Research

Advanced Optical Microscopy and Imaging

We aim to develop advanced approaches to optical microscopy and other biomedical imaging technologies, for both in vivo and ex vivo applications. We primarily focus on label-free modalities such as multiphoton and fluorescence imaging, and apply these for a variety of goals such as advancing understanding of biological processes and for enhanced pathology. While our main interest is in label-free methods, we are also interested in improving technology for labeled imaging such as microscopy with standard histological staining, or through transgenic methods of cell labeling.

Gastrointestinal Cancer Early Detection

One major area of research in our laboratory is early detection of gastrointestinal cancers, including esophageal and gastric cancer. We aim to develop advanced optical imaging methods for early detection of these diseases. We are developing custom imaging endoscopes implementing spectral and polarimetric imaging that select the most diagnostically relevant spectral components for targeted disease diagnostics. We also have ongoing collaborative work to develop optical coherence tomography imaging probes, as well as miniature optical components.

Multiscale Microstructural Brain Imaging

Our team is interested in applying multi-scale imaging for microstructural imaging of the brain. This has applications ranging from basic science to understand fiber tracts in the brain, to clinical application such as surgical guidance. We aim to implement polarization imaging for assessment of cellular structure, anisotropy, and plaque content in brain tissues, and combine this with diffusion MRI to yield multiscale information.

Opthalmic Optics

Recently, our group has begun to pursue research into applications of optics within the scope of ophthalmology and the eye. This work includes developing characterization systems for measuring intraocular lenses, as well as the optical properties of the eye. In addition, we are interested in applying optical technologies to understand how the biomechanical properties of the eye can change due to interventions such as crosslinking or pathologies such as keratoconus.