Yves Moreau

Yves Moreau is a professor of bioinformatics at the University of Leuven, Belgium. His team focuses on AI algorithms and software platforms for the integration of complex data in clinical genomics and drug discovery: (1) federated analysis of real-world clinical and genomic data, (2) data fusion algorithms for the identification of pathogenic genetic variation in rare genetic disorders and liquid biopsies, and (3) data fusion for drug discovery and drug design. At the algorithmic level, he focuses on the development of novel AI methods, such as deep learning and Bayesian matrix factorization, for the fusion of heterogeneous sparsely-observed data; and on privacy-preserving implementations of such methods.

He is a concerned scientist actively pushing back against the creeping development of mass surveillance technology, in particular the abusive deployment of forensic DNA databases. He is engaged in a reflection on how technological advances are shaping our society, and how to avoid technology further exacerbating inequalities or leading to an ecological collapse. He also encourages scientists and engineers to participate more actively in the social debate, beyond their strict expertise but in a reasoned manner.

He is a tech innovator interested in identifying relevant business models for emerging technologies and developing projects up to the pre-competitive stage and the startup of university spin-offs. He was a co-founder of Data4S, a data mining company specialized in fraud detection and anti-money-laundering, which is now part of BAE Systems, Detica NetReveal. He was also a co-founder of Cartagenia, which specialized in ICT solutions for clinical genetic diagnosis, now part of Agilent Technologies.