Prof. Dr. Nicolas Pereira | Augmented Reality | Best VR Researcher Award

Specialized Center for Lymphedema and Lipedema Clinica Nea | Chile

Dr. Nicolas Pereira is an accomplished Plastic and Reconstructive Microsurgeon and the Medical Director of the Specialized Center for Lymphedema and Lipedema Clínica Nea in Santiago, Chile. Currently serving as the President of the Latin American Association of Microsurgery (ALAM) and Associate Professor of Plastic Surgery at the University of Chile, he leads clinical innovation and advanced surgical education in reconstructive microsurgery. A double fellowship-trained surgeon with a Master’s in Biological and Medical Sciences, Dr. Pereira specializes in microsurgery, supermicrosurgery, and complex limb reconstruction, with a particular focus on lymphedema, lipedema, lower extremity reconstruction, and migraine surgery. He directs the “Complex Limb Reconstruction and Microsurgery in Trauma” Fellowship Program at Hospital del Trabajador, mentoring future generations of reconstructive surgeons. His outstanding contributions have been recognized internationally through the Werner Spingler Fellowship Young Microsurgeon Award (2025), highlighting his leadership and impact in global microsurgery. Academically, Dr. Pereira has authored 43 peer-reviewed scientific papers, cited 485 times by 411 documents, achieving an h-index of 12 on Scopus—reflecting his influential role in advancing reconstructive and aesthetic surgical research. He also co-edited the authoritative textbook “Cirugía Plástica Esencial” (Andrades, Pereira & Navia, 2023), published by Editorial Universitaria, a cornerstone in Latin American surgical education. Beyond academia, he holds an Editorial Appointment as Member at Large for Latin America in the World Society for Reconstructive Microsurgery, actively fostering regional and international collaboration. His affiliations include the World Society for Reconstructive Microsurgery, Latin American Association of Microsurgery, Migraine Surgery Society, and the Chilean Society of Plastic Surgery, where he serves as Director of the Chilean Society of Reconstructive Microsurgery. Through Clínica Nea and the Specialized Center for Lymphedema and Lipedema (cELL), Dr. Pereira pioneers integrative approaches combining surgical innovation and patient-centered care. With over 50 completed and ongoing research projects, an expanding international reputation, and a strong record of mentorship, Dr. Nicolás Pereira represents a new generation of surgeon-scientists driving transformative progress in reconstructive surgery, microsurgical innovation, and patient rehabilitation.

Profile: Scopus

Featured Publications

Pereira, N., Oñate, V., Roa, R., & (others) (2023). A comprehensive approach to posttraumatic lymphedema surgical treatment. Archives of Plastic Surgery, 50(4), 422–431.

Pereira, N., Cambara, Á., Kufeke, M., & Roa, R. (2021). Prevention and treatment of posttraumatic lymphedema: a microsurgical soft tissue reconstruction approach. Annals of Plastic Surgery, 86(4), 434–439.

Pereira, N., Parada, L., Kufeke, M., Troncoso, E., & Roa, R. (2020). A new planning method to easily harvest the superficial circumflex iliac artery perforator flap. Journal of Reconstructive Microsurgery, 36, 165–170.

Mangelsdorff, G., Cuevas, P., Rodriguez, J. R., Pereira, N., Ramirez, E., & Yañez, R. (2019). Reduced anterolateral thigh flap donor-site morbidity using incisional negative pressure therapy. Journal of Reconstructive Microsurgery, 35(3), 229–234.

 

Dr. Julian Humml | Augmented Reality (AR) | Best VR Researcher Award 

California Institute of Technology | United States

Dr. Julian Humml, Dr. sc. ETH, is an accomplished researcher and scientist specializing in the integration of machine learning, fluid dynamics, and augmented reality for scientific measurement and human–AI interaction. Since January 2025, he has been serving as a Postdoctoral Researcher at the Graduate Aerospace Laboratories of the California Institute of Technology (GALCIT), where he develops active learning measurement systems and online data assimilation algorithms for large-scale sampling and augmented reality–based human visualization and interaction. His work focuses on leveraging physics-informed machine learning techniques to enhance scientific measurements, particularly within complex aerodynamic environments. Prior to his appointment at Caltech, Dr. Humml gained extensive experience at the Institute of Fluid Dynamics, ETH Zurich (2018–2022), where he contributed to pioneering research in active learning systems for wind tunnel measurements and the augmented reality visualization of flow fields. His work involved the development of robotic manipulator operations optimized for multi-hole pressure probes and collaboration with the Swiss Data Science Center on the SmartAIR project, aimed at intelligent aerodynamic measurement systems. He also gained early industrial experience as an Engineering Intern at Liebherr Aerospace in Lindenberg, Germany (2016), where he managed wind tunnel testing facilities, planned and executed test campaigns, and oversaw equipment upgrades. In parallel with his research activities, Dr. Humml has demonstrated strong teaching and leadership capabilities. As Head Teaching Assistant for Fluid Dynamics I at ETH Zurich, he coordinated multiple exercise groups, prepared course materials and exams, and mentored students. He also served for several years as a Teaching Assistant for the ETH Wind Tunnel Laboratory Course and supervised junior researchers at the Institute of Fluid Dynamics. Dr. Humml earned his Doctor of Science (Dr. sc. ETH) in Mechanical Engineering from ETH Zurich in 2022, under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Thomas Rösgen and co-examiner Prof. Dr. Fernando Perez-Cruz. His doctoral thesis, titled “Self-Guided Machine Learning Algorithm for Real-Time Assimilation, Interpolation, and Rendering of Aerodynamic Measurements”, advanced the field of real-time data-driven aerodynamic measurement and visualization.

Profile: Orcid