HEREDITARY Shines at IEEE VIS 2024: TU Graz’s Award-Winning Visualization Technique

In the framework of Work Package 5: Visual Analytics and Interaction, Graz University of Technology (WP5 leader) presented the poster DROPLETS: A Marker Design for visually enhancing Local Cluster Associations on Sunday 13 October as part of a submission to the Bio+MedVis Challenge at IEEE VIS 2024.

The research of TU Graz, focused on the visualisation of high dimensional data, received an award for the novelty and innovative Visualization technique design. It was presented by Stefan Lengauer in a virtual format, who is one of the authors along with Peter Waldert and Tobias Schreck. The summary poster, the full publication, the video presentation and the source code for generating the Droplets layout are available and can be consulted.

This year’s objective of the Bio+MedVis Challenge was to redesign an existing visualization of multi-cell gene expressions of tissue samples. In this, multiple cells are accumulated into pixels. For each pixel, the visualization should convey the prevalence and extent of cell types it is composed of in a proportional relation. The provided baseline technique of superimposed Pie charts limits the perception of regions with coherent cell-type compositions, which constitutes one of the essential visual analytics tasks.

As a response, TU Graz proposed a novel marker design: DROPLETS, a space-saving design for visually enhancing the presence of clusters and regional borders. This concept was evaluated for the given tissue sample and compared with the given baseline and other alternatives.

About the IEEE VIS 2024

IEEE VIS 2024 was the year’s premier forum for advances in theory, methods, and applications of visualization and visual analytics. The conference convened an international community of researchers and practitioners from universities, government, and industry to exchange recent findings on the design and use of visualization tools.

Join us and TU Graz to learn more about Hereditary Project and how visualization techniques help to face the critical challenge of leveraging multimodal health data.

Brain Innovation Days 2024: bridging knowledge and innovation in the brain ecosystem

The 4th edition of the Brain Innovation Daysorganised by the European Brain Council, one of the partners involved in the HEREDITARY project, will take place on 13-14 November 2024 in Brussels, Belgium. The aim of the event is to bring the wider brain ecosystem together to foster dialogue, exchange knowledge, accelerate investment in research & innovation and facilitate business development.

Key players and experts in the brain space across Europe and beyond will be able to connect through a networking-friendly programme and innovation showcasing. You can look forward to inspiring keynotes, panel discussions, the Brain Innovation Days Pitch Competition, an Innovation Hall, and much more.

This year’s Brain Innovation Days will take place under the overarching theme “Navigating the Brain Across a Lifetime“! The main theme will revolve around 5 subthemes:

🧠 Blossoming Brains: Early Brain Development

🏫 Building Brains: Schools and Workplaces

🏥 Timeless Brains: Nurturing Resilience, Embracing Change

⚙️ Holistic Brains: Strategies for Brain Health in a Dynamic Society

🚀 Advancements in Neurotechnology: Pioneering Innovations

Our project coordinator, Gianmaria Silvello, will be participating in the BRAINTEASER Impact and Exploitation Workshop set to take place on Day 1, 13 November. He will be one of the speakers participating in the first session, entitled “From Lab to Market – Unlocking the Translation of Research into Innovation”.  In his speech he will be able to reflect the work carried out in the framework of the HEREDITARY project.

Alongside Gianmaria, several members of the HEREDITARY consortium will attend this unmissable event in the promotion of brain research and innovation. So don’t miss the opportunity and come to the event and make connections!

The event will take place in the EGG. Located in the heart of Brussels, the venue offers an outstanding space with easy access by train, public transport and car (with many different parking facilities in the vicinity). The perfect place to meet creative minds,exchange knowledge and experience.

The programme will include a wide array of session types, including plenary sessions, inspiring Brain Talks, Poster and Innovation Showcase, matchmaking and networking activities (guided and spontaneous), the Brain Innovation Days Pitch Competition, breakout sessions, panels, how-to sessions and others.

Registrations are still open! More information can be found here: Registration – Brain Innovation Days.