Biomedical Optics and Optical Measurement Laboratory

Overview of the Laboratory

Our laboratory is focused on developing and applying optical technology to advance healthcare and medicine in all environments including the laboratory, the clinic, and the field. Our research includes developing novel cancer screening technologies using spectral and polarization imaging coupled with machine learning; designing and building endoscopes and other point-of-care systems for minimally-invasive screening and surgical localization; and identifying biomarkers for early-stage cancer. We also aim to develop tools for basic science applications including advanced optical microscopy methods, validation methods for diffusion MRI, understanding neural connectivity, imaging mouse models of rare cancers, and probing genetic and molecular changes with the onset of cancer.

Our lab is primarily interested in gastrointestinal cancers (esophageal, gastric, neuroendocrine), but also has ongoing work focused on brain imaging. Given the highly interdisciplinary nature of biomedical research, the laboratory is a highly collaborative environment with active collaborations with the Cancer Center, Banner-University Medical Center, the University of Cambridge, and other industry / University partners.

Openings for Students

We currently don’t have any openings for students, but you are welcome to reach out if you are interested in potential future opportunities.

Keywords

multispectral imaging, hyperspectral imaging, polarimetry, multiphoton imaging, microscopy, image analysis, tissue optics, cancer detection, esophageal cancer, gastric cancer, neuroendocrine tumors

Funding

We are grateful for support we’ve received from the University of Arizona (UA), the UA Cancer Center, the American Cancer Society, the Department of Defense, National Institutes of Health and National Science Foundation, the Flinn Foundation, our industry partners, and the Tom and Catherine Culley Charitable Trust. Funding listed below is limited to the last 5 years.

  • National Institutes of Health R01 AG079280
  • National Institutes of Health T32 GM132008
  • National Institutes of Health P30 CA023074
  • National Science Foundation DGE-2137419
  • Arizona Department of Health Services RFGA2023-008-04
  • Flinn Seed Grant to Promote Translational Research 23-06545
  • Tom and Catherine Culley Charitable Trust
  • Department of Defense W81XWH2210211
  • Department of Defense N211-007-1843
  • American Cancer Society IRG-18-161-40
  • UA Core Facilities Pilot Program, International Research Grant, Equipment Enhancement Fund
  • Alphacore Inc. (Industry)
  • LightSense Technologies (Industry)
  • Roche Tissue Diagnostics (Industry)