Institute of Computer Science (ICS) Foundation for Research and Technology - Hellas (FORTH)
Nikolaou Plastira 100, Vassilika Vouton GR-70013 Heraklion, Crete, Greece
Phone: +30 2810391448 FAX: +30 2810391428 E-mail: sakkalis@ics.forth.gr Homepage: http://www.ics.forth.gr/~sakkalis/
Dr. Vangelis Sakkalis holds the position of Research Director (equivalent to Full Professor) at the Institute of Computer Science – Foundation for Research and Technology (ICS - FORTH). He leads both the Computational Neuroscience Group and the Multiscale Cancer Modelling Group within the Computational Biomedicine Laboratory. He is the co-founder and CEO of Traqbeat Technologies, a startup specializing in medical-grade patient monitoring solutions. He received his PhD in Electronic and Computer Engineering after completing his Master's degree at Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine, UK. His interdisciplinary training bridges Biomedical Engineering, Atomic and Molecular Physics, Optoelectronics, and Laser Technologies, providing a strong foundation for cross-disciplinary research at the interface of physics, engineering, and medicine. He has served as a member of the Board of Directors at FORTH, was elected President of the Board of Researchers at FORTH, and is currently a member of the Board of the Panhellenic Researchers Union (ΕΕΕ). Dr. Sakkalis teaches two postgraduate courses at the School of Medicine, University of Crete, and serves on the Postgraduate Studies Committee for the “Brain & Mind” and “Biomedical Engineering” programs. He is also listed in Stanford University’s ranking of the Top 2% of Scientists in the World. His research aims to establish mechanistically grounded computational frameworks for understanding and predicting complex physiological and pathological processes. By integrating nonlinear dynamics, network science, and explainable artificial intelligence, he develops models that bridge biosignal and biomedical image analysis with causal inference and multiscale systems modeling. His work seeks to move beyond correlation-based approaches toward predictive, interpretable, and translational digital twin paradigms for precision medicine. Operating at the interface of physics, engineering, and clinical sciences, he has led interdisciplinary national and European initiatives addressing high-risk, high-gain challenges in computational medicine and systems neuroscience, with a strong emphasis on methodological innovation and real-world impact. Dr. Sakkalis is actively involved in technology transfer and innovation, being the inventor of multiple patents in wearable biosensing, digital health monitoring, computer-assisted medical triage, and assistive mobility systems, including granted US and European patents. Through his role in Traqbeat Technologies, he works to translate academic research into clinically relevant solutions and operational health monitoring systems for both civilian and defense applications. He has delivered numerous invited lectures worldwide, and his work has been supported by a wide range of national and international funding agencies as well as industry.
Dr. Vangelis Sakkalis holds the position of Research Director (equivalent to Full Professor) at the Institute of Computer Science – Foundation for Research and Technology (ICS - FORTH). He leads both the Computational Neuroscience Group and the Multiscale Cancer Modelling Group within the Computational Biomedicine Laboratory. He is the co-founder and CEO of Traqbeat Technologies, a startup specializing in medical-grade patient monitoring solutions. He received his PhD in Electronic and Computer Engineering after completing his Master's degree at Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine, UK. His interdisciplinary training bridges Biomedical Engineering, Atomic and Molecular Physics, Optoelectronics, and Laser Technologies, providing a strong foundation for cross-disciplinary research at the interface of physics, engineering, and medicine. He has served as a member of the Board of Directors at FORTH, was elected President of the Board of Researchers at FORTH, and is currently a member of the Board of the Panhellenic Researchers Union (ΕΕΕ). Dr. Sakkalis teaches two postgraduate courses at the School of Medicine, University of Crete, and serves on the Postgraduate Studies Committee for the “Brain & Mind” and “Biomedical Engineering” programs. He is also listed in Stanford University’s ranking of the Top 2% of Scientists in the World.
His research aims to establish mechanistically grounded computational frameworks for understanding and predicting complex physiological and pathological processes. By integrating nonlinear dynamics, network science, and explainable artificial intelligence, he develops models that bridge biosignal and biomedical image analysis with causal inference and multiscale systems modeling. His work seeks to move beyond correlation-based approaches toward predictive, interpretable, and translational digital twin paradigms for precision medicine. Operating at the interface of physics, engineering, and clinical sciences, he has led interdisciplinary national and European initiatives addressing high-risk, high-gain challenges in computational medicine and systems neuroscience, with a strong emphasis on methodological innovation and real-world impact.
Dr. Sakkalis is actively involved in technology transfer and innovation, being the inventor of multiple patents in wearable biosensing, digital health monitoring, computer-assisted medical triage, and assistive mobility systems, including granted US and European patents. Through his role in Traqbeat Technologies, he works to translate academic research into clinically relevant solutions and operational health monitoring systems for both civilian and defense applications. He has delivered numerous invited lectures worldwide, and his work has been supported by a wide range of national and international funding agencies as well as industry.
Computational Neuroscience – Brain Computer Interfaces Biosignal Analysis (EEG, MEG, ECG, PPG) Time frequency & nonlinear synchronization analysis Functional Connectivity analysis & Source localization techniques Network Visualization and Characterization Biomedical Informatics - eHealth Architectures based on standards and protocols for the efficient integration and management of biomedical information Computational Oncology “In silico” tumor growth modeling Precision Medicine Modern optical tomography, characterization, molecular and medical imaging techniques Ambient Intelligence and Smart Environments
PANACEA: Protection and privAcy of hospital and health iNfrastructures with smArt Cyber sEcurity and cyber threat toolkit for dAta and people (H2020-SC1-FA-DTS-2018-1), € 4.961.143, 1/1/2019-31/12/2021 (PI on behalf of FORTH) i-AMA: Brain-controlled navigation in real environments, (Operational Programme Competitiveness, Entrepreneurship and Innovation 2014-2020 (EPAnEK) approved by the European Commission), € 573.440, 09/07/2018-08/07/2021 (Coordinator) x (επι) ΒΛΕΨΙΣ: Advanced Monitoring System for Infants, (Operational Programme Competitiveness, Entrepreneurship and Innovation 2014-2020 (EPAnEK) approved by the European Commission), € 568.565, 31/07/2018-30/07/2021 (Coordinator) DAPHNE: Resilient network services for critical mHealth applications, (Hellenic Foundation for Research & Innovation (ELIDEK) - 1st Call for proposals for research projects for the support of Post-doctoral Researchers), € 122.850, 22/08/2018-21/08/2021 TUMOR: Transatlantic Tumour Model Repositories, € 1.91 Million, 01/04/2010-31/03/2013 (Coordinator) YP.ER.THE.N: Clinical Research Infrastructure and methodology for personalized tumor diagnosis and therapy (Interreg Greece-Cyprus 2007-2013). 1.150.000 €, 1/6/2011-31/5/2013 (Project Coordinator on behalf of FORTH) p-Medicine: personalized ‘medicine’, € 13.329.908, 01/02/2011-31/01/2015 INTEGRATE: Driving Excellence in Integrative Cancer Research through Innovative Biomedical Infrastructures, 818.300 €, 1/2/2011-31/1/2014 EURECA: Enabling Information re-Use by linking clinical REsearch and Care 2011-2015 REMOTE: Health and Social Care for Independent Living of Isolated Elderly with Chronic Conditions, 06/2009- 05/2012 (Project Manager on behalf of CML) Contra Cancrum: Clinically Oriented Translational Cancer Multilevel Modelling, € 5.167.660, 01/08/2008-31/07/2011 (Project Manager on behalf of FORTH) VPH Noe: Virtual Physiological Human Network of Excellence (VPH NoE), € 806.877,77, 01/06/2008-30/11/2012 (third party through ECRIM, Project Manager on behalf of FORTH) ACGT: Advancing Clinico-Genomic Clinical Trials on Cancer: Open Grid Services for Improving Medical Knowledge Discovery, € 17.685.539, 01/02/2006-31/01/2010 Rural Wings, € 14.500.000, 01/01/2006-31/12/2009 (Project Manager on behalf of FORTH) LOCCANDIA: Lab-on-chip based protein profiling for Cancer diagnosis, € 4.2M, 01/06/2006-31/05/2009 HEARTFAID: A Knowledge based platform of services for supporting medical - clinical management of heart failure within elderly population, € 3.220.115, 01/02/2006-31/01/2009 INFOBIOMED: Structuring European Biomedical Informatics to Support Individualized Healthcare FP6-2002-IST-1/European Union, € 4.85M, 01/01/2004-31/12/2006 TWISTER: Terrestrial Wireless Infrastructure integrated with Satellite Telecommunications for E-Rural applications, € 6.83M, 01/02/2004-31/01/2007 OPENECG: Computerized ECG Standards Interoperability Portal, € 457.894, 01/07/2002-30/06/2004 HYGEIA' S PROTYPON, National Network of excellence on the use of standards in the national healthcare setting, Ministry of Development (Programme EΠAN), 2002-2004 (Project Manager on behalf of FORTH). ICT Services for the GR hostname National Registry
