Dr Marta Vallejo is an Associate Professor in the School of Mathematical and Computer Sciences at Heriot-Watt University, where she leads research in artificial intelligence for healthcare. Her work focuses on applying machine learning and deep learning techniques to neurodegenerative diseases, including MND, Parkinson’s and Huntington’s disease. In collaboration with clinicians and researchers across the UK and Europe, she develops AI methods to analyse medical images, digital biomarkers, and pathological tissue data to support earlier diagnosis, disease monitoring, and understanding of disease mechanisms. More recently, her research has explored minimally invasive biomarkers and explainable AI approaches for MND.

Marta studied Computer Engineering in Spain before specialising in artificial intelligence through an MSc in AI and later completing a PhD in Computer Science. Prior to joining Heriot-Watt University, she worked in industry as Head of AI and Machine Learning in the medical diagnostics sector. She currently leads the ML-Health research group and collaborates closely with clinicians, charities, and industry partners on translational AI research in neurodegeneration.