Izidor Mlakar

PI of HUMADEX research group; Coordinator of Project SHIELD

Dr. Izidor Mlakar is the PI of the HUMADEX research group at the University of Maribor’s Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, where he leads human-centric AI research spanning advanced multimodal interfaces, conversational intelligence, decision-support and care-planning methods, and applied, real-world piloting with end users. His work bridges translational research and implementation science by taking AI-enabled digital interventions from prototype to clinical and community contexts, supported by interdisciplinary collaboration with healthcare experts. He is active in Horizon Europe–funded research, contributing to multiple Research and Innovation Actions (RIA) and Innovation Actions (IA). His relevant portfolio includes EU projects, such as, PERSIST, HosmartAI, SOLARIS, AI4HOPE, BIO-STREAMS, CERTAIN, SMILE, SLAIF, MedView. Dr. Mlakar also serves as the coordinator of the Horizon Europe SHIELD project at University Medical Centre Maribor (UKC Maribor), a four-year initiative that began in May 2025 and brings together clinical, technical, and biological partners to advance early detection of pancreatic cancer in high-risk individuals.