Heart function issue detection using heartbeat recordings.
  • Analysis of binaural sounds and their effects on brain activity through EEG recordings.
  • AI-driven digital assistants for text reading and tourism.
  • Speech synthesis and recognition using NVIDIA’s RIVA system.
  • Platforms for song feature extraction and visualization from Spotify data.

We are proud to share that all workshop papers, source code, and presentation files will be available in the SIPPRE Lab’s repository and the Lab’s GitHub page, enabling further exploration and learning for the broader community.

Congratulations to all the students for their outstanding creativity and dedication in developing these remarkable projects. These achievements reflect the spirit of innovation and collaboration fostered within the SIPPRE Lab.

Stay tuned for updates and access to the workshop materials!

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Prof. Athanasios Koutras Joins IEEE EMBS SAC Student Mentoring Program

/ / Lab News

We are delighted to announce that Prof. Athanasios Koutras, Associate Professor at the University of Peloponnese, is participating as a mentor in the IEEE EMBS SAC Student Mentoring Program (SMP) 2024.

Prof. Koutras is guiding Dimitris Fotopoulos, a PhD student and researcher, in an innovative project aimed at developing a Brain-Computer Interface (BCI) game. The project focuses on creating a gamified application that uses EEG data to train users in recognizing imaginary movements, incorporating real-time ERD/ERS feedback.

Project Highlights:

  • Objective: Develop an interactive training environment to advance user proficiency in BCI systems.
  • Tools: Python, MNE Tools, Brainflow, and PyGame.
  • Features: A real-time feedback mechanism, calibration phases, and intuitive game scenarios to guide users through various imaginary movement tasks.
  • Goal: Deliver a fully functional BCI game by February 2025.

Prof. Koutras’s involvement in this program underscores his commitment to advancing BCI research and mentoring the next generation of researchers. Congratulations to Prof. Koutras and Dimitris Fotopoulos for embarking on this exciting journey!

Stay tuned for updates as this project progresses.

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Presentation of Forecasting Book at the 51st Book Festival

/ / Lab News

We are excited to share that Prof. Athanasios Koutras and Prof. Ioannis Nikas presented their Greek translation of the book “Forecasting: Principles and Practice” by George Athanasopoulos and Rob J. Hyndman at the prestigious 51st Book Festival in Athens.

📅 Date: Tuesday, September 12, 2023
🕒 Time: 21:30–22:30
📍 Location: Maria Polydouri Stage, Pedion tou Areos

This event was part of the cultural activities at Greece’s largest book celebration, featuring over 210 publishers, 275 booths, and 180 cultural events. The presentation focused on the book’s essential insights into forecasting methodologies, their practical applications, and its role as a vital resource for professionals and students alike.

We thank the University of Patras Publications and the organizers of the 51st Book Festival for the opportunity to highlight this important work.

Stay tuned for more updates on our ongoing contributions to the academic and literary community!

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Keynote Presentation by Prof. Athanasios Koutras at IEEE-SB-UoP Summer School

/ / Lab News

We are delighted to announce that Prof. Athanasios Koutras, Associate Professor at the University of Peloponnese and founder of the SIPPRE Lab, delivered a keynote presentation titled:

“Revolutionizing Healthcare: The Power of AI in Saving Lives”

at the IEEE Student Branch UoP Summer School, held from May 24 to May 26, 2023, in Patras, Greece.

The presentation explored the transformative impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in healthcare, with a focus on:

  • Applications in medical imaging for improved diagnostics and early disease detection.
  • Recent advances in AI-driven systems for personalized medicine and predictive healthcare.
  • Ethical challenges and the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration in the evolving landscape of AI in healthcare.
  • Research contributions from the SIPPRE Lab, including innovative work on biomedical signal processing and Brain-Computer Interfaces (BCIs).

This engaging talk offered attendees a deep dive into how AI is shaping the future of healthcare and enhancing patient outcomes.

Congratulations to Prof. Koutras for sharing his expertise and inspiring the next generation of researchers and engineers!

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