The BioPhotonics Conference Places Biomedical Imaging and Medical Laser Innovations at the Fore

Photonics Media’s second annual online BioPhotonics Conference, highlighting the latest advancements in optical biomedical and life sciences technology, will run Oct. 25-27. Attendees can expect an expansive lineup of presentations detailing the cutting-edge research and innovative technologies that are leading to improved diagnostics, treatments, and heightened understanding of the biophotonics field.

Top minds from academia and industry will present keynotes and lectures spotlighting topics such as OCT, live-tissue imaging, microscopy, artificial intelligence in imaging, and biomedical lasers. The free, three-day online conference features over 35 presentations across seven tracks. Sessions can be viewed on demand following their broadcast.

Aydogan Ozcan, head of the Bio- and Nano-Photonics Laboratory at UCLA, will deliver the keynote presentation for the Microscopy track, in which he will discuss deep learning-enabled computational microscopy and diffractive imaging. Ozcan will provide an overview of his lab’s recent work using deep neural networks to advance computational microscopy and sensing systems, and he will cover the networks’ biomedical applications, including the virtual staining of label-free tissue. Additionally, he will discuss diffractive optical networks designed by deep learning to all-optically implement various complex functions as the input light diffracts through spatially engineered surfaces.

Stephen Boppart, principal investigator at the Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology and Abel Bliss Professor of Engineering at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, will present the keynote for the OCT track. He will discuss how OCT can be used to image biofilms — which are believed to be involved in nearly all chronic bacterial infections in humans — to better understand the role biofilms play in infectious disease.

Laura Marcu, professor of biomedical engineering and neurological surgery at the University of California, Davis (UC Davis), will deliver the keynote for the Biomedical Imaging track. She will review the development of clinically compatible fluorescence lifetime imaging (FLIM) technology and its applications in surgical oncology. Marcu will also discuss how the technology can be integrated into the surgical workflow, and, more specifically, into the da Vinci surgical platform.

In the Spectroscopy track, Jürgen Popp — chair of physical chemistry at Friedrich Schiller University Jena and scientific director of the Leibniz Institute of Photonic Technology — will present the keynote, in which he will discuss the use of Raman spectroscopy for analysis in biomedical research and clinical diagnostics. Popp will provide selected examples to illustrate the potential of linear and nonlinear Raman spectroscopy for biomedical and life science analysis. Examples that he will cover include microbial diagnostics; the visualization of metabolic, defense, and chemical communication processes; on-site environmental and soil monitoring; and disease diagnostics.

The keynote for the Lasers & Therapeutics track will be delivered by Marco Arrigoni, director of marketing at Coherent. He will discuss the various applications of lasers in biology and medicine and categorize them by the type of process involved and the most significant trends. With an industry focus, he will cover applications such as laser-based diagnostics and treatments.

The other two tracks will cover Photoacoustic Imaging and Flow Cytometry.

Science and industry highlights

Attendees of the conference will hear about the ideas and technologies driving innovation in biomedical technology and get a comprehensive view of the burgeoning marketplace. Among the notable themes this year is the convergence of research and business.

Speakers from Olympus, Columbia University, UCLA, Colgate-Palmolive, Hamamatsu, the University of Texas, MKS, and other companies and universities will deliver their perspectives, discussing topics such as flow cytometry, laser biopsy, and more.

Viewers will have the opportunity to ask questions during a Q&A period after each talk.

Registration for the conference is free. For more information, visit www.photonics.com/bpc2022.

Aydogan Ozcan, Chancellor’s Professor and Volgenau Chair for Engineering Innovation and head of the Bio- and Nano-Photonics Laboratory at UCLA. Courtesy of Aydogan Ozcan.

Stephen Boppart, principal investigator at the Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Courtesy of Stephen Boppart.

Laura Marcu, professor of biomedical engineering and neurological surgery at UC Davis. Courtesy of Laura Marcu.

Jürgen Popp, chair of physical chemistry at Friedrich Schiller University Jena and scientific director of the Leibniz Institute of Photonic Technology. Courtesy of Jürgen Popp.

Marco Arrigoni, director of marketing at Coherent. Courtesy of Marco Arrigoni.