New podcast episode: Eva Ortega-Paíno profile

“You cannot be a proper researcher without curiosity and curiosity is not only just for science, it’s for living.”

Meet Eva Ortega-Paino who, until recently was National Node Director for Spain. This episode profiles her career which has taken her to Secretary General for Research, Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities, Spain.

Spain joined BBMRI-ERIC as an observer three years ago and Eva was their first Director based at the Spanish National Platform for Biobank and Biomodels – Instituto de Salud Carlos III.

Eva was far from new to biobanking, having already been involved with BBMRI Sweden. In fact, Eva’s career spans 32-years; it started with a PhD in Chemical Sciences and includes experience across several sectors – academic research, healthcare, industry and the third sector.

As she settles into her role at the Ministry, we thought it would be a good time to explore her achievements and hear her advice for young researchers.

Everyone at BBMRI-ERIC is thankful for the expertise, dedication and passion for biobanking that Eva brought to the community and we wish her all the best.

BBMRI-ERIC Podcast

“AI systems need to be human centric, they should serve humanity and the common good”

Episode 26 takes you to a webinar on developing strategies for a trustworthy AI explored at the example of South-eastern Asia. After a quick introduction on how the European Union approaches this challenge, Thilma Komaling, one of the authors of Indonesia’s strategy on Artificial, takes you her home country where AI-assisted tools already help to improve broad access to health care.

Thilma shares her more than 20 years of experience in policy development here in this webinar organised by the BBMRI-ERIC ELSI team. ELSI specialises in addressing ethical, legal and societal implications of biobanking and the responsible use of sensitive data and new technologies.

The transformative potential of AI will not stop at national borders and so we can all profit from exchanging our experiences to use this technology for the best of society. Together with Thilma, Ilaria Colussi, one of BBMRI-ERIC’s legal experts, explores the common ground between the EU’s and Indonesia’s approach to a trustworthy AI.

“We need something very close to the heart of the people of Indonesia, because this is something that needs to be originally from Indonesia. What we believe and what we want to carry forward as a nation.”

Indondesia explores a strategy that builds on the country’s core values to find a human-centered apporach to responsibly integrate this highly transformative technology into the daily live. One example is Halodoc, an AI-assisted app, that allows Indonesia’s citizens access to health-related advise and information even in the remotest areas of the large, archipelagic country with its hundreds of languages.

Further reading (in order of contribution):