In current medical practice, a final diagnosis of cancer or a precancerous condition is achieved only after histopathologic analysis of a directed biopsy. Biopsies are invasive, painful, and expensive. Moreover, many of the complex changes in cellular biochemistry and morphology that accompany the earliest stages of a disease process are not detectable through routine microscopic examination. Emerging photonics technologies provide the exciting opportunity to capitalize on subtle biophysical changes in tissue to provide quantitative, real-time, minimally invasive detection and diagnosis of disease.

In our laboratory, areas of current emphasis include:

1) development of novel optical spectroscopy and imaging instrumentation for tissue diagnosis

2) validating developed optical instrumentation through systematic studies using biological samples of progressively increasing complexity, beginning at the cellular level and culminating in small scale clinical trials

3) development of molecular specific optical contrast agents

4) experimental studies to elucidate the biophysical origins of measured optical signals

5) computational modeling of the interaction of light with biological tissue in order to understand the relationships between measured optical signals and underlying tissue biochemistry, morphology, and architecture

These research areas are linked in that knowledge of the biophysical origins of optical signals gained from the experimental and computational studies will provide guidance in optimizing the design of optical instrumentation and in meaningful interpretation of measured data. In addition, fundamental understanding of the mechanisms which create optical contrast will be used to develop strategies for the design of effective optical contrast agents which in turn will help generate data with increased clinical significance.