Biophotonics

The Biophotonics effort at the Fitzpatrick Institute for Photonics (FIP) is focused on developing a comprehensive, bottom-up approach toward non-invasive, early detection of disease where scientific and technological advances made at one level are incorporated into and drive the work at the next stage.

Optical coherence imaging techniques such as optical coherence tomography and phase-resolved microscopy provide powerful non-invasive modalities for real-time, micrometer-scale cross-sectional tissue imaging and ultrasensitive detection of cellular dynamics in vivo with microscopic scale resolution.

Diffuse optical tomography for measurements of hemodynamics and fluorescence and Raman techniques for spectroscopic diagnosis of disease, are important photonic modalities ready for translational research. We will extend our in vivo studies using fluorescence and Raman from the point-detection modality into a multispectral imaging modality.

An important goal of our clinically motivated research program is to create a multi-modality platform, whereby in vivo optical detection provides a complementary means to improve early detection and guidance for disease treatment. We will also investigate the use of novel molecular probes (nanoparticles, quantum dots, and plasmonics probes) as photonics contrast agents and molecular reporters of cellular events. We will investigate the development of molecular probes with multifunctional detection capabilities (OCT, diffuse scattering, fluorescence, and Raman).

By "multiplexing" these different photonics modalities, we will develop a novel type of hybrid biomedical system capable of detecting both chemical/molecular and morphological properties of tissue in vivo, which is not possible to conceive using only a single type of detection.

With a special focus on translational research, we will establish interdisciplinary collaborations with clinical investigators and draw upon various resources at Duke.

Biophotonics Faculty

Claude Shreve Burton

Professor of Dermatology
Chronic non-healing wounds, especially venous ulcer, diabetic ulcer wound healing Laser treatment of skin lesions

Patrick James Codd

Associate Professor of Neurosurgery

Mark Wesley Dewhirst

Gustavo S. Montana Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Radiation Oncology
Mark W. Dewhirst, DVM, PhD is the Gustavo S. Montana Professor of Radiation Oncology and Vice Director for Basic Science in the Duke Cancer Institute...

Al-Hafeez Z Dhalla

Assistant Research Professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering
My research focuses on the application of optical technologies for non-invasive, high-resolution imaging of biological tissues.  In particular,...

Peter Edward Fecci

Professor of Neurosurgery
As the Director of both the Brain Tumor Immunotherapy Program and the Center for Brain and Spine Metastasis at Duke University, I focus our...

Greg D. Field

Adjunct Associate Professor of Neurobiology
My laboratory studies how the retina processes visual scenes and transmits this information to the brain.  We use multi-electrode arrays to...

Katherine Schuver Garman

Associate Professor of Medicine
My research focuses on injury, repair, and cancer development in the gastrointestinal tract. My laboratory performs translational research with the...

Lindsey Glickfeld

Associate Professor of Neurobiology
That a picture can be worth a thousand words relies on the power of the visual system. In order to divide the labor of this task, the visual cortex...

Yiyang Gong

Assistant Research Professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering
We're interested in understanding brain function using the combination of genetically encoded sensors and optical techniques. Using genetically...

Russell P. Hall

J. Lamar Callaway Distinguished Professor of Dermatology, in the School of Medicine
Our laboratory is investigating the pathogenesis of autoimmune blistering skin diseases. Areas of special expertise include immune mediated skin...

John Wirthlin Hickey

Assistant Professor of Biomedical Engineering

Joseph A. Izatt

Michael J. Fitzpatrick Distinguished Professor of Engineering
My research centers on the development and application of cutting-edge optical technologies for non-invasive, high-resolution imaging and sensing in...

G. Allan Johnson

Charles E. Putman University Distinguished Professor of Radiology
Dr. Johnson is the Charles E. Putman University Professor of Radiology, Professor of Physics, and Biomedical Engineering, and Director of the Duke...

Christopher Ryan Kelsey

Professor of Radiation Oncology
Clinical trials that are currently enrolling patients include a study investigating lower doses of radiation therapy for patients with diffuse large...

David Guy Kirsch

Adjunct Professor in the Department of Radiation Oncology
My clinical interests are the multi-modality care of patients with bone and soft tissue sarcomas and developing new sarcoma therapies. My laboratory...

Anthony Nanlin Kuo

Associate Professor of Ophthalmology
Anthony Kuo, MD is an Associate Professor of Ophthalmology and Assistant Professor of Biomedical Engineering at Duke University. He is a clinician-...

Ryan P McNabb

Medical Instructor in the Department of Ophthalmology
Dr. McNabb is an engineer by training with a research focus on combining optical coherence tomography (OCT) and robots for use in the ophthalmology...

Samira Musah

Assistant Professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering
The Musah Lab is interested in understanding how molecular signals and biophysical forces can function either synergistically or independently to...

Barry S. Myers

Professor of Biomedical Engineering
Dr. Myers has been a member of the Duke faculty since 1991 and has just completed a three-year role as Managing Director of Licensing and Ventures....

James Michael Provenzale

Professor of Radiology
I have the following major research areas:I. Diffusion tensor imaging (an MR technique that measures rate and direction of microscopic water motion)...

Nimmi Ramanujam

Robert W. Carr, Jr., Distinguished Professor of Biomedical Engineering
Ramanujam obtained her Ph.D. degree at the University of Texas at Austin. She progressed through the ranks as an academic researcher; the first five...

Weston Ross

Assistant Professor in Neurosurgery
Assistant Professor in the Department of Neurosurgery, Duke School of Medicine. Research Director for the Brain Tool Laboratory in the Pratt...

Ehsan Samei

Reed and Martha Rice Distinguished Professor of Radiology
Dr. Ehsan Samei, PhD, DABR, FAAPM, FSPIE, FAIMBE, FIOMP, FACR is a Persian-American medical physicist. He is the Reed and Martha Rice...

Allan B. Shang

Adjunct Assistant Professor of Biomedical Engineering
My current research interests include the investigation into current and experimental biosensors, including the use of lasers and photonic techniques...

Amanda Kristine Suggs

Assistant Professor of Dermatology

Nathan Maclyn Thielman

Professor of Medicine
Broadly, my research focuses on a range of clinical and social issues that affect persons living with or at risk for HIV infection in resource-poor...

Cynthia Ann Toth

Joseph A.C. Wadsworth Distinguished Professor of Ophthalmology
RESEARCH INTERESTS Dr. Toth specializes in the evaluation and surgical treatment of vitreoretinal diseases in infants, children and adults, and in...

George A. Truskey

R. Eugene and Susie E. Goodson Distinguished Professor of Biomedical Engineering
My research interests focus upon the effect of physical forces on the function of vascular cells and skeletal muscle, cell adhesion, and the design...

Ganesan Vaidyanathan

Professor Emeritus in Radiology
Dr. Vaidyanathan is a professor in the Department of Radiology.  He is a member of the Nuclear Medicine track of the Medical Physics Graduate...

Tuan Vo-Dinh

R. Eugene and Susie E. Goodson Distinguished Professor of Biomedical Engineering
Dr. Tuan Vo-Dinh is R. Eugene and Susie E. Goodson Distinguished Professor of Biomedical Engineering, Professor of Chemistry, and Director of The...

Warren S. Warren

James B. Duke Distinguished Professor of Chemistry
Our work focuses on the design and application of what might best be called novel pulsed techniques, using controlled radiation fields to alter...

Adam P. Wax

Professor of Biomedical Engineering
Dr. Wax's research interests include optical spectroscopy for early cancer detection, novel microscopy and interferometry techniques. The study of...

Heather Elizabeth Whitson

Professor of Medicine
Dr. Whitson's research is focused on improving care options and resilience for people with multiple chronic conditions.  In particular, she has...

Junjie Yao

Associate Professor of Biomedical Engineering
Our mission at PI-Lab is to develop state-of-the-art photoacoustic tomography (PAT) technologies and translate PAT advances into diagnostic and...

Michael Rod Zalutsky

Jonathan Spicehandler, M.D. Distinguished Professor of Neuro Oncology, in the School of Medicine
The overall objective of our laboratory is the development of novel radioactive compounds for improving the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. This...