Dr. Luisa Paola Salazar Vizcaya, PhD

Forschungsleiterin

Anschrift / Kontakt

Inselspital, Universitätsspital Bern
Universitätsklinik für Infektiologie
Anna-Seiler-Haus, Geschoss U1
Freiburgstrasse 20
3010 Bern

Curriculum vitae

Berufliche Tätigkeiten / Klinischer Werdegang

Since 2023Head of computational epidemiology at Inselspital; Bern University Hospital, University of Bern
2018- 2023Senior researcher at Inselspital; Bern University Hospital, University of Bern
2016 - 2018Postdoctoral researcher at Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern
2012 - 2015Ph.D. candidate at the Institute for Social and preventive Medicine, University of Bern
2009 - 2011Consultant - macroeconomic models for estimating the impacts of climate change at the National Planning Department, Bogotá, Bogotá
2008 - 2009Credit and market risk Analyst at Banco de Bogotá, Bogotá
2007 - 2008Outreach-Science Physics and Mathematics coordinator at Maloka Science Museum, Bogotá

Berufliche Qualifikationen/Abschlüsse

2012 - 2015Ph.D. in Biomedical Sciences at the Institute for Social and preventive Medicine, University of Bern
2007 - 2009Master of Science in Applied Mathematics; Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá
2002 - 2007Undergrad in Physics (5 years equivalent); Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá

Klinische Forschungstätigkeiten

Computer simulations of dynamic systems in nature and human populations
Mathematical modelling and pattern recognition of sexual behaviour, transmission and progression of infectious diseases
Modelling of public health interventions
Machine learning for public health
Molecular epidemiology
HIV, Sexually transmitted infections, Hepatitis and co-infections
Antimicrobial resistance
Surgical site infections
Paediatric HIV
Software skills:
R, Python (TensorFlow, pandas, numpy, scipy); RAxML BEAST, FastTree, TMVA, Mathematica; C++, Matlab/Octave; MEGA; GAMS; Operating systems: GNU/Linux, LATEX.

SNF SPARK grant:

Combining machine learning techniques to efficiently determine the need for HCC screening among people with HIV and hepatitis B

The project’s goal is to develop an individualised care tool that enhances detection of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) by liver ultrasound at curable stages in persons living with HIV and hepatitis B virus (HBV), while preventing unnecessary screening. The tool will assess whether ultrasound screening is necessary, and provide advice when routine screening should start. This will be achieved by combining artificial intelligence with data from the European Cohort of Patients with HIV and HBV coinfection.

This project intends to improve patients’ wellbeing and resources allocation. Its methodology could find applications for other diseases.

 

Selected publications

Link to Publications: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0527-0141

Salazar-Vizcaya, L., R. D. Kouyos, C. Zahnd, G. Wandeler, M. Battegay, K. E. Darling, E. Bernasconi, A. Calmy, P. Vernazza, H. Furrer, M. Egger, O. Keiser, A. Rauch, and the SHCS. "Hepatitis C Virus Transmission among Human Immunodeficiency Virus-Infected Men Who Have Sex with Men: Modeling the Effect of Behavioral and Treatment Interventions." Hepatology 64, no. 6 (Dec): 1856-1869. https://dx.doi.org/10.1002/hep.28769.

*Boettiger, D. C., *L. Salazar-Vizcaya, G. J. Dore, R. T. Gray, M. G. Law, D. Callander, T. Lea, A. Rauch, and G. V. Matthews. 2020. "Can Australia Reach the World Health Organization Hepatitis C Elimination Goal by 2025 among Human Immunodeficiency Virus-Positive Gay and Bisexual Men?" Clin Infect Dis 70, no. 1 (Jan 1): 106-113. https://dx.doi.org/10.1093/cid/ciz164.

Salazar-Vizcaya, L., R. D. Kouyos, K. J. Metzner, K. Caraballo Cortes, J. Boni, C. Shah, J. Fehr, D. L. Braun, E. Bernasconi, H. A. Mbunkah, M. Hoffmann, N. Labhardt, M. Cavassini, M. Rougemont, H. F. Gunthard, O. Keiser, A. Rauch, and the SHCS. 2019. "Changing Trends in International Versus Domestic Hcv Transmission in Hiv-Positive Men Who Have Sex with Men: A Perspective for the Direct-Acting Antiviral Scale-up Era." J Infect Dis 220, no. 1 (Jun 5): 91-99. https://dx.doi.org/10.1093/infdis/jiz069.

Salazar-Vizcaya, L., K. Kusejko, A. J. Schmidt, G. Carrillo-Montoya, D. Nicca, G. Wandeler, D. L. Braun, J. Fehr, K. E. A. Darling, E. Bernasconi, P. Schmid, H. F. Gunthard, R. D. Kouyos, and A. Rauch. 2020. "Clusters of Sexual Behavior in Human Immunodeficiency Virus-Positive Men Who Have Sex with Men Reveal Highly Dissimilar Time Trends." Clin Infect Dis 70, no. 3 (Jan 16): 416-424. https://dx.doi.org/10.1093/cid/ciz208.

*Balakrishna, S., *L. Salazar-Vizcaya, A. J. Schmidt, V. Kachalov, K. Kusejko, M. C. Thurnheer, J. A. Roth, D. Nicca, M. Cavassini, M. Battegay, P. Schmid, E. Bernasconi, H. F. Gunthard, A. Rauch, R. D. Kouyos, and H. I. V. Cohort Study Swiss. 2021. "Assessing the Drivers of Syphilis among Men Who Have Sex with Men in Switzerland Reveals a Key Impact of Screening Frequency: A Modelling Study." PLoS Comput Biol 17, no. 10 (Oct): e1009529. https://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pcbi.1009529.

Andresen, S., S. Balakrishna, C. Mugglin, A. J. Schmidt, D. L. Braun, A. Marzel, T. Doco Lecompte, K. E. Darling, J. A. Roth, P. Schmid, E. Bernasconi, H. F. Gunthard, *A. Rauch, *R. D. Kouyos, *L. Salazar-Vizcaya, and the SHCS. 2022. "Unsupervised Machine Learning Predicts Future Sexual Behaviour and Sexually Transmitted Infections among Hiv-Positive Men Who Have Sex with Men." PLoS Comput Biol 18, no. 10 (Oct): e1010559. https://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pcbi.1010559.

Hamusonde, K., D. Nicca, H. F. Gnthard, M. Stckle, K. E. A. Darling, A. Calmy, E. Bernasconi, D. Haerry, P. Schmid, R. D. Kouyos, *A. Rauch, *L. Salazar-Vizcaya, and SHCS. 2023. "Triggers of Change in Sexual Behavior among People with Hiv: The Swiss U U Statement and Covid-19 Compared." J Infect Dis 227, no. 3 (Feb 1): 407-411. https://dx.doi.org/10.1093/infdis/jiac459.

Salazar-Vizcaya, L., A. Atkinson, A. Kronenberg, C. Pluss-Suard, R. D. Kouyos, V. Kachalov, N. Troillet, J. Marschall, and R. Sommerstein. 2022a. "The Impact of Public Health Interventions on the Future Prevalence of Esbl-Producing Klebsiella Pneumoniae: A Population Based Mathematical Modelling Study." BMC Infect Dis 22, no. 1 (May 23): 487. https://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12879-022-07441-z.

Software: Salazar Vizcaya Luisa, Blaser Nello and Gsponer Thomas, Gems: Generalized multistate simulation model. R package. Available on CRAN: https://cran.rproject.org/web/packages/gems/index.html