Research
Biophotonics
Principal Investigator: Giuliano Scarcelli
Our biophotonics research focuses on how light interacts with biological material to create new tools for studying health and disease. We develop advanced imaging technologies that can measure properties like mass, stiffness, and viscosity, things that are hard or even impossible to detect with traditional methods. These physical properties play a key role in understanding how tissues form, how cancer spreads, and whether a pregnancy is progressing normally. Our microscopes are special because they can measure these properties without physically touching or disturbing the sample. This breakthrough was named one of The Guardian’s Top 10 Science Innovations of 2022.
Glaucoma
Principal Investigator: Osamah Saeedi
Glaucoma is a leading cause of blindness, particularly among African Americans and Hispanics. Glaucoma affects over 3 million Americans and is the cause of 120,000 cases of blindness in the United States. Direct costs are estimated to be $3 billion annually. There is no cure currently for glaucoma, although early detection and regular treatment can prevent vision loss from the disease. My research focuses on using new imaging techniques to develop sensitive biomarkers for glaucoma for early detection. This could potentially save vision for thousands of Americans, allowing patients with glaucoma to continue to work and drive. This has the potential to reduce direct health care costs as well as save millions more to society.
Photothermal Therapy
Principal Investigator: Joe Huang
This treatment uses nanoparticles that heat up when exposed to light, killing harmful cells or triggering helpful biological responses. Our team designs advanced nanoparticles and combines them with cell-based therapies for use in both treating and diagnosing diseases like cancer and infections.