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4. Andreea Factor

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Biography

Andreea Factor has been a College Lecturer at UCC since 2016. She completed her MD at Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacology in Timisoara, Romania. In addition to her medical degree, Andreea holds an MSc in Biochemistry, which equips her with a strong foundation in the molecular mechanisms underlying health and disease. She has also earned a Postgraduate Diploma in Teaching and Learning from UCC, highlighting her commitment to effective education. Andreea has extensive clinical experience, having worked in the fields of neurology and cardiology in Ireland and Romania. This diverse background enhances her teaching and allows her to bring real-world insights into the classroom. Her primary focus lies in teaching anatomy, where she is passionate about fostering a deep understanding of the subject among medical professionals and biomedical engineers. She employs innovative teaching strategies to enhance student engagement and optimize learning experiences, ensuring her students are well-prepared for future careers. Andreea is actively involved in various undergraduate and postgraduate programs as a teacher.  Moreover, Andreea is keenly interested in interdisciplinary research, striving to connect various fields of study to advance knowledge and improve healthcare outcomes.
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Research Interests

Andreea's current research interests center around the dynamic intersection of medical education and technological innovation.  She is particularly interested on developing anatomy-informed medical devices and exploring the integration of advanced technologies, such as virtual reality (VR), into anatomy education to enhance learning outcomes. She collaborates with engineers and computer scientists to co-supervise students on cutting-edge projects involving multimodal analysis of EEG signals, which feature 3D visualisation of the brain. These innovative projects include the integration of EEG with VR technology and AI-assisted sonification for seizure detection. Furthermore, she is working on a novel wearable AI-assisted stethoscope. This device aims to leverage artificial intelligence to provide healthcare practitioners with enhanced tools to help identify and diagnose various heart and lung pathologies.‍

Publications

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Abstract

	Year	Publication
	(2023)	Sonif.Ai: empowering the medical professional with fast and accurate interpretation of neonatal EEG. S. Gomez-Quintana, F. O’Sullivan, A. Factor, E. Popovici, A. Temko; Abstract published in Frontiers in Pediatrics; Frontiers Media SA; The European Academy of Paediatrics (EAP), The European Society for Paediatric Research (ESPR), The European Society of Paediatric and Neonatal Intensive Care (ESPNIC). (2022). 9th Congress of the European Academy of Paediatric Societies, (2023) Sonif.Ai: empowering the medical professional with fast and accurate interpretation of neonatal EEG. Abstract [DOI] [Details]
	(2023)	Hearttone: An accurate, objective decision support tool for detecting congenital heart disease using phonocardiograms and artificial intelligence. S. Gomez-Quintana, V. Shelevytska, G. Caracciolo, A. Factor, E. Popovici, A. Temko; Abstract published in Frontiers in Pediatrics; Frontiers Media SA; The European Academy of Paediatrics (EAP), The European Society for Paediatric Research (ESPR), The European Society of Paediatric and Neonatal Intensive Care (ESPNIC). (2022). 9th Congress of the European Academy of Paediatric Societies (2023) Hearttone: An accurate, objective decision support tool for detecting congenital heart disease using phonocardiograms and artificial intelligence. Abstract [DOI] [Details]
	(2013)	Progressive ascending aortic dilation following aortic valve replacement in bicuspid aortic valve disease. A. Factor, R. Curtin, J. Hinchinson Abstract published in European Heart Journal, Volume 34, Issue suppl_1, 1 August 2013, P4758, https://doi.org/10.1093/eurheartj/eht310.P4758 (2013) Progressive ascending aortic dilation following aortic valve replacement in bicuspid aortic valve disease. Abstract [Details]
	(2007)	The review of 22 cerebral venous thrombosis cases. D.C. Jianu, M. Petrica, S.Deme, A. Zolog, D. Scutelnicu,S.N. Jianu, A. Factor, F. Birsasteanu Abstract published in the 2007 EFNS European Journal of Neurology14(Suppl. 1) p. 127 https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/j.1468-1331.2007.01936.x (2007) The review of 22 cerebral venous thrombosis cases. Abstract [Details]
	(2007)	The review of 152 cranial meningiomas. D.C. Jianu , M. Petrica , S. Deme , S.N. Jianu , A. Factor , F. Birsasteanu, H. Ples , N. Ilin Abstract published in the 2007 EFNS European Journal of Neurology14(Suppl. 1) p. 40 https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/j.1468-1331.2007.01936.x (2007) The review of 152 cranial meningiomas. Abstract [Details]
	(2005)	Topographic electroencephalographic study of the left middle cerebral artery in ischemic stroke with aphasia,using computed mapping of the EEG. D.C. Jianu, D. Muresan, C. Zaharia and A. Factor Abstract published in the 2005 EFNS European Journal of Neurology12(Suppl. 2), p. 180. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/j.1468-1331.2005.01308.x (2005) Topographic electroencephalographic study of the left middle cerebral artery in ischemic stroke with aphasia,using computed mapping of the EEG. Abstract [Details]
	(2005)	Supplementary motor area aphasia: Three case reports. D.C. Jianu, A. Factor, S. Ioncu-Deme, S. Kory Calomfirescu and C. Danci Abstract published in the 2005 EFNS European Journal of Neurology12(Suppl. 2), p. 89-90. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/j.1468-1331.2005.01308.x (2005) Supplementary motor area aphasia: Three case reports. Abstract [Details]

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Peer Reviewed Journals

	Year	Publication
	(2022)	'Impact of a multimodal anatomy CPD course on intravenous cannulation skills – An Irish radiographers and radiation therapists’ perspective' M. Lone, A.H. Sheikh, A. Factor, N. Moore, M.A. Javaid, (2022) 'Impact of a multimodal anatomy CPD course on intravenous cannulation skills – An Irish radiographers and radiation therapists’ perspective'. European Journal Of Anatomy, [DOI] [Details]
	(2022)	'A method forAI assisted human interpretation of neonatal EEG' SergiGomez‑Quintana, Alison O’Shea, Andreea Factor, Emanuel Popovici & AndriyTemko (2022) 'A method forAI assisted human interpretation of neonatal EEG'. Scientific Reports, [DOI] [Details]
	(2021)	'A Framework for AI-Assisted Detection of Patent Ductus Arteriosus from Neonatal Phonocardiogram' Gómez-Quintana, S.; Schwarz, C.E.; Shelevytsky, I.; Shelevytska, V.; Semenova, O.; Factor, A.; Popovici, E.; Temko, A. (2021) 'A Framework for AI-Assisted Detection of Patent Ductus Arteriosus from Neonatal Phonocardiogram'. Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland), [DOI] [Details]

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Professional Activities

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Honours and Awards

	Year	Title	Awarding Body
	2006	Irish Research Council for Science Engineering and Technology (The Embark Initiative) Scholarship	Irish Research Council

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Professional Associations

	Association	Function	From / To
	Anatomical Society, UK	Member	01-MAR-17 /
	American Association for Anatomy	Member	15-FEB-24 /
	Working Group on Development Anatomy and Pathology, European Society of Cardiology	Member	08-AUG-23 /
	European Society of Radiology (ESR)	Associate Member	16-MAY-23 /
	European Association of Cardiovascular Imaging (EACVI)	Member	01-JUN-13 /
	Heart Failure Association (HFA)	Member	01-JUN-13 /
	Association for Acute CardioVascular Care (ACVC)	Member	01-JUN-13 /
	European Association of Preventive Cardiology (EAPC)	Member	01-JUN-13 /
	Medical Council, Ireland	Member	01-MAY-08 / 01-JUN-16
	Medical Council, Romania	Member	01-JAN-01 / 01-JUL-04

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Conference Contributions

	Year	Publication
	(2024)	Towards a Wearable, High Precision, Multi-Functional Stethoscope, Declan Duggan, Volodymyr Sarana, Andreea Factor, Viktoriya Shelevytska, Andriy Temko, Emanuel Popovici (2024) Tpresented at the 46th Annual International Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine & Biology Society. [Oral Presentation], Towards a Wearable, High Precision, Multi-Functional Stethoscope, Orlando, Florida, USA July 15-19 . [Details]
	(2024)	Exploring Virtual Anatomy Learning: An Irish Students’ Perception, Sarah Alturkustani, Ashley Durfee, Olivia F O’Leary, Siobhain M. O’Mahony, Mutahira Lone, Conor O’Mahony, Andreea Factor (2024) poster presented at the XXIst International Federation of Associations of Anatomists Congress IFAA 5-8 Sept 2024. [Poster Presentation], Exploring Virtual Anatomy Learning: An Irish Students’ Perception, Gwangju, South Korea . [Details]
	(2024)	The Course and Variations of the Extracranial Vertebral Arteries: An Irish Cadaveric Study’, Niamh Hennessy, Ashley Benge, Max Shanahan, Mutahira Lone, Andreea Factor (2024) poster presented at the Anatomical Society Summer Meeting From Organ Homeostasis to Healthspan: 25th Anniversary of Aging Cell. [Poster Presentation], The Course and Variations of the Extracranial Vertebral Arteries: An Irish Cadaveric Study’, Edinburgh, Scotland 24th - 26th July . [Details]
	(2024)	Perceptions of Medical and Dental Students Towards Using VR to Learn Cardiac Anatomy: A Multi-Institutional Study, Hannah Lee, Sarah Alturkustani, Audrey MK Dempsey, Kieran W. McDermott, Aisling Corbett, Siobhain M. O’Mahony, Dearbhla Cullinane, Ashley Durfee, Denis Barry, Mutahira Lone, Andreea Factor (2024) poster presented at the Anatomical Society Summer Meeting From Organ Homeostasis to Healthspan: 25th Anniversary of Aging Cell. [Poster Presentation], Perceptions of Medical and Dental Students Towards Using VR to Learn Cardiac Anatomy: A Multi-Institutional Study, Edinburgh, Scotland 24th - 26th July . [Details]
	(2023)	Fast and accurate seizure detection in neonatal EEG using AI-assisted sonification and its implementation on digital technologies, 30. E.Popovici, S. Gomez-Quintana, A. Daly, T. Van Nguyen, F. O Sullivan, A. Factor, A. Temko (2023) poster presented at the 4TH International Congress on mobile health and digital technology in epilepsy. [Poster Presentation], Fast and accurate seizure detection in neonatal EEG using AI-assisted sonification and its implementation on digital technologies, Lausanne, Switzerland . [Details]
	(2022)	Sonif.Ai: empowering the medical professional with fast and accurate interpretation of neonatal EEG, S. Gomez-Quintana, F. O’Sullivan, A. Factor, E. Popovici, A. Temko: (2022) The 9th Congress of the European Academy of Paediatric Society. [Poster Presentation], Sonif.Ai: empowering the medical professional with fast and accurate interpretation of neonatal EEG, Barcelona, Spain . [Details]
	(2022)	Hearttone: An accurate, objective decision support tool for detecting congenital heart disease using phonocardiograms and artificial intelligence, S. Gomez-Quintana, V. Shelevytska, G. Caracciolo, A. Factor, E. Popovici, A. Temko (2022) The 9th Congress of the European Academy of Paediatric Societies. [Oral Presentation], Hearttone: An accurate, objective decision support tool for detecting congenital heart disease using phonocardiograms and artificial intelligence, Barcelona, Spain . [Details]
	(2021)	Significance of learning anatomy during an IV cannulation course: Irish radiographers and radiation therapists perspective, N. Moore , A. Sheikh , M. Lone , A. Factor , M. Javaid; (2021) European Congress of Radiology. [Poster Presentation], Significance of learning anatomy during an IV cannulation course: Irish radiographers and radiation therapists perspective, Online . [Details]
	(2013)	Progressive ascending aortic dilation following aortic valve replacement in bicuspid aortic valve disease, Andreea Factor, John Hinchion, Ronan Curtin; (2013) European Society of Cardiology conference. [Invited Lectures (Conference)], Progressive ascending aortic dilation following aortic valve replacement in bicuspid aortic valve disease, Amsterdam . [Details]
	(2007)	The review of 22 cerebral venous thrombosis cases, Jianu, D. C.; Petrica, M.; Deme, S.; Zolog, A.; Scutelnicu, D.; Jianu, S. N.; Factor, A.; Birsasteanu, F (2007) 11th Congress of the European Federation of Neurological Societies-EFNS. [Poster Presentation], The review of 22 cerebral venous thrombosis cases, Brussels, Belgium . [Details]
	(2007)	A report on three cases of carotid body tumours: contributions of Color Doppler and other imaging techniques, Jianu DC, Petrica M, Deme S, Muresanu DF, Zaharia C, Jianu SN, Factor A, Birsasteanu F; (2007) Neurosonology Conference. [Poster Presentation], A report on three cases of carotid body tumours: contributions of Color Doppler and other imaging techniques, Budapest, Hungary . [Details]
	(2007)	Influence of calcium on FKBP12 and correlations with ryanodine receptor activity, Andreea Factor, John Mackrill, Tommie McCarthy (2007) Joint Health Research Day to incorporate Cork University Hospital Annual Research Day. [Poster Presentation], Influence of calcium on FKBP12 and correlations with ryanodine receptor activity, Cork, Ireland . [Details]
	(2006)	Cerebral venous thrombosis: a review of few cases, D.C. Jianu , A. Factor , S. Deme , D. Muresan , M. Petrica , S. Kory , C. Zaharia , F. Barsasteanu; (2006) 10th Congress of the European Federation of Neurological Societies-EFNS. [Poster Presentation], Cerebral venous thrombosis: a review of few cases, Glasgow, UK . [Details]
	(2005)	Symptomatic vasospasm after rezection of a juxtasellar tumor: case report and possible pathogenesis, DC Jianu, S. Jianu, A. Factor, F. Birsasteanu (2005) 9th Congress of the European poster presented at the Federation of Neurological Societies-EFNS. [Poster Presentation], Symptomatic vasospasm after rezection of a juxtasellar tumor: case report and possible pathogenesis, Athens . [Details]
	(2005)	Supplementary motor area aphasia: Three case reports; Abstract published in the 2005 EFNS European Journal of Neurology12(Suppl. 2), p. 89-90. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/j.146, D.C. Jianu, A. Factor, S. Ioncu-Deme, S. Kory Calomfirescuand C. Danc (2005) 9th Congress of the European Federation of Neurological Societies-EFNS. [Poster Presentation], Supplementary motor area aphasia: Three case reports; Abstract published in the 2005 EFNS European Journal of Neurology12(Suppl. 2), p. 89-90. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/j.146, Athens, Greece . [Details]
	(2005)	Peculiar aphasia from herpes simplex encephalitis, DC Jianu, A. Factor, M. Petrica, A. Zolog (2005) 9th Congress of the European Federation of Neurological Societies-EFNS. [Poster Presentation], Peculiar aphasia from herpes simplex encephalitis, Athens . [Details]
	(2003)	Primary Progressive Aphasia, D.C. Jianu, A.Zolog, M.Petrica, Sanda Ioncu-Deme, F.Barsasteanu, Rodica Popa, Andreea Factor (2003) National Neurological Conference. [Invited Lectures (Conference)], Primary Progressive Aphasia, Bucharest, Romania . [Details]
	(2002)	Aphasia in multiple sclerosis, D. C. Jianu, M. Petrica, A. Zolog, S. Ioncu-Deme, D. Scutelnicu, R. Popa, A. Factor. (2002) The National Conference of Neurology. [Peer Reviewed Abstract], Aphasia in multiple sclerosis, Bucharest . [Details]
	(2002)	Assessment of cerebrovascular reactivity by Transcranial Doppler Ultrasound in patients with heamodynamic stroke and severe homolateral carotid artery lesions, M. Petrica, D. C. Jianu, L. Matacu, Alina Murariu, Ruxandra Dana Chirileanu, Dorina Scutelnicu, Adriana Gaina, Daciana Balint, Andreea Factor (2002) The 5th National Conference of Stroke (AVC). [Invited Lectures (Conference)], Assessment of cerebrovascular reactivity by Transcranial Doppler Ultrasound in patients with heamodynamic stroke and severe homolateral carotid artery lesions, Bucharest, Romania . [Details]
	(2002)	Cerebral venous thrombosis. A review of 8 cases, D. C. Jianu, M. Petrica, L. Matcau, A. Zolog, S. Ioncu-Deme, D. Scutelnicu, Andreea Factor; (2002) C7th Romanian National Congress of Phlebology, Timisoara,. [Invited Lectures (Conference)], Cerebral venous thrombosis. A review of 8 cases, Timisoara, Romania . [Details]
	(2002)	Cardiac causes of stroke, D. C. Jianu, A. Zolog, L. Matcau, M. Petrica, Dorina Scutelnicu, S. Ioncu-Deme, Andreea Factor (2002) The 4th International Congress of Angiology-Vascular Pathology and Ambulant Surgery. [Invited Lectures (Conference)], Cardiac causes of stroke, Timisoara, Romania . [Details]
	(2002)	Aphasia in subdural hematoma, D. C. Jianu, M. Petrica, L. Matcau, A. Zolog, Andreea Factor, C. Danci, I. Dragota; (2002) The 5th National Conference of Stroke (AVC). [Invited Lectures (Conference)], Aphasia in subdural hematoma, Bucharest, Romania . [Details]
	(2002)	Anatomo-clinical observations about some cases of global aphasia, D. C. Jianu, A. Zolog,L. Matcau, M. Petrica, S. Ioncu-Deme, Andreea Factor, C. Danci; (2002) The 4th International Symposium: Young People and Multidisciplinary Research: Romania-Yugoslavia-Hungary. [Invited Lectures (Conference)], Anatomo-clinical observations about some cases of global aphasia, Timisoara, Romania . [Details]

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Committees

	Committee	Function	From / To
	Social Research Ethics Committee	Member	2024 /
	CoMH - Interprofessional Learning (IPL)	Member	2023 / 2024
	Departmental Teaching and Learning Committee	Member	2023 /
	Programme and Curriculum Committee for BSc Paramedic Studies – Practitioner Entry	Member	2016 / 2020

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Education

	Year	Institution	Qualification	Subject
	2000	University of Medicine and Pharmacology of Timisoara, Romania	Medical doctor (MD)	Medicine
	2019	University College Cork	Certificate	Teaching
	2009	University College Cork	MSc	Biochemistry
	2020	University College Cork	Diploma	Teaching

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Teaching Activities

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Teaching Interests

Dr Factor teaches anatomy in several Medicine and Health programmes at University College Cork and as a UCC service lecturer in Biomedical Engineering at Munster Technological University.   
Her teaching philosophy is deeply rooted in the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) principles, emphasising a reflective, research-based approach to education. She achieves this by integrating traditional teaching methods, including structured lectures and interactive practical demonstrations, with cutting-edge strategies such as 3D virtual reality technology, which enables students to visualize complex anatomical structures in immersive ways. Dr. Factor aims to inspire her students to become active participants in their education, fostering a deeper understanding of anatomy that is essential for their future careers.