BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//Beckman Laser Institute - ECPv6.10.0//NONSGML v1.0//EN CALSCALE:GREGORIAN METHOD:PUBLISH X-WR-CALNAME:Beckman Laser Institute X-ORIGINAL-URL:https://bli.uci.edu X-WR-CALDESC:Events for Beckman Laser Institute REFRESH-INTERVAL;VALUE=DURATION:PT1H X-Robots-Tag:noindex X-PUBLISHED-TTL:PT1H BEGIN:VTIMEZONE TZID:UTC BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:+0000 TZOFFSETTO:+0000 TZNAME:UTC DTSTART:20190101T000000 END:STANDARD END:VTIMEZONE BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20211007T120000 DTEND;TZID=UTC:20211007T130000 DTSTAMP:20260420T042632 CREATED:20220608T191355Z LAST-MODIFIED:20220608T191355Z UID:30597-1633608000-1633611600@bli.uci.edu SUMMARY:Quinton Smith\, Ph. D. DESCRIPTION:Harnessing Physiological Forces to Drive Stem Cell Fate & Function \nAbstract\nI will be elaborating about how physical cues are crucial to embryonic development\, morphogenic events\, and tissue organization\, but methods to differentiate cells from human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) mainly rely on chemical cues. As such\, the role of substrate stiffness\, fluid shear stress\, and confinement was interrogated on stem cell derived endothelial cell differentiation efficiency and functionality. We find priming hiPSCs on compliant substrates\, as opposed to traditionally used rigid plastic surfaces\, promotes efficient endothelial specification in the absence of growth factor supplementation. Leveraging micropatterned domains\, which restrict extracellular matrix accessibility\, also enhances endothelial specification and early lineage organization. Finally\, using a microfluidic platform\, we find that primary cilia\, a microtubule-based mechanosensor\, is crucial to stem cell derived endothelial shear response. Collectively\, we can investigate the role of biophysical stimuli on cell fate and function using a variety of engineering tools. \nBiography\nQuinton Smith is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at Sue & Bill Gross Stem Cell Research Center\, Irvine. Quinton Smith received his bachelor’s degree from the University of New Mexico in\nchemical engineering and his Ph.D. in 2017 from Johns Hopkins University in chemical and biomolecular engineering. His predoctoral research was supported by an NIH/NHLBI F-31 and NSF Graduate Research Fellowship. Additionally\, he was named a Siebel Scholar in 2017. After completing his doctorate\, he trained as a Howard Hughes Medical Institute Hanna Gray Postdoctoral Fellow at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dr. Smith joined the University of California Irvine in Spring 2021 and is currently an Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering and a member of the Sue Bill Gross Stem Cell Research Center. \n  \nSponsored by the Michael and Roberta Berns Laser Microbeam Program URL:https://bli.uci.edu/event/quinton-smith-ph-d/ LOCATION:Zoom Event\, CA\, United States CATEGORIES:2022 Virtual Seminar Series ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://bli.uci.edu/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Quinton_Smith.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20210923T120000 DTEND;TZID=UTC:20210923T130000 DTSTAMP:20260420T042632 CREATED:20220608T193312Z LAST-MODIFIED:20220608T193312Z UID:30609-1632398400-1632402000@bli.uci.edu SUMMARY:Andy Shih\, Ph. D. DESCRIPTION:Optical Dissection of Brain Capillary Function \nAbstract\nMy laboratory uses in vivo multiphoton imaging and rodent models to shed light (quite literally) on regulation of cerebral blood flow. In particular\, we have focused recent attention on the vast capillary networks that distribute blood throughout the brain. We use light to both visualize capillary structure and flow\, as well as noninvasively manipulate neurovascular cells that control capillary flow. We specialize in the application and development of in vivo multi-photon imaging approaches to study brain microvascular structure and function in rodents. Our recent findings include the construction of capillary networks during early postnatal development\, regulation of blood flow in adulthood by capillary pericytes\, and capillary changes in gray and white matter that may contribute to metabolic insufficiencies during aging and dementia. I firmly believe that our efforts will provide a unique and physiologically relevant view of microvascular function\, dysfunction\, and repair\, and will yield strategies for protecting vascular function in diseases that degrade the brain’s microvasculature. \nBiography\nAndy Shih is an Assistant Professor in the department of Developmental Biology & Regenerative Medicine at Seattle Children’s Research Institute. Additionally\, he is an assistant professor in the Department of Bioengineering and Department of Pediatrics at the University of Washington. His research focuses on optogenetic approaches to manipulate pericyte contractility in the intact brain\, and studies to delineate pathological features of mural cells in advanced age and small vessel disease. Shih earned a B.S. in Cell Biology and genetics from the University of British Columbia (2010) and Ph.D. in Neuroscience. He has completed his postdoc and been a project scientist from University of California\, San Diego (2012). Shih has been invited to several symposiums and been part of the SfN Nanosymposium chair (Stroke and Injury\, 2016) where he elaborates about his extensive findings & projects. A complete list of his published works in Google Scholar & NIH Pubmed: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=andy+y+shih \nSponsored by the Michael and Roberta Berns Laser Microbeam Program URL:https://bli.uci.edu/event/andy-shih-ph-d/ LOCATION:Zoom Event\, CA\, United States CATEGORIES:2022 Virtual Seminar Series ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://bli.uci.edu/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/shih.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20210819T120000 DTEND;TZID=UTC:20210819T130000 DTSTAMP:20260420T042632 CREATED:20210810T020201Z LAST-MODIFIED:20210810T020417Z UID:29697-1629374400-1629378000@bli.uci.edu SUMMARY:Stacy Copp\, Ph. D. DESCRIPTION:Fluorophores with a Genome: DNA-Stabilized Silver Clusters as a New Class of Tunable Fluorophores for Microscopy and Biosensing \nAbstract\nBecause near-infrared (NIR) electromagnetic radiation penetrates much farther into biological tissues than visible light\, NIR microscopy allows for noninvasive imaging deep into tissues and even whole organisms. In the second near-infrared window (NIR-II: 1\,000-1\,700 nm)\, biological tissues are transparent up to several centimeters depth. However\, fluorescence microscopy in this spectral window has been limited by the dearth of small\, bright\, and nontoxic NIR-II fluorophores. To address this challenge\, we are investigating a promising class of nanomaterials – DNA-templated silver clusters (Ag-DNAs) – to develop small\, stable\, and modular NIR-II biolabels with broad applicability for deep tissue imaging. Ag-DNAs represent a diverse palette of fluorophores with sequence-encoded sizes of 10-30 atoms and fluorescence emission wavelengths of 400 – 1\,000 nm. I will discuss our growing understanding of the fundamental properties of Ag-DNAs and our development of a high throughput experimental platform coupled with machine learning frameworks to guide discovery of Ag-DNAs within the NIR spectral windows. Using this approach\, we are expanding the color palette of Ag-DNAs well into the NIR\, with exciting future potential to enable deep tissue imaging applications. \nBiography\nStacy Copp is an Assistant Professor of Materials Science and Engineering at the University of California\, Irvine\, where she holds the Samueli Faculty Development Chair and courtesy appointments in the Departments of Physics and Astronomy and Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering. Her research focuses on harnessing information-encoding macromolecules – DNA\, peptides\, and block copolymers – as building blocks for novel optical and electronic materials. Due to the complexity of these molecular materials\, her work incorporates machine learning and data mining for materials study and design. Copp earned a B.S. in physics and mathematics from the University of Arizona (2011) and Ph.D. in physics from UC Santa Barbara. Before joining UCI in 2019\, she was a Hoffman Distinguished Postdoctoral Fellow at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL). Copp’s research has been recognized by awards including the AFOSR Young Investigator (2020)\, L’Oreal USA for Women in Science Fellowship (2018)\, and numerous postdoctoral and graduate fellowships. \nREGISTER HERE \nSponsored by the Michael and Roberta Berns Laser Microbeam Program URL:https://bli.uci.edu/event/stacy-copp-ph-d/ LOCATION:Zoom Event\, CA\, United States CATEGORIES:LAMP Seminar ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://bli.uci.edu/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/STACY_2-copy-300x300-1.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20210729T120000 DTEND;TZID=UTC:20210729T130000 DTSTAMP:20260420T042632 CREATED:20220608T192629Z LAST-MODIFIED:20220608T192629Z UID:30605-1627560000-1627563600@bli.uci.edu SUMMARY:Herdeline (Digs) Ardoña\, Ph. D. DESCRIPTION:Hierarchical Strategies Towards Biointerfacing With Soft Optoelectronic Materials \nAbstract\nThe applications of functional nanomaterials towards biological interfacing continue to emerge in various fields\, such as in drug delivery and tissue engineering. While the rational control of surface chemistry and mechanical properties have been achieved for several of these biocompatible systems\, these biomaterials are rarely synthesized with optical and electronic functionalities that could be beneficial for controlling the behavior of excitable cells (e.g.\, neurons and cardiac cells) or for biosensing applications. In this seminar\, I will first describe the development of one-dimensional peptidic nanostructures appended with organic electronic units\, which can facilitate photoinduced energy transfer under aqueous environments. These semiconducting peptide monomers that self-assemble as aligned hydrogels are successfully built according to design principles that allowed for directed photonic energy transport\, sequential electron transport in a multicomponent system\, and transmission or equilibration of voltage or current when incorporated in a transistor device. These soft scaffolding materials\, with tunable molecular to macroscale properties\, offer a unique tissue engineering platform that can locally and synergistically deliver electronic\, topographical\, and biochemical cues to cells. In the second part of the talk\, I will describe how to engineer in vitro models of cells and tissues which enables the understanding of nano-bio or abiotic-biotic interactions at multiple spatial scales. I will specifically describe physiologically relevant models that faithfully recapitulate the native form and function of cells or tissues involved in the systemic biodistribution of common nanomaterials—across biological barriers to target organs. These testing platforms were used to elucidate the dynamic structural and functional outcomes resulting from the exposure of vascular endothelium and myocardium to engineered nanomaterials. Finally\, this presentation will discuss the future applications of biopolymer assemblies with photonic and electronic functionalities as tools for controlling cellular processes and probing biophysical phenomena\, such as mechanotransduction and drug/toxicant permeation across tissues. \nBiography\nHerdeline Ann (Digs) M. Ardoña is originally from Valenzuela City\, Philippines. She received her B.S. in Chemistry (summa cum laude) from the University of the Philippines Diliman in 2011. In 2017\, she completed her Ph.D. in Chemistry at Johns Hopkins\, with funding support from Schlumberger Foundation and Howard Hughes Medical Institute. Her dissertation was focused on understanding the molecular design\, photophysical properties\, and supramolecular principles towards developing pi-conjugated peptide assemblies as bioelectronic nanomaterials. She then worked as a postdoctoral researcher in the Disease Biophysics Group at the Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering and John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences at Harvard University. As the 2018-2020 ACS Irving S. Sigal Postdoctoral Fellow\, she investigated the structural and functional impacts of multiple engineered nanomaterials through microphysiological platforms and biohybrid models. Digs started as an Assistant Professor at the UCI Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering in Fall 2020. \n  \nSponsored by the Michael and Roberta Berns Laser Microbeam Program URL:https://bli.uci.edu/event/herdeline-digs-ardona-ph-d/ LOCATION:Zoom Event\, CA\, United States CATEGORIES:2022 Virtual Seminar Series ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://bli.uci.edu/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Ardona_Photo.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20210617T120000 DTEND;TZID=UTC:20210617T130000 DTSTAMP:20260420T042632 CREATED:20220608T192056Z LAST-MODIFIED:20220608T192056Z UID:30601-1623931200-1623934800@bli.uci.edu SUMMARY:Philip Scumpia\, Ph. D. DESCRIPTION:Translating an understanding of the cutaneous microenvironment into diagnostics and treatments for wounds\, cancers\, and inflammatory dermatoses \nAbstract\nImmune cells are the first responders to injury\, pathogens\, or malignancy. The various components of the tissue microenvironment dictate what immune cells do when they reach different tissues. The Scumpia lab studies how different components of the unique cutaneous microenvironment affect outcome following wounding\, bacterial infection\, or cancer. The overall goal is to develop an understanding of the cutaneous microenvironment regulates skin disease and to translate this knowledge into new diagnostics and therapies. \nBiography\nDr. Scumpia received a BS in Microbiology and Cell Sciences from the University of Florida. He received his M.D. and PhD. from the University of Florida where he studied the immunobiology of sepsis. He completed his residency and fellowship training in Dermatology and Dermatopathology at UCLA. He is currently an Assistant Professor in the Department of Medicine at UCLA where he studies how various components of the cutaneous microenvironment including nerves\, lipids\, and extracellular matrix\, regulate skin diseases. The goal is to translate this understanding into novel diagnostics and potential therapeutics. He is currently a member of the American Academy of Dermatology and the Society of Investigative Dermatology. \n  \nSponsored by the Michael and Roberta Berns Laser Microbeam Program URL:https://bli.uci.edu/event/philip-scumpia-ph-d/ LOCATION:Zoom Event\, CA\, United States CATEGORIES:2022 Virtual Seminar Series ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://bli.uci.edu/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Scumpia.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20210506T090000 DTEND;TZID=UTC:20210506T100000 DTSTAMP:20260420T042632 CREATED:20210416T041739Z LAST-MODIFIED:20210416T041739Z UID:29270-1620291600-1620295200@bli.uci.edu SUMMARY:Dan Cojoc\, Ph. D. DESCRIPTION:Cell Mechanics by Light \nAbstract\nLiving cells are active matter characterized by mechanical properties as stiffness and deformability and morphological parameters as shape and volume. Genetic or pathogenic modifications of these properties can affect cell behavior. Since these transformations are potential indicators in various pathologies\, cell mechanics characterization has progressively gained interest. However\, due to their variability it is difficult to establish absolute values for these properties\, especially when different measurement methods are applied. In the first part\, I will discuss this issue presenting results obtained with Optical Tweezers (OT)\, Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) and Digital Holographic Microscopy (DHM) and showing that using more than one type of cell allows to confront the methods\, confirm the results and cell behavior. Cells can detect and respond to pressure and forces exerted by the cellular environment in various forms. Thus\, mechanosensitive signaling pathways are activated\, inducing cytoskeleton reshaping and force generation as a response to these mechanical stimuli. How big and how much localized is the force inducing a mechanical stimulation\, and what is its time extent? These questions are still to be elucidated. In the second part of the talk\, I will argue on the use of OT as an adequate tool to study cell mechanotransduction. Using a novel OT setup\, mechanical stimuli are applied under controlled conditions\, the force and indentation of which are measured directly and precisely. Neuronal cells are locally stimulated with piconewton forces which trigger Ca2+ transients in the cell and induce cytoskeletal modifications. \nBiography\nDr. Dan Cojoc is a Senior Scientist at the Institute of Materials of the National Research Council of Italy (CNR). With a background in Optical Engineering (M.S.) and Technical Physics (Ph.D.) from the University “Politehnica” of Bucharest\, Romania\, he has contributed to develop microscopy devices and techniques for applications in nanotechnology and biophysics. He has created various optical tweezers setups for sample manipulation and force measurements and integrated them with X-ray diffraction\, holographic microscopy\, laser microsurgery and fluorescence imaging for the study of biological samples. Currently\, Dr. Cojoc’s laboratory applies optical tweezers and digital holographic microscopy techniques to probe cell mechanics of blood\, cancer and neuronal cells. The interaction of light with the matter is exploited to apply tiny forces to cells and measure their local deformations to derive the mechanical properties or examine mechanotransduction mechanisms. Dr. Cojoc has been engaged in several interdisciplinary projects and has been awarded with research grants and fellowships from Italy\, Croatia\, Spain\, Germany\, France\, Romania and China. He published more than 130 papers\, keeps 3 patents\, is co-author of 11 chapter books and reviewer for more than 10 scientific journals. Dr. Cojoc is an adjunct professor at the University of Trieste and at the International School of Advanced Studies (SISSA) Trieste\, lecturing Experimental Biophysics and Advanced Optical Microscopy courses for undergraduates and tutoring PhD students in Nanotechnology and Neurobiology programs. \n  \nREGISTER HERE \nSponsored by the Michael and Roberta Berns Laser Microbeam Program URL:https://bli.uci.edu/event/dan-cojoc-ph-d/ LOCATION:Zoom Event\, CA\, United States CATEGORIES:LAMP Seminar ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://bli.uci.edu/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Dan-Cojoc.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20210422T120000 DTEND;TZID=UTC:20210422T130000 DTSTAMP:20260420T042632 CREATED:20210416T014528Z LAST-MODIFIED:20210416T014528Z UID:29266-1619092800-1619096400@bli.uci.edu SUMMARY:Nozomi Nishimura\, Ph. D. DESCRIPTION:In vivo multiphoton microscopy of microvasculature and inflammation: Lessons from the brain and a look at the heart \nAbstract\nIn vivo multiphoton microscopy enables the visualization of dynamics at the cellular scale and is an ideal tool for studying the interactions of cells in vivo. Such imaging has revealed the importance of maintaining vascular health\, even in the smallest blood vessels and the capillary bed. In an example in the brain\, we found in mouse models of Alzheimer’s disease (AD)\, that stalled blood flow in a small number of capillaries caused by neutrophils plugs had a surprisingly large effect on total blood flow. Rescue of blood flow led to rapid improvements in short-term memory. We also used laser-induced lesions to study the effects of small-vessel occlusions on inflammation and on amyloid-beta deposits. We discovered rapid alterations in plaques\, both dissolution and increase in deposits\, that were previously thought to be stable structures. We recently adapted these experimental capabilities to organs with motion including the heart. In models of heart failure\, intravital imaging of cardiac vasculature suggests that leukocyte obstruction of capillaries may play a role in the disease. Intravital vital imaging also enables measurements of calcium dynamics and contraction in cardiomyocytes and concurrent dynamics in inflammatory cells. \nBiography\nNozomi Nishimura is an Associate Professor in the Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering at Cornell University and develops optical tools for studying in vivo cell behaviors in disease. Her PhD is in physics from the University of California at San Diego with Prof. David Kleinfeld where she studied blood flow in the brain of rodents and developing laser-based models of small stroke. She came to Biomedical Engineering at Cornell in 2006 to do a postdoc with Prof. Chris Schaffer and later joined the faculty in 2013.To study the complex actions of cells in vivo\, her lab develops intravital multiphoton microscopy imaging methods that reveal how cells function\, move and interact. Injury triggers the recruitment and activation of many immune and inflammatory cell types that\, together with the local cells\, determine the course of the disease progression. The goal is to develop methods to visualize all of these cells at once and quantify cell actions and function. She applies these tools in many systems\, but has particular interests in studying the effects of microvascular dysfunction in the brain. Her lab studies the role of microvascular occlusions in Alzheimer’s disease and neurodegeneration. These methods were recently adapted for the beating mouse heart providing new capabilities to study single cell function and cardiac microvasculature. Recent work expanding into the intestine revealed novel behaviors such as motion and force actuation by stem cells in response to injury.\nSponsored by the Berns Family LAser and Microbeam Program \n  \nREGISTER HERE \nSponsored by the Michael and Roberta Berns Laser Microbeam Program URL:https://bli.uci.edu/event/nozomi-nishimura-ph-d/ LOCATION:Zoom Event\, CA\, United States CATEGORIES:LAMP Seminar ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://bli.uci.edu/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Nishimura.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20210401T120000 DTEND;TZID=UTC:20210401T130000 DTSTAMP:20260420T042632 CREATED:20210225T054811Z LAST-MODIFIED:20210225T055556Z UID:29190-1617278400-1617282000@bli.uci.edu SUMMARY:Ji-Xi Cheng\, Ph. D. DESCRIPTION:Harnessing Photons for Label-free Chemical Imaging\, High-Precision Neuromodulation\, and Killing of Superbugs \nAbstract\nPhotons are unique in that they can directly interact with molecules\, the foundation of life. I will give an overview of our biophotonics research at three levels of interactions. At the weak interaction regime\, I will present label-free chemical microscopy utilizing spectroscopic signals for discovery of molecular signatures related to cancer aggressiveness and antimicrobial resistance. At the moderate interaction regime\, I will present non-genetic high-precision optoacoustic stimulation of nervous system. At the strong interaction regime\, I will show that photolysis of intrinsic chromophores could effectively sensitize resistant pathogens to antibiotics and anti-fungal drugs. \nBiography\nJi-Xin Cheng is currently the Inaugural Theodore Moustakas Chair Professor in Photonics and Optoelectronics at Boston University. Cheng and his team are constantly at the forefront of chemical imaging in innovation\, discovery\, commercialization\, and clinical translation. For his pioneering contributions to the field of vibrational spectroscopic imaging\, Cheng received the 2020 Pittsburg Spectroscopy Award from the Spectroscopy Society of Pittsburg\, the 2019 Ellis R. Lippincott Award from OSA\, Society for Applied Spectroscopy\, Coblentz Society\, and the 2015 Craver Award from Coblentz Society. Cheng is authored in over 270 peer-reviewed articles with an h-index of 79 (Google Scholar). His research has been supported by over 30 million ($) fund from federal agencies including NIH\, NSF\, DoD\, DoE and private foundations including the Keck Foundation. Cheng is a Fellow of Optical Society of America\, a Fellow of American Institute of Medicine and Biological Engineering\, and associate editor of Science Advances. \n  \nREGISTER HERE \nSponsored by the Michael and Roberta Berns Laser Microbeam Program URL:https://bli.uci.edu/event/ji-xi-cheng-ph-d/ LOCATION:Zoom Event\, CA\, United States CATEGORIES:LAMP Seminar ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://bli.uci.edu/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Ji-Xin-Cheng-Headshot.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20210324T100000 DTEND;TZID=UTC:20210324T110000 DTSTAMP:20260420T042632 CREATED:20210220T050239Z LAST-MODIFIED:20210220T050956Z UID:29168-1616580000-1616583600@bli.uci.edu SUMMARY:Dr. Christoph Hitzenberger\, Ph. D. DESCRIPTION:From Ocular Biometry to Cellular Resolution – and Multifunctional OCT – Coherence Ranging and Imaging in the Human Eye over 35 Years \nAbstract \nIn the mid 1980s\, first applications of low coherence interferometry (LCI) to tissue metrology and analysis were reported. Starting from one-dimensional ocular biometry\, the technology has evolved into a high-speed\, 3-dimensional imaging technology\, now known as optical coherence tomography (OCT)\, with a multitude of functional extensions that has revolutionized ocular diagnostics. This talk illustrates the evolution of the technology over a third of a century\, as seen from a Viennese perspective. Starting with first axial eye length measurements by LCI\, a bridge is spanned to modern high-speed\, high-resolution\, and multifunctional OCT\, including some examples of current research in the OCT labs at Medical University of Vienna. \nBiography \nChristoph K. Hitzenberger is Professor of Medical Physics and Vice Chair of the Center for Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering\, Medical University of Vienna\, and Editor-in-Chief of Biomedical Optics Express. He works in Biomedical Optics since 1987 and is one of the pioneers of low coherence ocular biometry and optical coherence tomography. Among his most important contributions to these fields were the introduction of the optical A-scan in 1990\, the first demonstration of Fourier domain OCT methods in 1995\, and pioneering work in polarization sensitive OCT since 2000. He is Fellow of OSA and of SPIE; his pioneering contributions to OCT were awarded with the Russ Prize of the US National Academy of Engineering in 2017 and with the Austrian Cross of Honour for Science and Art\, First Class. \n  \nREGISTER HERE \n  \nSponsored by the Michael and Roberta Berns Laser Microbeam Program URL:https://bli.uci.edu/event/ocular-biometry/ LOCATION:Zoom Event\, CA\, United States CATEGORIES:LAMP Seminar ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://bli.uci.edu/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/hitzenberger-headshot.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20201215T003000 DTEND;TZID=UTC:20201215T140000 DTSTAMP:20260420T042632 CREATED:20201202T023609Z LAST-MODIFIED:20201212T220049Z UID:29027-1607992200-1608040800@bli.uci.edu SUMMARY:Bioengineering for COVID-19 DESCRIPTION:  \nBioengineering for COVID-19: Rapid Acceleration of Diagnostics (RADx) at Unprecedented Speed and Scale \nJoin Beall Applied Innovation and Beckman Laser Institute for a presentation from Bruce Tromberg\, director of the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering. Bruce will discuss how the NIH launched the Rapid Acceleration of Diagnostics initiative in response to the COVID-19 crisis. \nThe virtual event is hosted by Richard Sudek\, executive director at Beall Applied Innovation and chief innovation officer at UCI\, and Tom Milner\, UCI professor\, Surgery and Biomedical Engineering and director at Beckman Laser Institute & Medical Clinic. \nSpeaker\nBruce Tromberg \nDirector @The National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering \nDr. Tromberg is the Director of the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and leads NIBIB’s $500M Rapid Acceleration of Diagnostics (RADx Tech) innovation initiative for increasing SARS-COV-2 testing capacity and performance. Prior to joining NIH in January 2019\, he was a professor of Biomedical Engineering and Surgery at the University of California\, Irvine (UCI) where he served as director of the Beckman Laser Institute and Medical Clinic (BLIMC) and the Laser Microbeam and Medical Program (LAMMP)\, an NIH National Biomedical Technology Center. Dr. Tromberg specializes in the development of optics and photonics technologies for biomedical imaging and therapy. He has co-authored more than 450 publications and holds 21 patents in new technology development as well as bench-to-bedside clinical translation\, validation and commercialization of biomedical devices. \nREGISTER HERE URL:https://bli.uci.edu/event/bioengineering-for-covid-19/ LOCATION:Zoom Event\, CA\, United States CATEGORIES:Symposium ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://bli.uci.edu/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Bruce.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20201119T120000 DTEND;TZID=UTC:20201119T133000 DTSTAMP:20260420T042632 CREATED:20201117T045353Z LAST-MODIFIED:20201120T071341Z UID:28928-1605787200-1605792600@bli.uci.edu SUMMARY:Muyinatu Bell.\, Ph.D. DESCRIPTION:Assistant Professor & PULSE Lab Director – Johns Hopkins University \nDepartment of Electrical and Computer Engineering\nDepartment of Biomedical Engineering \nListening to the Sound of Light to Guide Surgeries \nAbstract\nPhotoacoustic imaging offers “x-ray vision” to see beyond tool tips and underneath tissue during surgical procedures\, yet no ionizing x-rays are required. Instead\, optical fibers and acoustic receivers enable photoacoustic sensing of major structures – like blood vessels and nerves – that are otherwise hidden from view. The entire process is initiated by delivering laser pulses through optical fibers to illuminate regions of interest\, causing an acoustic response that is detectable with ultrasound transducers. Beamforming is then implemented to create a photoacoustic image. In this talk\, I will highlight novel light delivery systems\, new spatial coherence beamforming theory\, deep learning alternatives to beamforming\, and robotic integration methods\, each pioneered by the Photoacoustic & Ultrasonic Systems Engineering (PULSE) Lab to enable an exciting new frontier of photoacoustic-guided surgery. This new paradigm has the potential to eliminate the occurrence of major complications (e.g.\, excessive bleeding\, paralysis\, accidental patient death) during a wide range of delicate surgeries and procedures\, including neurosurgery\, cardiac catheter-based interventions\, liver surgery\, spinal fusion surgery\, hysterectomies\, biopsies\, and teleoperative robotic surgeries. \nBiography\nMuyinatu Bell is an Assistant Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering\, Biomedical Engineering\, and Computer Science at Johns Hopkins University\, where she founded and directs the Photoacoustic and Ultrasonic Systems Engineering (PULSE) Lab. Dr. Bell earned a B.S. degree in Mechanical Engineering (biomedical engineering minor) from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (2006)\, received a Ph.D. degree in Biomedical Engineering from Duke University (2012)\, conducted research abroad as a Whitaker International Fellow at the Institute of Cancer Research and Royal Marsden Hospital in the United Kingdom (2009-2010)\, and completed a postdoctoral fellowship with the Engineering Research Center for Computer-Integrated Surgical Systems and Technology at Johns Hopkins University (2016). She is Associate Editor-in-Chief of IEEE Transactions on Ultrasonics\, Ferroelectrics\, and Frequency Control (T-UFFC)\, Associate Editor of IEEE Transactions on Medical Imaging\, and holds patents for short-lag spatial coherence beamforming and photoacoustic-guided surgery. She is a recipient of multiple awards and honors\, including MIT Technology Review’s Innovator Under 35 Award (2016)\, the NSF CAREER Award (2018)\, the NIH Trailblazer Award (2018)\, the Alfred P. Sloan Research Fellowship (2019)\, the ORAU Ralph E. Powe Jr. Faculty Enhancement Award (2019)\, and Maryland’s Outstanding Young Engineer Award (2019). She most recently received the inaugural IEEE UFFC Star Ambassador Lectureship Award (2020) from her IEEE society. \n  \nREGISTER HEREDr. Muyinatu Bell\, Ph.D. \n  \nSponsored by the Michael and Roberta Berns Laser Microbeam Program URL:https://bli.uci.edu/event/muyinatu-bell-ph-d/ LOCATION:Zoom Event\, CA\, United States CATEGORIES:LAMP Seminar ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://bli.uci.edu/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/MuyinatuBell.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20201105T120000 DTEND;TZID=UTC:20201105T130000 DTSTAMP:20260420T042632 CREATED:20200916T002616Z LAST-MODIFIED:20201013T002524Z UID:27835-1604577600-1604581200@bli.uci.edu SUMMARY:Stefan M. Cooper\, Jr.\, Ph.D. DESCRIPTION:Assistant Professor of Chemistry- Alcorn State University \nDepartment of Chemistry and Physics \nAzo and Hydrazone Molecular Photoswitches’ Photoinduced Conformational Adjustability Exploited for a Light-Enabled Template for Site-Selective Arene C-H Bond Functionalization \nAbstract\nSite-Selectivity is highly desired for work in C-H bond functionalization as organic framework are typically saturated with C-H bonds of similar reactivity. Differentiating selectivity for a single desired C-H bond among a plethora of other similar C-H bonds is a daunting task. Template guided C-H bond functionalization has recently emerged as a solution to pursuits in site-selectivity. Key to this strategy is the strategic molecular shape of the template that affords advantageous intramolecular distances between a coordinated metallic catalyst (on the template) with a desired C-H bond (from a covalently attached substrate). We seek to contribute with the creation of a novel light-enabled template. This template anticipates affording opportunities in varied site-selectivity that is toggled by wavelength modulation. Our envisioned template is based on two initial molecular photoswitch framework: azo and hydrazone functionalities. Photoisomerization affords a “T-shape” conformation for azoheteroarenes that is exploited for remote site-selectivity. Equally\, photoisomerization of the hydrazone scaffold affords a key molecular rotation exploited for varied site-selectivity. The aforementioned work is proposed in for initiating an undergraduate research program in chemistry at a Historical Black University\, Alcorn State University. \nBiography\nStefan Malone Cooper\, Jr. obtained his B.S. in chemistry from the College of Charleston (Charleston\, SC) in 2007. There he worked\, as an undergraduate researcher\, on creating derivatives of the antibiotic\, Cytosporone E\, advised by Dr. Justin Wyatt. Later in 2015\, Stefan obtained a Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry advised by Dr. William E. Crowe. His dissertation was entitled “TRANS-POSITIONING” CARBONS WITHIN STRAINED CAGED BICYCLIC(S): ROM/RCM (RING-OPENING/RING-CLOSING METATHESIS AND DIECKMANN CONDESATION ROUTES TO A CIS-DECALIN INFRASTRUCTURE. Stefan complete a short stint as a postdoctoral researcher in the lab Dr. Herman Sintim in 2015\, at the University of Maryland and later was appointed in 2016 as a Path to Professoriate Fellow within Hampton’s University NSF Partnership for Research and Education in Material (PREM). Stefan was appointed as an assistant professor in the department of Chemistry and Physics at Alcorn State University\, Fall 2017. \n  \nREGISTER HERE: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZcudOyqrzMpG9dhBQnU8taUOUW-u6W_low9 \n  \nSponsored by the Michael and Roberta Berns Laser Microbeam Program URL:https://bli.uci.edu/event/stefan-m-cooper-jr-phd/ LOCATION:Zoom Event\, CA\, United States ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://bli.uci.edu/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/cooper-192x192-1.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20201015T120000 DTEND;TZID=UTC:20201015T130000 DTSTAMP:20260420T042632 CREATED:20201007T034433Z LAST-MODIFIED:20201013T002714Z UID:28827-1602763200-1602766800@bli.uci.edu SUMMARY:Niklas Hedde\, Ph.D. DESCRIPTION:University of California\, Irvine – Pharmaceutical Sciences\nLaboratory for Fluorescence Dynamics \nOptical Detection of Rare Space Time Events for Precision Medicine \nAbstract\nFinding low-abundance bioparticles and rare events in clinically relevant samples is an unresolved but very important issue in biomedicine\, specifically for rapid identification of infections and malignant tissues and the development of personalized cancer immunotherapeutics. Optical methods are minimally invasive and have the potential to identify targets and screen large samples within short periods of time with the capability to enable detailed analyses. \nHigh resolution quantification of rare interactions including immune cell interactions and circulating tumor cells invading healthy tissues could significantly advance the development of precision medicine treatments and personalized therapeutics. For this purpose\, we are developing an intelligent\, high throughput light sheet microscopy platform that can screen large complex structures in physiologically relevant 3D cell/tissue culture models and patient derived organoids. While nanoscale imaging with millisecond time resolution can map the dynamic spatial organization of biomolecules\, the same platform enables hyperspectral and fluorescence lifetime-based metabolic imaging. This technology has the potential to study treatment effectiveness in patient derived tissues/organoids to develop highly personalized therapeutics for cancer treatment. \nAt the same time\, rapid and accurate optical identification of viruses and bacteria in fluids and on surfaces could significantly advance diagnosis of infectious diseases\, detect contaminants in medical supplies\, identify circulating tumor cells\, and discover antibody-producing B cells and antigen-specific T cells\, to name a few. Existing biochemical or microfluidic methods take many hours or are not sensitive enough to detect highly dilute\, single targets. To address this issue\, we are developing a revolutionary 3D particle detection approach to find and isolate rare targets (1-100 per mL) directly from larger volumes of fluid (1-10 mL) within minutes. \nBiography\nPer Niklas Hedde\, Ph.D.\, is a researcher at the University of California\, Irvine where he develops camera-based fluorescence fluctuation spectroscopy techniques\, devices for the isolation of rare bioparticles from turbid media\, and optical methods for medical diagnosis and antibody discovery using non-linear excitation with lifetime and hyperspectral detection. He studied physics at the University of Ulm\, Germany\, with a master thesis project on ultrafast analysis of super-resolution microscopy data. He completed his Ph.D. in physics at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology where he built an instrument for super-resolved image correlation spectroscopy to study the dynamics of cell membrane receptors and developed localization microscopy techniques to image protein mutations and receptor interactions related to heart disease and allergy. For his thesis work he received the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology Award for Outstanding Doctoral Research Work in the Area of Applied Life Sciences 2014 and the Gregorio Weber International Prize 2014. He then accepted a postdoctoral position at the Laboratory for Fluorescence Dynamics at UC Irvine to broaden his skills including fluorescence lifetime\, spectral and polarization imaging. During this time\, he also visited and collaborated with the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm\, Sweden to learn about natural killer cells\, their value for cancer immune therapy and to establish fluctuation spectroscopy methods at the KI Department of Microbiology\, Tumor and Cell Biology. So far\, he has published 30 peer-reviewed journal articles and is member of the Biophysical Society (US and Germany)\, the American Association for Cancer Research\, and the UC Irvine Center for Complex Biological Systems. Most recently\, he received an R21 award from NIH for the development of “Fluctuation Spectroscopy with Light Sheet Microscopy”. \n  \nREGISTER HERE: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZwudeqhrjwtHNYaqYT7RSFNQKVOZJZ5uY9Z \n  \nSponsored by the Michael and Roberta Berns Laser Microbeam Program URL:https://bli.uci.edu/event/niklas-hedde-ph-d/ LOCATION:Zoom Event\, CA\, United States ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://bli.uci.edu/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/pnhedde.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20200623T080000 DTEND;TZID=UTC:20200623T090000 DTSTAMP:20260420T042632 CREATED:20200623T050228Z LAST-MODIFIED:20200623T051025Z UID:28447-1592899200-1592902800@bli.uci.edu SUMMARY:VBF Facebook Live Discussion DESCRIPTION:Topic: Port Wine stains & Hemangiomas during COVID-19 \nFaceBook Link: VascularBirthmarksFoundation\n\n\n\nThis is a free event. URL:https://bli.uci.edu/event/vbf-facebook-live-discussion/ LOCATION:FaceBook Live\, CA\, United States CATEGORIES:Symposium ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://bli.uci.edu/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/VBF-JSNELSON-2.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20200508T080000 DTEND;TZID=UTC:20200508T170000 DTSTAMP:20260420T042632 CREATED:20200501T234125Z LAST-MODIFIED:20200509T034221Z UID:28095-1588924800-1588957200@bli.uci.edu SUMMARY:Brain & Kidney Symposium DESCRIPTION:  \nThe Department of Veterans Affairs\, Employee Education System\, 10P11 – Specialty Care Services & Neurology jointly provided with the UCI School of Medicine Presents: \n\n\nThe 2020 Brain & Kidney Symposium\n\n\nPlease join us for the world’s first all-day virtual International Conference highlighting the interface between neuroscience\, neurology\, and nephrology. The multidisciplinary panel of speakers and moderators includes experts from the fields of neurology\, nephrology\, pathology\, and psychiatry.  Up to 7.0 CME credits will be available. \n\n\n\nLecture Topics include: \n\nAnatomical and Physiological Considerations for the Brain-Kidney Axis\, including the Basics of Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD)\nCerebral Blood Flow\, Neuropathology\, and  Microvascular Disease in CKD\nCKD and Dementia\, Epilepsy\, Movement and Sleep Disorders\, and in the Neuro-ICU\nStroke Epidemiology\, Prevention\, and Treatment in CKD\nNeuroimaging\, Dietary Issues\, and Fabry Disease in the Brain-Kidney Axis\n\nThis is a free event.\nZoom link: https://zoom.us/j/401668288\nPASSWORD:  503699\nAttendees must Register to receive post-event link to request CME.\n\n  \nFor more information\, contact Kristine Fuentebella at kfuenteb@uci.edu or 714-456-5142. URL:https://bli.uci.edu/event/brain-and-kidney-symposium/ LOCATION:Zoom Event\, CA\, United States CATEGORIES:Symposium ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://bli.uci.edu/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Brain-Kidney-Symposium.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20200227T120000 DTEND;TZID=UTC:20200227T130000 DTSTAMP:20260420T042632 CREATED:20200212T024829Z LAST-MODIFIED:20200212T025402Z UID:27789-1582804800-1582808400@bli.uci.edu SUMMARY:Dr. Vivek Jay Srinivasan DESCRIPTION:Associate professor of Biomedical Engineering and Ophthalmology at the University of California\, Davis \nHuman Brain Interferometers for Better Blood Flow Monitoring \nAbstract \nSteady cerebral blood flow (CBF) is needed for normal brain function\, but continuous monitoring of CBF in humans is currently challenging.  Here\, by leveraging a low-cost sensor technology\, we introduce a class of novel near-infrared optical devices that monitor CBF continuously and non-invasively in adult humans.  We achieve this by replacing expensive single photon counting detectors\, currently used for optical CBF monitors\, with complementary metal–oxide–semiconductor (CMOS) arrays. We maintain performance by employing an additional optical “trick” known as interferometry\, which transforms each CMOS pixel into a sensitive detector for fluctuations of coherent light that probes blood flow in the brain.   Our method is called interferometric Diffusing Wave Spectroscopy (iDWS).  Since CMOS camera pixels are cheap and numerous\, iDWS both improves the performance and reduces the cost of optical CBF monitoring\, enabling record brain-to-scalp sensitivity. By liberating CBF monitoring from photon counting\, iDWS enables measuring CBF continuously in a new environments. In this talk we describe technical advantages of iDWS relative to conventional methods\, and broadly envisage how interferometry can help to advance the field of diffuse optics. \nBiography \nVivek Srinivasan is Associate Professor of Biomedical Engineering and Ophthalmology and Chancellor’s Fellow at UC Davis. His group develops new light-based technologies for in vivo imaging and sensing of the brain and eye.  Starting with a firm grounding in neurophysiology and biomedical engineering\, his group employ ideas novel photonic technologies and approaches to accomplish this goal. \nFor more information or to schedule a meeting with the speaker\, please contact Xandra Dvornikova. \nSponsored by the Berns Family Laser and Microbeam Program \nHosted by: Dr. Bernard Choi URL:https://bli.uci.edu/event/vivek-srinivasan/ LOCATION:BLI Library ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://bli.uci.edu/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Vivek.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20200213T123000 DTEND;TZID=UTC:20200213T133000 DTSTAMP:20260420T042632 CREATED:20200206T024504Z LAST-MODIFIED:20200206T024504Z UID:27752-1581597000-1581600600@bli.uci.edu SUMMARY:The Potential of Digital Histopathology Using Label-Free Optical Imaging Techniques DESCRIPTION:Woonggyu Jung\, Ph. D. \nUlsan National Institute of Science and Technology\, Korea \nThe Potential of Digital Histopathology Using Label-Free Optical Imaging Techniques\n  \nAbstract \nThe histological optical imaging is a gold standard method to observe the biological tissues\, which follows routine process such as dissection\, embedding\, sectioning\, staining\, visualization and interpretation of specimens. This technique has a long history of development\, and is used ubiquitously in pathology\, despite being highly time and labour-intensive. Advanced optical imaging techniques developed over the last decade have enabled to provide high sensitivity\, high resolution and non-invasive biological information. However\, acquiring high throughput\, large volume tissue anatomy remains a difficult challenge due to the effect of light scattering\, which limits the penetration imaging depth and lateral resolution. Recently\, various optical imaging methods have been introduced to create volumetric anatomy data of ex vivo tissues using physical tissue sectioning or optical clearing. Even though these new approaches present the distinguished volumetric anatomy in various scales\, they are still not suitable for use in statistical studies with multiple tissues and organs. Here\, we introduce novel label-free and multi-scale imaging modality based on serial optical coherence microscopy (OCM). OCM is a potential technique to build volumetric anatomy of mouse tissues or organs due to its simplicity\, efficiency\, robustness\, and high-throughput capabilities. This presentation covers the latest work of large-scale brain and kidney imaging using OCM and its potential in bio-applications. Specifically\, the talk will highlight other label-free optical imaging modalities including wide-field quantitative phase microscopy and optical projection tomography toward to multi-scale histopathology. \nBiography \nWoonggyu Jung received his Ph. D. in 2008 from the Department of Biomedical Engineering at the University of California\, Irvine. From 2001 to 2008\, he worked at the Beckman Laser Institute and Medical Clinic at UC Irvine. He also worked at the Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign since January 2009. He has joined the faculty of UNIST in 2012\, and currently works as an associate professor of Department of Biomedical Engineering. He is also co-founder and CTO of start-up company\, Conecson which is focused on the futuristic business regarding to mobile-based medical devices. Dr. Jung has a strong research background in optical imaging technologies including optical coherence tomography (OCT)\, quantitative phase microscope (QPM)\, and miniaturized optical imaging probes. His research interest is to develop new optical technologies that address challenges in clinical medicine\, basic biological research and neuroscience. In previous work\, he developed a successful optical platform for in vivo translational research\, and has published more than 60 peer-reviewed journal papers in the field of biophotoics. \nFor more information or to schedule a meeting with the speaker\, please contact Xandra Dvornikova. \nSponsored by the Berns Family Laser and Microbeam Program \nHosted by: Dr. Zhongping Chen URL:https://bli.uci.edu/event/woonggyu-jung/ LOCATION:BLI Library ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://bli.uci.edu/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Woonggyu-Jung.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20200210T120000 DTEND;TZID=UTC:20200210T130000 DTSTAMP:20260420T042632 CREATED:20200111T051746Z LAST-MODIFIED:20200111T073656Z UID:27661-1581336000-1581339600@bli.uci.edu SUMMARY:Professor Alfred Vogel DESCRIPTION:Institute of Biomedical Optics\, University of Lüebeck\, Germany \nFree-electron-mediated modifications of biomolecules: from photodamage in nonlinear microscopy to intentional photomodification of cells and tissues \n\nAbstract\nFemtosecond laser-induced plasma generation is used surgically and may also cause photodamage in nonlinear microscopy. The irradiance threshold at which transient vapor bubbles in water are produced by single pulses is 20 times higher than the irradiance used for microscopy. However\, photodamage in multiphoton microscopy already starts\, when the irradiance is raised 1.5 times above the value used for autofluorescence imaging. The huge realm of low-density plasma effects between multi-pulse nonlinear imaging and single-pulse surgical regime is little explored. We provide a systematic overview over irradiance and radiant exposure dependence of laser effects in this regime. Surgery by single-pulses relies on the disruptive effect of nm to µm sized transient cavitation bubbles. The threshold is here determined by a critical temperature above which a phase transition occurs. Series of low-energy fs pulses induce free-electron mediated modifications and finally disintegration of biomolecules. Bubble here contain non-condensable gas rather than water vapor. The underlying process is a nonlinear chemical rate process\, and threshold characteristics differ fundamentally from the single-pulse threshold. Below bubble threshold\, photomodifications can be utilized to create corneal refractive changes suitable for non-ablative treatment of myopia and hyperopia. Photodamage in multiphoton microscopy was explored for various cell types and tissues using physical indicators enabling real-time-monitoring of the damage kinetics. We characterize the transition from unchanged tissue (emitting autofluorescence) to slightly changed tissue (hyperfluorescence)\, drastically changed tissue (plasma luminescence) and finally molecular disintegration leading to gas bubble formation. By plotting the threshold values in (irradiance\, radiant exposure) space\, we can clearly identify a “safe” region for nonlinear microscopy and separate it from regions for different types of photomodification. \nBiography\nProf. Alfred Vogel is Team Leader and former Director of the Institute of Biomedical Optics (BMO)\, University of Luebeck\, Germany. Hereceived the Ph.D. degree in Physics from University Goettingen in 1987\, and the degree of Habilitated Doctor of Physics from the University of Luebeck\, Germany\, in 1999. Since 2010 he is also Adjunct Professor of Xiʼan Jiaotong University\, PR China. Dr. Vogel is fellow of the Optical Society (OSA) and of SPIE. He has published over 90 peer-reviewed jounral articles and 51 proceedings papers. His published work has received over 12\,000 citations with a h-index of 47. He holds 11 patents.\n Dr. Vogel has made major experimental and theoretical contributions to the field of pulsed laser interactions with molecules\, cells and biological tissues. He developed comprehensive theoretical frameworks for pulsed laser tissue interactions ranging from photochemical changes to ablation\, and for controlled nonlinear energy deposition in transparent dielectrics.\nHe invented new technologies for imaging and characterization of plasmas\, shock waves\, cavitation bubbles\, and ablation plume dynamics. His research encompasses surface ablation through linear absorption of ultraviolet and infrared laser pulses\, ablation processes in a liquid environment such as in blood vessels or joints\, as well as precise plasma-mediated ablation\, surgery\, and molecular modificationswithin nominally transparent materials such as ocular tissues and cells. His work in these areas hasled to innovative strategies for improving cellular micro/nano surgery\, intraocular surgery\,and refractive surgery.\n Dr. Vogel served on the editorial board for the Journal of Biomedical Optics (2002-2019)\, served as associate editor of Optics Express (2006-2009)\, and as advisory editor of Biomedical Optics Express (2010-2019). \nFor more information or to schedule a meeting with the speaker\, please contact Xandra Dvornikova.\nSponsored by the Berns Family Laser and Microbeam Program URL:https://bli.uci.edu/event/alfred-vogel/ LOCATION:BLI Library ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://bli.uci.edu/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Vogel-Head-Shot.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20200117T120000 DTEND;TZID=UTC:20200117T130000 DTSTAMP:20260420T042633 CREATED:20200111T082429Z LAST-MODIFIED:20200111T082429Z UID:27674-1579262400-1579266000@bli.uci.edu SUMMARY:Dr. James V. Jester DESCRIPTION:Endowed Research Chair and Professor of Ophthalmology and Biomedical Engineering\nUniversity of California\, Irvine \nNon Linear Optical Corneal Collagen Crosslinking (NLO CXL) for Treatment of Refractive Errors\nAbstract\nCorneal collagen crosslinking (CXL) using ultraviolet light (UVA) photoactivation of riboflavin leads to corneal mechanical stiffening that shows significant therapeutic benefits for patients with Keratoconus\, and also corneal flattening\, which could be helpful for the correction of minor refractive errors. However\, there are several drawbacks to UVA CXL including\, 1) difficulty controlling area and depth of corneal CXL\, and 2) removal of the corneal epithelium to imbibe riboflavin into the stroma. The former limits the ability of UVA CXL to customize corneal stiffening to treat refractive errors\, while the later leads to post-operative pain\, delayed visual recovery time\, and increased risk of infection. In this talk I will present our work on developing a non linear optical (NLO) approach to corneal CXL that addresses these major limitations. First\, we have developed a delivery device that focus amplified femtosecond laser pulses at any depth or position within the corneal stroma to precisely activate riboflavin using two photon excitation. Secondly\, we have used laser induced optical breakdown to machine the corneal epithelium and form microchannels that are 2-3 micron in diameter and 25 micron in length to significantly enhance to penetration of riboflavin through the corneal epithelium. We have also performed live rabbit eye studies showing that these advances protect the corneal epithelium from damage\, and can produce 1-2 diopters of central corneal flattening. \nBiography\nDr. Jester is currently the Jack H. Skirball Endowed Research Chair and Professor of Ophthalmology and Biomedical Engineering at the University of California\, Irvine. Dr. Jester’s trained as an Experimental Ocular Pathologist whose research has focused on the cellular and molecular biology of the cornea and ocular surface. Dr. Jester has extensive experience using multi-dimensional imaging modalities to evaluate corneal structure and function. His current research includes the application of non-linear optical microscopy to image second harmonic generated signals from collagen to study the collagen structural organization of the cornea. \nFor more information or to schedule a meeting with the speaker\, please contact Xandra Dvornikova.\nSponsored by the Berns Family LAser and Microbeam Program and the Department of Ophthalmology URL:https://bli.uci.edu/event/james-v-jester/ LOCATION:BLI Library ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://bli.uci.edu/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/James-Jester.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20191022T120000 DTEND;TZID=UTC:20191022T130000 DTSTAMP:20260420T042633 CREATED:20191018T221509Z LAST-MODIFIED:20191018T221617Z UID:27380-1571745600-1571749200@bli.uci.edu SUMMARY:Professor Peter Török DESCRIPTION:Nanyang Technological University\, Singapore \nBrillouin Microscopy and Endoscopy \nAbstract\nBrillouin imaging can extract viscoelastic properties with micron-level resolution in a label-free\, non-invasive way. The conventional bulk-optics based Brillouin system has already been applied to various biological samples. While the utility of Brillouin imaging has been demonstrated\, the intrinsically weak scattering process means that recent work in instrumentation has aimed to maximize the efficiency of existing technology\, as well as making it more compact and portable. For more systematic optimization strategies\, the theoretical parameters to evaluate the performance of arbitrary Brillouin spectrometers have been proposed for the first time. This enables the optimization of Brillouin systems in general. In this talk I present the latest developments in Brillouin instrumentation. This also includes software-based reconstruction techniques to enhance the SNR of the system. These methods are more attractive for their wider applicability and have been found to be capable of extracting useful Brillouin shift value with low SNR in simulation and experiment.\nOne application of Brillouin imaging in particular – the in vivo assessment of arterial stiffness\, i.e. Brillouin Endoscopy\, is seen to have much potential as a diagnosis tool for cardiovascular diseases\, despite some challenges. We thus present recent effort on the optimization and miniaturization of the existing technology into a flexible\, fiber-based device has provided some solutions. The main consideration for creating a fiber-based Brillouin system is the strong background generated by the fiber. So far\, a proof-of-concept device that does not require filtering has been constructed and the measurements in typical liquids have been achieved. Alternatively\, a more efficient\, single-path set-up is also discussed as it may yield higher throughput.\nRecently\, the meaning of Brillouin measurements and its correlation to stiffness has been further investigated. It has been shown that the influence of water content in the mechanical behavior of hydrated samples may dominate the Brillouin shift value. The addition of a Raman mode to measure this relative change in hydration may help to yield more accurate mechanical measurements. The correlative study of hydrogels was thus demonstrated as to show that inelastic spectroscopy in tandem is viable.\nFinally\, to maximize the information from the hyperspectral data that is obtained from BI\, the power of some multivariate analysis algorithms is discussed as alternatives for future work\, the application in live cell imaging is highlighted. \nBiography \nPeter Török graduated with an MSc in Electrical Engineering (Microelectronics) from the Technical University of Budapest\, Hungary and a DPhil in Physical Sciences from the University of Oxford. After postdoctoral positions at the Universities of Cambridge and Oxford\, he was appointed Lecturer in Photonics at Imperial College London in 2002\, where he was promoted Reader in Photonics and Professor of Optical Physics in 2005 and 2009\, respectively. In 2018\, Peter moved to NTU where he has joint appointments with the Division of Physics and Applied Physics\, School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences\, Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine and the Singapore Centre for Environmental Life Sciences Engineering (SCLESE)\, where he is Director of Imaging. \nPeter has rich experience in designing and building precision optical system also including instruments that have been sold to word leading companies. He has spent most of his working life in optical and confocal microscopy\, polarized light imaging\, optical data storage\, electromagnetic imaging theory\, compressive/single pixel imaging\, reconfigurable optics and various metrology applications\, information theoretic aspects of imaging and spectroscopic imaging\, including Raman and Brillouin modalities. At NTU his group mostly concentrates on highly interdisciplinary applications of optics working in collaboration with colleagues in life- and biomedical sciences. \nFor more information or to schedule a meeting with the speaker\, please contact Hanna Kim. URL:https://bli.uci.edu/event/peter-torok/ LOCATION:BLI Library ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://bli.uci.edu/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Peter-Torok.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20190812T120000 DTEND;TZID=UTC:20190812T130000 DTSTAMP:20260420T042633 CREATED:20190724T062243Z LAST-MODIFIED:20190724T062446Z UID:27290-1565611200-1565614800@bli.uci.edu SUMMARY:Thomas O’Sullivan\, PhD DESCRIPTION:Assistant Professor\, Department of Electrical Engineering\, University of Notre Dame \nFast-Changing Times: Advanced Optical Technologies Enabling the Next Generation of Quantitative Diffuse Optical Spectroscopy \nAbstract\nQuantitative Noninvasive Diffuse Optical Spectroscopy utilizing time-dependent methods can separate the effects of optical absorption and scattering and thus provide greater accuracy\, precision\, and 3D resolution of deep tissue physiology compared to continuous-wave methods. Unfortunately\, despite 30 years of research demonstrating its utility in a myriad of clinical applications (e.g. cancer\, neuroscience\, critical care\, metabolic disease\, etc.)\, time-dependent methods are complex\, bulky\, and expensive. This has resulted\, at best\, in slowed clinical adoption and\, at worst\, distrust of the technology itself. In order to overcome these barriers\, our group researches new optical components and techniques for diffuse optical spectroscopy that are leading to a new generation of handheld\, wearable\, and even implantable systems. This will facilitate the conversion of advanced time-dependent imaging methods to accessible compact systems that will drive widespread use in biomedical sensing and imaging. \nBiography\nDr. Thomas O’Sullivan has been an assistant professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering at the University of Notre Dame since 2016. Prior to that he was Director of the Diffuse Optical Spectroscopy and Imaging Laboratory at the Beckman Laser Institute of the University of California\, Irvine and a U.S. Department of Defense Breast Cancer Research Program Postdoctoral Fellow. He received the B.S. degree in Electrical Engineering from Northwestern University in 2005 and the M.S. and Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from Stanford University in 2007 and 2011\, respectively. Dr. O’Sullivan is engaged in translational biomedical research based upon the development and application of deep tissue optical imaging and sensing. In addition to his research\, Dr. O’Sullivan is passionate about community outreach\, has served the optics and photonics community through multiple volunteer roles for OSA and SPIE\, and is currently an associate editor for Biomedical Optics Express. \nFor more information or to schedule a meeting with the speaker\, please contact Hanna Kim. URL:https://bli.uci.edu/event/thomas-osullivan-phd/ LOCATION:3201 Natural Sciences II ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://bli.uci.edu/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Thomas-OSullivan-192.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20190808T120000 DTEND;TZID=UTC:20190808T130000 DTSTAMP:20260420T042633 CREATED:20190711T015248Z LAST-MODIFIED:20190711T015324Z UID:27268-1565265600-1565269200@bli.uci.edu SUMMARY:Lida Hariri\, MD\, PhD DESCRIPTION:Assistant Professor\, Department of Pathology\nDivision of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine\nMassachusetts General Hospital\, Harvard Medical School \nIn Vivo Optical Coherence Tomography for Early Detection and Diagnosis of Pulmonary Disease \nAbstract\nIn vivo optical imaging provides microscopic images in patients\, in real time\, without tissue removal. Due to its high resolution\, optical imaging has close parallels with traditional microscopy and can complement and enhance patient care\, including in vivo disease detection\, biopsy guidance\, diagnosis\, and resection margin assessment\, in a variety of organ systems and disease types. In this talk\, I will discuss applications of optical coherence tomography for early detection and diagnosis of pulmonary diseases\, particularly lung cancer and interstitial lung disease\, and real-time tumor biopsy guidance to increase diagnostic yield. \nBiography\nLida Hariri\, MD\, PhD\, is an Assistant Professor of Pathology and biomedical optics researcher at Massachusetts General Hospital. She obtained her MD/PhD at the University of Arizona in 2009\, with her doctorate in Biomedical Engineering focused on multimodal optical imaging for early cancer detection. She subsequently completed her pathology residency training\, and pulmonary and gynecologic pathology fellowships at MGH. Her research interests focus on development\, translation and clinical application of high-resolution optical imaging for: 1) early detection and diagnosis of pulmonary diseases\, particularly lung cancer and interstitial lung disease\, 2) real-time tumor biopsy guidance to increase diagnostic yield\, and 3) integrating in vivo optical microscopy into the practice of clinical medicine and pathology. She is a Vice-Chair of the College of American Pathologists (CAP) In Vivo Microscopy Committee. \nFor more information or to schedule a meeting with the speaker\, please contact Hanna Kim. URL:https://bli.uci.edu/event/lida-hariri-phd/ LOCATION:3201 Natural Sciences II ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://bli.uci.edu/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Hariri_Lida_192.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20190722T120000 DTEND;TZID=UTC:20190722T130000 DTSTAMP:20260420T042633 CREATED:20190704T032500Z LAST-MODIFIED:20190704T033712Z UID:22042-1563796800-1563800400@bli.uci.edu SUMMARY:Liangzhong (Shawn) Xiang\, PhD DESCRIPTION:Assistant Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at University of Oklahoma \nStephenson Cancer Center at University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center \nX-ray-induced Acoustic Computed Tomography (XACT) \nAbstract\nX-ray computed tomography (CT) has proved tremendously useful for noninvasive medical imaging ever since its inception nearly 50 years ago. However\, there remain two major limitations: radiation harm and inaccessibility to patient.\nIn 2013\, for the first time\, we reported a novel x-ray imaging modality\, x-ray induced acoustic computed tomography (XACT)\, to overcome these limitations of conventional x-ray CT imaging. In XACT\, pulsed x-ray excitation of a sample results in localized heating\, and subsequent thermoelastic expansion\, for sufficiently short-lasting pulses\, this results in the emission of a detectable acoustic wave in the ultrasound regime\, with amplitude proportional to x-ray absorption. This unique hybrid imaging modality combines high x-ray absorption contrast with the 3D propagation advantages provided by high resolution encoding ultrasound waves. XACT imaging shows potential to produce a 3D volumetric image from a single X-ray projection. Thus\, XACT can dramatically reduce radiation dose and improve imaging speed as compared to conventional x-ray CT with hundreds of projections. Moreover\, XACT imaging also requires only single-side access to the patient versus traditional X-ray imaging’s requirement for access to two opposing sides of the patient. We expect our work may profoundly advance X-ray imaging technology.\nMy main research interest is in developing XACT imaging and enable its clinical translation. I will present a wide range of applications of XACT ranging from radiation oncology (in vivo dosimetry for external radiotherapy on breast cancer and prostate cancer)\, to radiological imaging (breast microcalcification\, bone tumor\, and osteoporosis). \nBiography\nDr. Liangzhong Xiang is an Assistant Professor in the Department of of Electric and Computer Engineering\, and Stephenson Cancer Center at University of Oklahoma (OU). Dr. Xiang received his Ph.D. degree from South China Normal University on photoacoustic molecular imaging. He was a postdoctoral fellow trained in medical physics at Stanford Medical School\, and he awarded the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) Prostate Cancer Postdoctoral Training Program at Stanford University (2012-2015).\nIn research\, Dr. Xiang and his laboratory was the first to report x-ray-induced acoustic computed tomography (XACT). His work on XACT imaging was the cover article for Medical Physics in 2013. His talk entitled “X-ray acoustic computed tomography: concept and design” has been identified as a “Hot Topic” presentation for the 2013 AAPM Annual Meeting. And he received the Slvia Sorkin Greenfield Award for the best paper of the Medical Physics at AAPM 50th Annual Meeting. His research has led to over 60+ peer-reviewed publications\, 12 patents\, 30+ presentations. Sponsored by NIH\, DoD and Oklahoma state funding agencies with over $ 3 million dollars active grant support. In education\, he received Nancy L. Mergler Faculty Mentor Award for Undergraduate Research (the only recipient at OU in 2017). He strategically guides lab students to become extraordinary and independent scientists. His students have been awarded SPIE Education Scholarship (2019\, 2018)\, SPIE Travel Scholarship (2016). His postdoctoral research fellows were awarded the Trainee Research Prize from the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA\, 2015). In service\, Dr. Xiang has served as conference chairs in AAPM annual meeting (2019) and International Conference on Information Optics and Photonics (CIOP 2018)\, SPIE Student Chapter advisor\, associate editor of Medical Physics journal\, and grant reviewer for U S Department of Energy\, Russian Science Foundation (RSF)\, and Helmholtz Association of German Research Centre. \nFor more information or to schedule a meeting with the speaker\, please contact Hanna Kim. URL:https://bli.uci.edu/event/liangzhong-xiang-phd/ LOCATION:3201 Natural Sciences II ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://bli.uci.edu/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Liangzhong-Xiang.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20190718T120000 DTEND;TZID=UTC:20190718T130000 DTSTAMP:20260420T042633 CREATED:20190704T033854Z LAST-MODIFIED:20190704T034318Z UID:22051-1563451200-1563454800@bli.uci.edu SUMMARY:Bahman Anvari\, PhD DESCRIPTION:Professor\, Department of Bioengineering\, UC Riverside \nCancer Photo-Theranostics \nAbstract\nNano-sized structures provide a platform for the delivery of imaging and therapeutic agents to tumors. When activated by light\, these structures enable visualization of small tumor nodules and their destruction through a variety of photo-transduction mechanisms. My lab focuses on the engineering of nano-sized platforms derived from biological materials\, including erythrocytes\, and their translation for cancer photo-theranostics. In this talk\, I will present some of the photophysical properties of these constructs when doped with near infrared chromophores\, and show their capabilities in targeted fluorescence molecular imaging of important cancer cell biomarkers and photo-destructions of tumor implants in animal models. I will also discuss some of the considerations necessary for clinical translation of these structures in a safe manner. \nBiography\nBahman Anvari is a Professor in the Department of Bioengineering at UC Riverside\, and holds courtesy appointments in the Departments of Biochemistry\, and Mechanical Engineering\, and Biophysics and Biomedical Sciences Graduate Programs at UCR. He received his B.A. in Biophysics from UC Berkeley\, and Ph.D. in Bioengineering from Texas A&M University. He was a Postdoctoral Researcher at the Beckman Laser Institute\, and started his faculty career as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Bioengineering at Rice University where he became an Associate Professor.\nDr. Anvari’s scientific interests include the development and application of optical probes for biomedical imaging and therapeutic purposes. He is a co-inventor on some of the patented technologies related to the dynamic cooling of human skin. His research activities have been continuously funded by NIH\, NSF\, and other agencies. He has published over 300 peer-reviewed and conference papers. Dr. Anvari served as an Associate Editor for the Annals of Biomedical Engineering for nearly ten years\, and is currently an Editorial Board Member of Journal of Biomedical Optics. Professor Anvari is a Fellow of American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering (AIMBE)\, American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)\, Biomedical Engineering Society (BMES)\, and the International Society for Optics and Photonics (SPIE). He is the 2019 recipient of the Caroline & William Mark Memorial Award by the American Society for Laser Medicine & Surgery (ASLMS)\, and currently serves as the Basic Science Representative at ASLMS Board. Dr. Anvari is the founder of Radoptics\, LLC\, a start-up company interested in commercialization and translation of cell-derived optical probes. \nFor more information or to schedule a meeting with the speaker\, please contact Hanna Kim. URL:https://bli.uci.edu/event/bahman-anvari-phd/ LOCATION:3201 Natural Sciences II ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://bli.uci.edu/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Anvari.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20190710T120000 DTEND;TZID=UTC:20190710T130000 DTSTAMP:20260420T042633 CREATED:20190612T010718Z LAST-MODIFIED:20190704T032053Z UID:21570-1562760000-1562763600@bli.uci.edu SUMMARY:Ghazal Azarfar\, Ph.D. DESCRIPTION:Research Assistant at the Laboratory for Surface studies\, University of Wisconsin\, Milwaukee \nLight Scattering in Diffraction Limit Infrared Hyperspectral Imaging\nAbstract\nFourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) microspectroscopy is a noninvasive technique for chemical imaging of micrometer size samples. Employing an infrared source\, a microscope coupled to a FTIR spectrometer\, and replacing a single detector with an array of detectors (128 x 128 detectors) enables collecting combined spectral and spatial information simultaneously\, resulting in wavelength dependent images which\, are being used for disease pathology and cell cycle study. In this research we are trying to remove one of the last technological barriers to the development of clinical spectroscopic cytology.\nIn diffraction limit FTIR imaging\, where the size of the sample is in the same range as the incident light\, scattering phenomenon appear in spectra as a result of the interaction of the light and matter. The observed scattering contribution dependents physical and chemical structure of the sample as well as the focusing optic and the light source. A new optimization method for correcting the scattering phenomena in pixelated infrared spectra and recovering wavelength dependent complex refractive of the sample using holographic phase images will be presented. \nBiography \nDr. Ghazal Azarfar has defended her PhD thesis in Electrical Engineering in June 2019.  She is currently working as a research assistant at the Laboratory for Surface Studies at University of Wisconsin Milwaukee (UWM). She is the president of the society for applied spectroscopy at UWM\, and has received multiple awards including the Four-Year Dean’s fellowship award\, Chancellor’s award  and Honorable Mention award. She has published a paper on Fourier transform infrared imaging of a single live cell. The focus of her research is scattering correction in the diffraction limit hyperspectral infrared imaging. Her research resulted in a new algorithm for 3D reconstruction of holographic images. \nFor more information or to schedule a meeting with the speaker\, please contact Hanna Kim.\nHosted by Dr. Zhongping Chen URL:https://bli.uci.edu/event/ghazal-azarfar/ LOCATION:BLI Library ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://bli.uci.edu/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Ghazal-Azarfar.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20190709T120000 DTEND;TZID=UTC:20190709T130000 DTSTAMP:20260420T042633 CREATED:20190627T043107Z LAST-MODIFIED:20190629T032737Z UID:21882-1562673600-1562677200@bli.uci.edu SUMMARY:Toyohiko Yamauchi DESCRIPTION:Associate Researcher at the Beckman Laser Institute\, UC Irvine \nQuantitative Phase Microscopy for the Evaluation of Cell Morphological Properties\nAbstract\nCell morphology and dynamics are related to a variety of significant biomedical properties\, such as the metastatic potential of cancer cells\, disease related stiffness changes in red blood cells\, pluripotency of stem cells\, and cell-to-cell interactions by tunneling nanotubules. Phase contrast microscopes or differential interference contrast microscopes are the most popular methods to evaluate the morphological features of live cells\, but these methods are not quantitative nor reproducible between different models of microscopes. For these reasons\, there has been a push to develop and validate more quantitative microscopy techniques\, such as Quantitative Phase Microscopy (QPM). QPM is an interferometry-based technique which measures the optical thickness of cells. Optical thickness is a well-defined physical property and can be used to obtain quantitative and reproducible thickness mapping of live cells within a clear background. By means of the image processing on optical thickness\, QPM enables the tracing of cell boundaries and the quantification of vectors of membrane motion. Moreover\, QPM does not require fluorescence dye (label free) and it enables long term\, time-lapse imaging of live cells for more than 48 hours. In this talk\, Toyohiko Yamauchi will introduce the theory of QPM and detail his efforts in designing\, building\, and testing QPM instruments.\nToyohiko installed his latest QPM prototype in the Beckman Laser Institute in February 2018 and has been building new research collaborations throughout UCI to develop new applications. In the latter half of this seminar\, several active collaborators will also talk about ongoing and future studies with QPM. \nBiography\nToyohiko Yamauchi graduated from the University of Tokyo with undergraduate and master’s degrees in electrical engineering. Toyohiko has been an application researcher of optical interferometry for Hamamatsu Photonics (Japan) for more than 10 years. From 2008 to 2010\, Toyohiko worked as a visiting scientist with Dr. Michael S. Feld at the MIT-Laser Biomedical Research Center to develop his quantitative phase microscope. After returning to Japan\, Toyohiko joined a government sponsored New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) project for low-invasive quality assessment of induced pluripotent stem cells from 2011 to 2014. Since then\, Toyohiko has been collaborating with biologists in both the US and in Japan for application development of QPM and he most recently spent 18 months at UCI as a visiting researcher. \nFor more information or to schedule a meeting with the speaker\, please contact Hanna Kim. URL:https://bli.uci.edu/event/toyohiko-yamauchi/ LOCATION:BLI Library ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://bli.uci.edu/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/ToyohikoYamaychi.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20190708T120000 DTEND;TZID=UTC:20190708T130000 DTSTAMP:20260420T042633 CREATED:20190618T055844Z LAST-MODIFIED:20190618T060334Z UID:21585-1562587200-1562590800@bli.uci.edu SUMMARY:Mihaela Balu\, Ph.D. DESCRIPTION:Associate Researcher at the Beckman Laser Institute\, UC Irvine \nClinical skin imaging with multiphoton microscopy– current strategies and future directions \nAbstract\nThe ability of multiphoton microscopy (MPM) to generate high-resolution 3D maps of specific tissue molecular compounds led to its widespread use in biomedical applications. MPM has been successfully employed in research labs for basic biology studies and imaging of small animal models but due to the complexity and cost of the microscope systems\, only recently it started to be explored as a technique for non-invasive in-vivo human skin imaging. In the US\, the first clinical skin imaging research studies using MPM have been initiated at BLI by our group in collaboration with the Dermatology Department at UCI using the first commercial clinical MPM system. Since 2012\, ~300 patients have been enrolled in our research studies. In this talk\, I will present results from several MPM clinical studies\, with an emphasis on our most advanced research on quantitative imaging for non-invasive early diagnosis of melanoma. Other applications include employing in vivo MPM for guiding treatment of pigmentary skin disorders and monitoring the re-pigmentation process of skin disorders such as vitiligo. These applications have been driven by novel MPM developments. In the same time\, they are driving further advances of the technology to address current barriers\, such as limited scanning area and scanning speed. I will present an overview of the current stage of development of our proposed clinical MPM platform for skin imaging that addresses these limitations\, while offering enhanced portability and reduced complexity. I will also discuss the challenges involved in the translational process of this technology and potential approaches to overcome them\, along with strategies for integrating advanced imaging with artificial intelligence-based diagnostic algorithms and with single cell transcriptomics to capture the cellular\, molecular and metabolic signatures in tissues of interest. \nBiography\nMihaela Balu\, Ph.D.\, is Associate Researcher at the Beckman Laser Institute\, UC Irvine. She has a Master in Physics and a PhD in Optics from the College of Optics and Photonics (CREOL)\, University of Central Florida. Her research is focused on integrating and advancing modern biophotonics technologies such as nonlinear optical microscopy to clinical setting. Her main goal is to use this technique as a non-invasive imaging tool for visualizing\, quantifying and understanding the morphological and underlying molecular processes in skin\, with a particular interest in melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancer. \nFor more information or to schedule a meeting with the speaker\, please contact Hanna Kim. URL:https://bli.uci.edu/event/mihaela-balu-phd/ LOCATION:3201 Natural Sciences II ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://bli.uci.edu/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Mihaela-Balu.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20190702T120000 DTEND;TZID=UTC:20190702T130000 DTSTAMP:20260420T042633 CREATED:20190613T053318Z LAST-MODIFIED:20190613T053318Z UID:21581-1562068800-1562072400@bli.uci.edu SUMMARY:Stefan Carp\, PhD DESCRIPTION:Assistant Professor of Radiology at Harvard Medical School \nNon-invasive Biophotonics for Personalized Medicine\nAbstract\nPersonalized or precision medicine is an emerging paradigm in health care delivery that seeks to tailor medical treatment to the individual characteristics\, needs and preferences of each patient. Biophotonic technologies are likely to play a significant role in realizing the benefits of personalized medicine by leveraging novel contrast mechanisms to offer timely feedback on treatment progress\, and can be integrated into compact\, cost-effective devices that are suitable for longitudinal patient monitoring.\nOur work has been focused on the technology development and clinical translation of optical imaging and sensing using near-infrared light. This talk will report on our efforts in two major application areas: in the context of breast cancer management\, we are combining dynamic diffuse optical tomography with x-ray digital breast tomosynthesis to improve breast cancer diagnosis and neoadjuvant chemotherapy monitoring outcomes; in the context of neuromonitoring\, we are advancing methods for the accurate quantification of brain health in the presence of systemic physiology interference in adults\, by using a combination of near-infrared spectroscopy and diffuse correlation spectroscopy techniques together with advanced light transport models\, with the goal to offer new tools for improving the management of brain perfusion in patients undergoing cardiovascular interventions. \nBiography\nDr. Stefan Carp is an Assistant Professor of Radiology at Harvard Medical School and a member of Massachusetts General Hospital Martinos Center Optics Division. He received his BS degrees in chemistry and chemical engineering from MIT and pursued his doctorate at U.C. Irvine (UCI) under the supervision of Dr. Vasan Venugopalan. At UCI he discovered the field of biomedical optics and developed a non-contact optoacoustic imaging system for his dissertation project. After graduation\, he worked on optical breast imaging after moving to the Massachusetts General Hospital\, where he now leads a research group that focuses on the development of novel techniques for tissue hemodynamics and oxygen metabolism monitoring to help advance personalized medicine. \nFor more information or to schedule a meeting with the speaker\, please contact Hanna Kim. URL:https://bli.uci.edu/event/stefan-carp-phd/ LOCATION:3201 Natural Sciences II ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://bli.uci.edu/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/CARP.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20190701T120000 DTEND;TZID=UTC:20190701T130000 DTSTAMP:20260420T042633 CREATED:20190613T052528Z LAST-MODIFIED:20190613T052528Z UID:21577-1561982400-1561986000@bli.uci.edu SUMMARY:Nicholas J. Durr\, Ph.D. DESCRIPTION:Assistant Professor of Biomedical Engineering\, Johns Hopkins University \nDesigning Solutions to Healthcare Needs With Computational Biophotonics\nAbstract\nComputational biophotonics pairs optical system design with the development of intelligent algorithms to extract meaningful data from interrogated tissues (often via an unintuitive computational image). With the recent dramatic advances in deep learning tools\, there are many exciting opportunities to apply data-driven models with novel imaging systems to create impactful medical devices. I will present our efforts in developing and translating computational biophotonics medical devices for a variety of important healthcare needs\, including: (1) improving the management of colorectal cancer with deep learning and the computational colonoscope\, (2) enabling a non-invasive blood count with gradient-field capillaroscopy\, and (3) making eye care more accessible with a low-cost\, handheld wavefront aberrometer. \nBiography\nNicholas Durr is an Assistant Professor of Biomedical Engineering at Johns Hopkins University and the co-Director of Undergraduate Programs at the Center for Bioengineering Innovation and Design (CBID). He received a B.S. in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science from U.C. Berkeley in 2003\, worked as a Research Engineer at Nellcor from 2003 to 2004\, and received a Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering from U.T. Austin in 2010. He completed a Postdoctoral Fellowship at Harvard Medical School in 2011 and was an independent investigator at MIT from 2011 to 2014 as a Fellow in the M+Visión Consortium. In 2013 he co-founded PlenOptika\, which he led as CEO until he joined Hopkins in 2016. \nFor more information or to schedule a meeting with the speaker\, please contact Hanna Kim. URL:https://bli.uci.edu/event/nicholas-durr-phd/ LOCATION:3201 Natural Sciences II ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://bli.uci.edu/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/NDURR.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20190613T120000 DTEND;TZID=UTC:20190613T130000 DTSTAMP:20260420T042633 CREATED:20190603T230251Z LAST-MODIFIED:20190603T231717Z UID:21541-1560427200-1560430800@bli.uci.edu SUMMARY:Anand Kumar\, PhD DESCRIPTION:Assistant Professor\, Harvard Medical School\nAssistant Professor\, Massachusetts General Hospital\, Boston \nBiological imaging with time domain fluorescence\nAbstract\nMolecular imaging combines the use of disease targeted contrast agents with advanced imaging techniques to visualize disease processes in whole living organisms from the small animal to the human scale. Optical techniques are emerging as promising tools for molecular imaging by providing functional contrast\, and are particularly attractive given the spectral and fluorescence lifetime tunability of near infrared fluorophores. This allows the exciting possibility of multiplexing using fluorescence spectral and lifetime contrast. \nMy laboratory is focused on the development and application of whole-body time domain imaging techniques\, with emphasis on exploiting lifetime contrast for enhanced sensitivity and specificity of disease detection in vivo. Although fluorescence lifetime imaging has been widely used in microscopy using fluorescence lifetime imaging (FLIM)\, the application of lifetime imaging for macroscopic subjects has been limited by several challenges. This presentation will outline some of these challenges and how they can be addressed using theoretical and experimental methods for time domain imaging. In particular\, I will discuss a novel algorithm for tomographic lifetime multiplexing which allows the complete separation and 3-D localization of multiple lifetimes simultaneously present within biological tissue. Recent extensions of this work to the spatial frequency domain using modulated sources will also be discussed. I will then present in vivo applications of the technology pertaining to cancer and cardiac disease models. I will finally discuss our recent progress towards clinical applications of fluorescence lifetime imaging for cancer detection. \nBiography\nAnand Kumar is an Assistant Professor at Harvard Medical School and the Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. Dr. Kumar received his M.Sc. from the Indian Institute of Technology\, Chennai\, India and Ph. D. from Northeastern University\, Boston\, both in Physics. Following his doctoral work on ultrafast laser spectroscopy\, he worked in Sycamore Networks as a Senior Optical Engineer for 2 years\, where he designed commercial fiber optic networks. Subsequently\, he moved to the Athinoula A. Martinos center in 2002 as a post-doctoral fellow and joined the faculty of the center as an Instructor in 2007 and Assistant Professor in 2012. His current research focus is on preclinical and clinical applications of diffuse optical tomography and optical molecular imaging\, with particular emphasis on time domain imaging techniques. \nFor more information or to schedule a meeting with the speaker\, please contact Hanna Kim. URL:https://bli.uci.edu/event/anand-kumar-phd/ LOCATION:3201 Natural Sciences II ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://bli.uci.edu/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/ANAND-KUMAR-192.jpg END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR