Gladiola Petroiu

Curriculum Vitae

Faculty of Medical Bioengineering, “Grigore T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Iași, M.Kogalniceanu No. 9-13, Iași, 700454, Romania

I have started my research career during my Bachelor of Engineering's studies, culminating in a Ph.D. in Computer Science from the Technical University "Gheorghe Asachi" of Iași in 2011. My role has evolved from an Assistant to an Associate Professor at "Grigore T. Popa" University of Medicine and Pharmacy Iași, where I have been instrumental in developing and teaching courses in Informatics, Medical Robotics, Biomedical Systems Automation and other key subjects since 2017. Throughout my research career, I have published 11 books with ISBNs and over 70 research articles, garnering more than 200 citations and achieving an h-index of 13 according to the Clarivate database. I have served as the project director for 2 projects and been a team member in 23 additional projects over the past ten years.
The primary focus of my research was the application of image processing in the field of rehabilitation, specifically aiming to refine the assessment methodologies for locomotion injuries and post-stroke disabilities through advanced image analysis techniques, enhancing the precision of rehabilitation outcomes (DOI: 10.1109/EHB52898.2021.9657714). Despite the potential of image processing to significantly impact rehabilitation accuracy, challenges such as data variability and the need for algorithm optimization persist.
In the realm of telehealth, my research aimed to innovate remote monitoring practices, particularly focusing on blood pressure monitoring using wireless devices to ensure continuous and accurate patient care outside traditional clinical settings (DOI: 10.1109/EHB52898.2021.9657600). Although wireless technologies offer extensive benefits for patient monitoring, issues like signal interference and data security require careful consideration. My exploration into medical device innovation concentrated on developing a low-cost, wireless solution for transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, striving to make this therapeutic technology more accessible and user-friendly (DOI: 10.1109/ATEE52255.2021.9425089). However, the variability in patient responses and the need for device customization present ongoing challenges in this field. Through my work in biomedical informatics, I aimed to leverage inertial data for nuanced human activity recognition, enhancing the specificity and applicability of this information in personalized patient care and rehabilitation (DOI: 10.1109/ATEE52255.2021.9425112). Despite the potential of inertial data, the complexity of human movement and potential data inaccuracies pose significant analytical challenges. My research in biomedical materials focused on studying endothelial progenitor cell interactions with advanced biomaterials to improve the compatibility and effectiveness of medical implants (DOI: 10.1016/j.pnsc.2019.08.001). While these materials hold promise for enhancing cell integration and function, the intricate dynamics of cell-material interactions remain a complex area of study. In addressing the intersection of healthcare and society, my work analyzed the broader impacts of medical conditions, such as lumbar disc herniation, highlighting the necessity for integrated medical and socioeconomic strategies to mitigate these conditions' effects (DOI: 10.1016/j.rcis.2017.05.004). The multifaceted nature of healthcare impacts necessitates comprehensive approaches that consider both individual well-being and societal costs. My investigation in the domain of 3D printing and biomechanics aimed to harness the potential of 3D printing technology to develop customized, mechanically optimized materials for ankle-foot orthoses, aligning with the goals of personalized medicine and advanced rehabilitation solutions (DOI: 10.37358/MP.17.2.4747). The challenge lies in achieving the requisite material properties that balance durability and comfort while being tailored to individual patient needs. In the area of environmental health, my research endeavored to bridge medical science and environmental protection, focusing on the management of toxic packaging waste. This work underscores the critical need for integrating sustainable practices within healthcare to mitigate environmental impacts and safeguard public health (DOI: 10.37358/RC.17.5.5733). The complexity of this task is compounded by the diverse nature of medical waste and the necessity for effective, yet environmentally benign, disposal strategies. My exploration within computer vision in healthcare was dedicated to advancing eye image segmentation techniques for eye-tracking applications, merging the precision of computer vision with medical diagnostics and patient care (DOI: 10.25038/STEE.2017.017). The primary challenge in this domain is to refine image analysis algorithms to accurately interpret nuanced eye movement data, which is crucial for various applications, from diagnostic procedures to enhancing user interfaces for individuals with disabilities.