Biomedical Optical Imaging Scientist to Lead Premier Laser Research Institute
UC Irvine has appointed Dr. Bernard Choi as Director of Beckman Laser Institute & Medical Clinic, following a comprehensive national search. The appointment marks a new chapter for one of the world’s leading centers for biomedical photonics, laser medicine, and translational optical research.
A long-standing member of the UC Irvine research community, Dr. Choi has served as the Institute’s Interim Director for the past three years, guiding the team through a period of significant growth and scientific achievement. As Professor of Biomedical Engineering and Surgery, he bridges the School of Medicine and the Henry Samueli School of Engineering. His service as Associate Chair of Undergraduate Studies in Biomedical Engineering further reflects a deep and abiding dedication to the university’s educational mission.
“The next chapter of the Institute is about translation, moving new innovations in optical and photonic technologies out of the laboratory and impacting patient care,” said Dr. Choi. “That vision only succeeds if we are equally committed to the educators and trainees who will carry this field forward.”
Dr. Choi earned his B.S. in Biomedical Engineering from Northwestern University. He went on to complete both his M.S.E. and Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Texas at Austin.
At the core of Dr. Choi’s scientific mission is the development of in vivo optical imaging methods for monitoring biological tissues in both normal and diseased states. Dr. Choi’s group is internationally recognized for advancing laser speckle imaging (LSI) to monitor blood flow in real time, alongside complementary modalities such as spatial frequency domain imaging (SFDI). These techniques have been applied to intrasurgical monitoring, burn triage, hemorrhage monitoring, wound healing assessment, and cerebral blood flow measurement, establishing the Institute as a leader in translational biophotonics. His laboratory is world-renowned for pioneering work in optical clearing (the use of chemical agents to reduce the scattering properties of biological tissue). This technique enables high-resolution, three-dimensional optical imaging and opens new frontiers in understanding disease progression and response to novel therapies.
To date, Dr. Choi has authored 157 peer-reviewed publications and holds seven patents. He has secured competitive extramural funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the National Science Foundation (NSF), the Department of Defense (DoD), the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), and other federal sponsors.
Dr. Choi’s active research portfolio reflects a consistent ability to move optical science from the benchtop to the bedside. With NIH support, he is developing a wearable optical patch to continuously monitor tissue perfusion, blood oxygenation, and microvascular function in real time with broad implications for remote patient care and personalized medicine. Supported by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), Dr. Choi is also developing an optical monitoring device to improve real-time assessment of maternal and fetal health during pregnancy and childbirth, addressing a critical gap in modern medicine. This work extends to field-deployable applications in military medicine, emergency response, and pre-hospital care.
Dr. Choi is equally invested in education and workforce development. He is establishing a UC Irvine Core Optical Laboratory Resource (COLR), a hands-on training facility for scientists, engineers, and clinicians in fundamental and applied optics and photonics. As co-PI of the Access to Careers in Engineering and Sciences (ACES) program, he leads an eight-week summer initiative providing undergraduate students from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) with immersive research experiences and mentorship in biomedical engineering and optical medicine. He also co-directs the NIH-funded Innovative Programs to Enhance Research Training (IPERT) program and serves as co-Principal Investigator (co-PI) on the NSF Team Science for Integrated Biomedical Engineering and Social Science Training (BEST) graduate training program. As PI of the Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR)-funded Military Medical Photonics center at the Institute, he collaborates with researchers in translating optical science to military medicine.
As Director, Dr. Choi will oversee the Institute’s research portfolio, operations, educational programs, and strategic direction. He assumes leadership of an institution with a distinguished history of scientific excellence, interdisciplinary collaboration, and real-world clinical impact.
“For nearly four decades, the Institute has transformed the way light is used to understand, diagnose, and heal,” said Dr. Choi. “My priorities now are clear: accelerate the translation of optical science into patient care, strengthen biophotonics education at every level, and cultivate a strong network of supporters to sustain our life-changing work for decades to come.”
