Prof. Irena Jekova, PhD | CV

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Personal Data

  • Born: 28 June 1975, Sofia,  Bulgaria

Education

  • 1998: Technical University – Sofia, Bulgaria, Faculty of Electronic Engineering and Technologies, Electronic medical equipment, Master of Science in Eng.
  • 1997: Technical University – Sofia, Translation of science-technology literature (from English)
  • 1993: High School of Mathematics – Sofia

Positions held

  • 2015 – 2023: Deputy Director of the Institute of Biophysics and Biomedical Engineering, BAS.
  • 2010 – 2015: Associate professor in Institute of Biophysics and Biomedical Engineering – BAS
  • 2007 – 2010: Associate professor in Centre of Biomedical Engineering (CBME) – BAS
  • 2002 – 2007: Research associate in CBME – BAS

Scientific Degrees

  • 2017 – Full Professor
  • 2007 – Associate Professor
  • 2002 – Research Associate
  • 2001 – PhD degree, scientific area: „ECG analysis for external defibrillation“

Teaching activities

  • 2013-2018: Lectures on “Processing and analysis of biomedical signals and data” for MSc students from the Sofia University, Faculty of Mathematics and Informatics, Biomedical informatics.
  • 2005-2009: Laboratory seminars on “Devices for recording, processing and analysis of biomedical signals“ for MSc students from the Technical University – Sofia, Bulgaria, Faculty of Electronic Engineering and Technologies, Electronic medical equipment.

Supervision of graduate students

  • 2013-2016: guidance of one PhD degree student from  the Technical University – Sofia, Faculty of Electronic Engineering and Technologies;
  • 2003-2011: guidance of 5 MSc degree student from  the Technical University – Sofia, Faculty of Electronic Engineering and Technologies;

Research interest

Biomedical engineering, Devices for acquisition, recording, processing and analysis of biomedical signals and data, digital filtration, classification methods, detection and classification of cardiac arrhythmias, defibrillation, algorithms and systems for decision support in medicine.

Research activity

  • Publications in peer-reviewed journals with ISI impact factor: 39
  • Publications in peer-reviewed journals with Scopus Rank: 29
  • Publications in other peer-reviewed journals: >35
  • Participation in international scientific forums with oral presentations and posters: >55
  • Participation in national scientific conferences held in Bulgaria: 2
  • Citations: >1250

Leadership of rеsearch projects during the last 10 years

  • 2018-on going: Project № ДН17/19: “High-frequency electrocardiography in ambulatory monitoring of patients with pacemakers”, funded by the National Science Fund, Bulgarian Ministry of Education and Science
  • 2015-2016: Project № Т02/11: „Applicability of the bioelectrical activity of the heart for personal verification/identification”, funded by the Bulgarian Ministry of Education and Science, National Science Fund
  • Since 2008: Guidance of 8 projects funded by the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences in the scientific area: „Methods and algorithms for acquisition, processing and analysis of biomedical signals, data and images, and their realization by program and schematic solutions in electronic clinical and life-saving equipment”.

Participation in rеsearch projects during the last 10 years

International projects

  • Project №3/2004 with Schiller-Medical SA, France: “Clinical study of the defibrillation electrodes during long-term thoracic impedance measurement; Comparative study of ECG signals acquired synchronously via defibrillation pads and standard ECG stick electrodes”, 2004-2006.
  • Joint research project between Bulgarian  Academy of Sciences and Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (ISIB-CNR), Padova, Italy: „Repolarization phase in computerized electrocardiography: Analysis of T-wave morphology and QT dispersion”, 2007-2009.
  • Joint research project between Bulgarian Academy of Sciences and Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (ISIB-CNR), Padova, Italy: “Automatic recognition of the QRS complex waveform in ECG signals dedicated to rhythm analysis. Investigation of the repolarization phase in ECG signals”, 2004-2006
  • Joint research project between Bulgarian Academy of Sciences and Finnish Academy of Sciences: “Arrhythmia analysis by automatic classification of heartbeats in the ECG signals”, 2005-2007

National projects, funded by Bulgarian sources

  • Project № ДО-02-170: “Assessing the parameters of a shock sequence for successful defibrillation with minimum delivered energy to the patient”, funded by the Bulgarian Ministry of Education and Science, National Science Fund, 2008-2011.
  • Project № TK02-451: “System for computer aid of the decisions for weaning critically ill ventilator dependent from mechanical ventilation”, funded by the Bulgarian Ministry of Education and Science, National Science Fund, 2010-2013.
  • Since 2008: Membership in 6 projects funded by the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences in the scientific area: „Methods and algorithms for acquisition, processing and analysis of biomedical signals, data and images, and their realization by program and schematic solutions in electronic clinical and life-saving equipment”.

Implemented innovations

  • “VF/VT Detection Algorithm” – update and accuracy improvement of the shock advisory system of Schiller’s Automated External Defibrillators (Fred Easy, DG4000) that are in a series production, Certificate from R&D the Department of Schiller Médical SAS, France, 2014.
  • “Algorithm for Detection of Chest Compression” – update and accuracy improvement of the algorithm for detection of artifacts from cardiac massage, implemented in Schiller’s Automated External Defibrillators (Fred Easy) that are in a series production, Certificate from the R&D Department of Schiller Médical SAS, France, 2014.
  • Development of software and methodology in support of a heartbeat classification system, which is implemented in the Schiller’s arrhythmia detection module, used in the CS-200 Excellence diagnostic devices that are in a series production. The arrhythmia detection module is also planned to be used in Schiller’s new monitoring devices. Certificate from the R&D Department of Schiller AG, Switzerland, 2014.
  • Development of software and methodology in support of the lead quality monitoring library (LQMLib) as an automated diagnostic tool, which gives hints to the user concerning adequate lead quality and electrode misplacements within the first 10s of resting 12-lead ECG recording. It has been optimized and validated with clinical ECG recordings of more than 600 patients, and integrated in an official library version LQMLib-1.2.0, used in Schiller’s new diagnostic and monitoring devices that will be in a series production. Certificate from the R&D Department of Schiller AG, Switzerland, 2014.
  • Development of computer system for automated prediction of the weaning outcome of critically ill patients during transition from full to partial ventilator support, implementation and testing by clinicians from the Central intensive care unit, University emergency hospital „N.I. Pirogov”, funded by the National Science Fund, project № TK02-451, 2013.
  • Development of a device for Cardiac Compression Quality Assessment, on the way to be manufactured industrially, Certificate from R&D the Department of Schiller Médical SAS, France, 2009.
  • Development of annotation softwares aiming at gathering about 40 parameters from the electrical recordings of automated external defibrillators. These softwares are prepared for the needs of a planned clinical study in collaboration with Schiller Médical SAS (France) and the fire brigade of Paris, aiming to survey, annotate and register about 3500 cardiac arrests per year, 2010.
  • Development of a software and a methodology in support of performed behavioral research studies with the device for Cardiac Compression Quality Assessment. The aim of these studies is to evaluate the interest of such a device in the series of medical devices developed by Schiller Médical SAS, 2010.
  • “Filtering of 16.7 Hz interference”, Software Implementation in the shock advisory system of Schiller’s Automated External Defibrillators FRED EASY that are in a series production, Certificate from R&D the Department of Schiller Médical SAS, France, 2009.
  • “VF/VT detection algorithm”, Software Implementation in the shock advisory system of Schiller’s Automated External Defibrillators DG4000 that are in a series production, Certificate from R&D the Department of Schiller Médical SAS, France, 2009.

Expert activity

  • Member of the National Evaluation and Accreditation Agency, Republic of Bulgaria – Council of Ministers, since 2010
  • Member of the Editorial board of ISRN Biomedical Engineering (since 2012)
  • Reviewer in national and international journals, including:
    • Physiological Measurement;
    • Physics in Medicine and Biology;
    • ISRN Biomedical Engineering;
    • Transactions on Biomedical Engineering;
    • Artificial Intelligence in Medicine;
    • Medical Engineering and physics;
    • Biomedical Engineering On-Line;
    • International Journal of Science and Technology Education Research;
    • Computer Methods and Programs in Biomedicine;
    • Computer Methods in Biomechanics and Biomedical Engineering;
    • Biomedical Signal Processing and Control;
    • Computational & Mathematical Methods in Medicine;
    • Information Science;
    • Nonlinear Dynamics;
    • International Journal on Bioautomation;
    • Annual Journal of Electronics.

Participation in management bodies

  • 2013-2018: member of the Executive Board of the Bulgarian Society of Biomedical Physics and Engineering

Membership in professional organizations

  • International Federation of Medical and Biological Engineering (IFMBE);
  • Bulgarian Society of Biomedical Physics and Engineering – member of the executive board since 2013.
  • Union of Scientists in Bulgaria, Section “Biomedical Engineering”.

Scientific awards

  • 2001: Diploma and Award ‘Marin Drinov’ for Young Scientist, by the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences
  • 2007: Diploma and Award for Outstanding Scientific Achievements for Young Scientists by the Union of Scientists in Bulgaria.

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