BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//Beckman Laser Institute - ECPv6.16.1//NONSGML v1.0//EN CALSCALE:GREGORIAN METHOD:PUBLISH X-ORIGINAL-URL:https://leadersinlight.com X-WR-CALDESC:Events for Beckman Laser Institute REFRESH-INTERVAL;VALUE=DURATION:PT1H X-Robots-Tag:noindex X-PUBLISHED-TTL:PT1H BEGIN:VTIMEZONE TZID:America/Los_Angeles BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0800 TZOFFSETTO:-0700 TZNAME:PDT DTSTART:20240310T100000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0700 TZOFFSETTO:-0800 TZNAME:PST DTSTART:20241103T090000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0800 TZOFFSETTO:-0700 TZNAME:PDT DTSTART:20250309T100000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0700 TZOFFSETTO:-0800 TZNAME:PST DTSTART:20251102T090000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0800 TZOFFSETTO:-0700 TZNAME:PDT DTSTART:20260308T100000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0700 TZOFFSETTO:-0800 TZNAME:PST DTSTART:20261101T090000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0800 TZOFFSETTO:-0700 TZNAME:PDT DTSTART:20270314T100000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0700 TZOFFSETTO:-0800 TZNAME:PST DTSTART:20271107T090000 END:STANDARD END:VTIMEZONE BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260312T120000 DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260312T130000 DTSTAMP:20260513T122123 CREATED:20260213T192223Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260303T185244Z UID:33833-1773316800-1773320400@leadersinlight.com SUMMARY:Junjie Yao\, PhD DESCRIPTION:From Light to Sound: Imaging\, Treating\, and Building Tissues at Depth\nAbstract \nIntegrating light and sound\, our research weaves engineering innovations that map\, treat\, and ultimately engineer living tissues at depthsunreachable by conventional optical methods—spanning scales from single cells to whole organs. \n(1) Seeing deep with clarity and color. Our photoacoustic imaging (PAI) converts optical absorption into ultrasound emission\, enabling multi-scale functional and molecular imaging. We accelerate photoacoustic microscopy (PAM) by 1000×\, unlocking real-time observations of neural activity\, placental development\, and the remarkable transparency of glassfrogs. Using genetically encoded photoswitchable probes\, we further enhance the molecular sensitivity of photoacoustic computed tomography (PACT) by 1000×\, enabling reliable detection of cancer metastasis\, tissue regeneration\, and neuronal signaling in deep tissues. (2) Treating deep with precision. We translate deep-tissue ultrasound technologies into clinical practice through super-resolution passive cavitation mapping (SR-PCM) integrated with laser lithotripsy. By localizing laser-induced cavitation with >10× sub-diffraction precision\, SR-PCM provides real-time\, closed-loop surgical guidance that significantly improves the efficiency and safety of kidney-stone treatments. (3) Building deep with safety. Our ultrasound volumetric in-situ printing (UltraVIP) technology overcomes the penetration limits of light-based bioprinting by >100×\, using focused ultrasound energy to fabricate intricate three-dimensional structures within deep-seated tissues. UltraVIP expands the possibilities of regenerative medicine\, minimally invasive surgery\, and in situ tissue engineering. Together\, these advances form a unified research pipeline that harnesses light–sound energy conversion and control for noninvasive imaging\, image-guided intervention\, and deep-tissue biofabrication—paving the way for next-generation diagnostic\, therapeutic\, and regenerative technologies. \nBiography \nDr. Junjie Yao is Jeffrey N. Vinik Associate Professor of Biomedical Engineering and Bass Chair Professor at Duke University\, with a secondary appointment at Duke Neurology. He is also the Associate Director of Duke Fitzpatrick Institute for Photonics. Dr. Yao earned his B.S. (2006) and M.S. (2008) degrees from Tsinghua University (Beijing\, China). He further completed his doctoral study at Washington University in St. Louis in 2013 and postdoctoral training in 2016\, under the mentoring of Dr. Lihong V. Wang. At Duke\nUniversity\, Dr. Yao’s research involves the conversion and control of light and sound for high-speed functional brain imaging\, deep-tissue molecular imaging\, early-stage cancer detection\, super-resolution passive cavitation mapping\, and through-tissue ultrasound printing. Dr. Yao’s Google Scholar Citation is ~15500\, with an H-index of 59 and i10-index of 160. Dr. Yao’s contributions to the field of biomedical engineering have been recognized with IEEE Photonic Society Young Investigator Award (2019)\, National Jewish Fund Faculty Fellow (2021)\, NSF CAREER Award (2022)\, Nature Rising Stars of Light Award (2023)\, IC-UEBA Young Investigator Award (2025)\, Highly Citied Researcher List by Clarivate (2025)\, and Stansell Family Distinguished Research Award (2025). Dr. Yao is the Associate Editor of Science Advances\, Journal of Biomedical Optics\, BMC Medical Imaging\, and Journal of Photoacoustics. Dr. Yao was elected as a Fellow of OPTICA (2022)\, SPIE (2025) and AIMBE (2025)\, ‘for breaking the limits of photoacoustic imaging in resolution\, speed\, and functionality\, and translating the technical innovations to theragnostic impacts’. For more detailed information about Dr. Yao’s research\, please visit his website at http://photoacoustics.pratt.duke.edu/. \n  \nREGISTER HERE FOR ZOOM \n  \nClick here to register for in-person attendance (lunch will be served) \n  URL:https://leadersinlight.com/event/junjie-yao-phd/ LOCATION:BLI Library CATEGORIES:2025 Hybrid Seminar Series,LAMP Seminar ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://leadersinlight.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Junjie-Yao-192.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260226T120000 DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260226T130000 DTSTAMP:20260513T122123 CREATED:20260213T182511Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260213T192346Z UID:33829-1772107200-1772110800@leadersinlight.com SUMMARY:Anna-Karin Gustavsson\, PhD DESCRIPTION:Mapping cellular function with 3D single molecule tracking and super-resolution microscopy\nAbstract \nCellular function is governed by the molecular organization and interactions at the nanoscale. In this talk I will demonstrate our recent developments for improved 3D single-molecule tracking of dynamics and super-resolution imaging of nanoscale structures throughout mammalian cells and showcase applications of our approaches for cellular imaging. \nI will describe our developments of light sheet microscopy platforms that reduce fluorescence background\, photobleaching\, and the risk of photodamaging sensitive samples. Combined with point spread function (PSF) engineering\nfor nanoscale localization of individual molecules in 3D\, deep learning for analysis of overlapping emitters\, and a novel 3D nanoprinted microfluidic chip for environmental control\, our platforms offer whole-cell multi-target 3D single-molecule superresolution imaging with improved accuracy\, precision\, and imaging speed. Next\, I will demonstrate how we integrate the\noptical sectioning capabilities of light sheet illumination with uniform\, flat-field epi- and TIRF illumination to achieve more precise and accurate quantitation of single-molecule data. I will also demonstrate novel long axial-range double-helix PSFs and show that they offer stitching-free\, 3D super-resolution imaging of whole mammalian cells\, simplifying the experimental and analysis procedures for obtaining volumetric nanoscale structural information. Furthermore\, I will show that deep learning-based analysis drastically improves the achievable imaging speed and resolution with these PSFs. Finally\, I will describe our recent developments and applications of dCas9-based labels for flexible and long-term tracking of endogenous\, non-repetitive genomic loci in live human cells with excellent spatiotemporal resolution. \nThese imaging approaches are versatile and can be utilized to study molecular dynamics\, nanoscale structures\, and molecular mechanisms to address a broad range of chemical\, biological\, and biomedical questions related to cellular function and pathogenesis. \nBiography \nDr. Gustavsson joined the faculty at Rice University in 2020 as a CPRIT Scholar in Cancer Research and the Norman Hackerman-Welch Young Investigator Chair. At Rice\, she founded and serves as Director of the Center for Nanoscale Imaging Sciences. Her research group strives to gain detailed information about cellular nanoscale structures\, dynamics\, and molecular mechanisms by designing and applying innovative and versatile optical imaging tools. Dr. Gustavsson received her Ph.D. in Physics from the University of Gothenburg\, Sweden. Her graduate work focused on studying rhythms and dynamic responses in single cells by combining and optimizing techniques such as fluorescence microscopy\, optical tweezers\, and microfluidics. Upon completion of her graduate work\, Dr. Gustavsson joined the group of Nobel Laureate W. E. Moerner at Stanford University as a Postdoctoral Fellow. Her research focused on the development and application of 3D single-molecule super-resolution microscopy for cellular imaging and included the implementation of light sheet illumination for optical sectioning of mammalian cells. Her work has been recognized with multiple honors\, awards\, and fellowships\, most notably the FEBS Journal Richard Perham Prize\, the 3-year Swedish Research Council International Postdoctoral Fellowship\, the PicoQuant Young Investigator Award\, the NIH K99/R00 Pathway to Independence Award\, the CPRIT Recruitment of First-Time Tenure-Track Faculty Members Award\, the Scialog: Advancing Bioimaging Fellowship\, the Edward S. and Fofo Lewis Chemistry Research Award\, and the NSF CAREER Award \n  \nREGISTER HERE FOR ZOOM \n  \nClick here to register for in-person attendance (lunch will be served) \n  URL:https://leadersinlight.com/event/anna-karingustavsson/ LOCATION:BLI Library CATEGORIES:2025 Hybrid Seminar Series,LAMP Seminar ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://leadersinlight.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Anna-Karin-Gustavsson-photo-192.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260122T120000 DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260122T130000 DTSTAMP:20260513T122123 CREATED:20260213T223304Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260213T223304Z UID:33842-1769083200-1769086800@leadersinlight.com SUMMARY:Wenbin Tan\, PhD DESCRIPTION:Induced pluripotent stem cells and vascular organoids assemble capillary malformation phenotypes: insights and challenges\nAbstract \nRecent advances in induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) technology have transformed vascular malformation research by enabling the development of human-relevant\, genotype-specific disease models. Patient-derived or genome-edited iPSCs can be differentiated into endothelial cells and assembled into three-dimensional vascular organoids that recapitulate\nmany hallmarks of pathological features. In our recent work\, we established capillary malformation (CM)–derived iPSCs and generated induced endothelial cells and vascular organoids that mirror key disease phenotypes\, including enlarged vascular lumens\, endothelial hyperproliferation\, and dysregulated signaling. Notably\, patient-derived iPSCs and iPSC derived ECs also exhibited heterogeneity in laser-treatment responses\, reflecting the clinical spectrum observed among individuals with CM. Together\, these clinically relevant stem cell–based systems provide powerful platforms for dissecting mechanisms of vascular pathologies and for screening therapeutic candidates in a controlled\, patient-specific context. \nBiography \nDr. Tan is an Associate Professor in the Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy and Director of the Stem Cell and Organoid Core at the University of South Carolina School of Medicine. He is also affiliated with the Cardiovascular Research Center and the Department of Bioengineering at the University of South Carolina. He received his Ph.D. in Neurophysiology and Neurobiology from the University of California\, Los Angeles in 2008\, where his early work focused on rhythmic brainstem neurons involved in the neural control of breathing under Dr. Jack L. Feldman’s mentorship. In 2010\, he joined Dr. J. Stuart Nelson’s group in the Department of Surgery and the Beckman Laser Institute at the University of California\, Irvine\, where he began his research on congenital vascular malformations—a dramatic and unexpected shift from studying neurons to endothelial cells. Dr. Tan is deeply grateful to Dr. J. Stuart Nelson\, Dr. Dongbao Chen\, and the Beckman Laser Institute for their mentorship and the supportive academic environment that shaped his transition to this field. In 2018\, he joined the University of South Carolina School of Medicine. On the East Coast\, he continues to miss the authentic food and consistently pleasant climate of Southern California. He also greatly appreciates the natural beauty and welcoming environment of South Carolina. \n  \nREGISTER HERE FOR ZOOM \n  \nClick here to register for in-person attendance (lunch will be served) \n  URL:https://leadersinlight.com/event/wenbin-tan-phd/ LOCATION:BLI Library CATEGORIES:2025 Hybrid Seminar Series,LAMP Seminar ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://leadersinlight.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Wenbin_Headshot.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20251204T120000 DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20251204T130000 DTSTAMP:20260513T122123 CREATED:20251121T190700Z LAST-MODIFIED:20251121T190700Z UID:33679-1764849600-1764853200@leadersinlight.com SUMMARY:Dr. Goldman DESCRIPTION:Single molecule fluorescence approaches reveal that DEAD-Box RNA helicases cluster in dynamic hubs for protein synthesis initiation\nAbstract \nDEAD-box helicases\, DDX3 and eukaryotic initiation factor 4A (eIF4A)\, play essential roles in translation initiation\, cytoplasmic surveillance for foreign RNAs and in facilitating cellular stress response. Using multi-parameter confocal fluorescence burst spectroscopy\, we discovered that sex chromosome-encoded helicases\, DDX3X and DDX3Y\, form 20 nm RNA-protein clusters (RPCs) containing a few RNA duplexes and dozens of protein subunits. This assembly occurs at nanomolar concentrations\, far below the critical micromolar concentration threshold for liquid-liquid phase separation. N-terminal and C-terminal intrinsically disordered regions (IDRs) are required for RPC formation of DDX3s. eIF4A\, with much smaller IDRs\, does not form RPCs without other protein partners. But with cofactors eIF4B\, which is highly disordered\, and eIF4G\, a scaffolding factor needed to recognize and activate authentic capped mRNAs\, the RPCs appear and again facilitate the helicase (unwinding) function. A mutation in the RNA-binding module of eIF4B causes reduced RPC formation\, reduced phase separation into condensates\, and reduced activity. Faster diffusion of the mutant eIF4B in HeLa cells relative to wild type implies that these features apply in cells as well as in vitro. As DEAD-Box helicases are not processive\, RPCs may be required for unwinding of larger mRNA secondary structures during initiation of protein synthesis and in formation of stress granules as a cellular protective mechanism. \nBiography \nDr. Goldman obtained a BS in Electrical Engineering from Northwestern University in 1969 and MD and PhD in Physiology from the University of Pennsylvania in 1975. He was Post-Doctoral Fellow at University College London under Professor Sir Andrew F. Huxley and Robert M Simmons until 1980 at which time he joined the Physiology Department of the School of Medicine\, University of Pennsylvania. He moved his laboratory and appointment to University of California in Davis in 2023. Dr. Goldman has developed novel instrumentation for biophysical studies on muscle contraction\, non-muscle molecular motors\, protein synthesis and RNA helicases. He introduced photochemical approaches to transient dynamics and mechanochemistry of these biophysical systems\, including caged ATP photolysis\, high speed optical traps (laser tweezers)\, stable isotope oxygen exchange\, single molecule nanometer tracking and polarized total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy. He was awarded the Bowditch Lectureship of the American Physiological Society\, Kinosita Single Molecule Award\, President\, and Fellow of the Biophysical Society\, Storer Lectureship at UC Davis among others. He is a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences\, American Association for the Advancement of Science and elected Member of the US National Academy of Science. \n  \nREGISTER HERE FOR ZOOM \n  \nClick here to register for in-person attendance (lunch will be served) \n  URL:https://leadersinlight.com/event/dr-goldman/ LOCATION:BLI Library CATEGORIES:2025 Hybrid Seminar Series,LAMP Seminar ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://leadersinlight.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Yale-Goldman.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20251120T120000 DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20251120T130000 DTSTAMP:20260513T122123 CREATED:20251121T185752Z LAST-MODIFIED:20251121T185841Z UID:33668-1763640000-1763643600@leadersinlight.com SUMMARY:Wei Gao\, PhD DESCRIPTION:Body-Interfaced Biosensors\nAbstract \nThe rise of personalized medicine is reshaping traditional healthcare\, enabling predictive analytics and tailored treatment strategies. In this talk\, I will discuss our progress in developing wearable\, implantable\, and ingestible electrochemical biosensors for real-time molecular analysis. These bioelectronic systems autonomously access and sample diverse body fluids—including sweat\, interstitial fluid\, gastrointestinal fluid\, wound exudate\, and exhaled breath condensate—enabling continuous monitoring of key biomarkers such as metabolites\, nutrients\, hormones\, proteins\, and drugs during various activities. To facilitate scalable\, cost-effective manufacturing of these high-performance\, nanomaterial-based sensors\, we employ laser engraving\, inkjet printing\, and 3D printing techniques. The clinical utility of our biosensors is being evaluated in human and animal studies\, focusing on applications such as stress and mental health assessment\, precision nutrition\, chronic disease management\, and personalized drug monitoring. Additionally\, I will highlight our efforts in energy harvesting from both the body and the environment\, opening the door to battery-free\, wireless biosensing technologies. By integrating electrochemical biosensing with advanced bioelectronics\, we aim to revolutionize personalized healthcare\, offering new possibilities for diagnostics\, continuous monitoring\, and therapeutic interventions. \nBiography \nWei Gao is a Professor of Medical Engineering and Heritage Medical Research Institute Investigator at the California Institute of Technology. He earned his Ph.D. from the University of California\, San Diego in 2014\, followed by a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of California\, Berkeley from 2014 to 2017. He is an Associate Editor of Science Advances\, npj Flexible Electronics\, Biosensors and Bioelectronics\, and Sensors & Diagnosis. He is a recipient of NSF Career Award\, ONR Young Investigator Award\, IAMBE Early Career Award\, Sloan Research Fellowship\, Pittcon Achievement Award\, IEEE EMBS Early Career Achievement Award\, IEEE EMBS Technical Achievement Award\, IEEE Sensor Council Technical Achievement Award\, MIT Technology Review 35 Innovators Under 35\, and Falling Walls Breakthrough of the Year in Engineering and Technology. He is a World Economic Forum Young Scientist\, a Highly Cited Researcher (Web of Science). He is an elected Fellow for AIMBE and RSC. His research interests include wearable biosensors\, digital medicine\, bioelectronics\, flexible electronics\, additive manufacturing\, and micro/nanorobotics.\nFor additional information about Gao’s research\, please visit www.gao.caltech.edu. \n  \nREGISTER HERE FOR ZOOM \n  \nClick here to register for in-person attendance (lunch will be served) \n  URL:https://leadersinlight.com/event/wei-gao-phd/ LOCATION:BLI Library CATEGORIES:2025 Hybrid Seminar Series,LAMP Seminar ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://leadersinlight.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Wei-Gao-192x192-1.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20251013T120000 DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20251013T130000 DTSTAMP:20260513T122123 CREATED:20251121T181548Z LAST-MODIFIED:20251121T181548Z UID:33653-1760356800-1760360400@leadersinlight.com SUMMARY:Dr. Haichong (Kai) Zhang DESCRIPTION:Listening to the Sound of Light with A Robot: Fusion of Imaging and Robotics for Healthcare\nAbstract \nMedical robotics has been widely applied in areas such as surgical assistance\, enabling higher precision\, reduced fatigue\, and enhanced performance\, and tele-operation\, allowing surgeons to perform procedures remotely without being physically present with the patient. A key enabler of medical robotics is imaging\, which has rapidly evolved over the past two decades to support more minimally invasive\, personalized\, and low-risk diagnostic and therapeutic approaches. My research group focuses on the intersection of medical robotics\, sensing\, and imaging\, with the aim of developing robotic-assisted imaging systems and image-guided robotic interventional platforms. We emphasize ultrasound and photoacoustic (PA) imaging due to their real-time capabilities\, accessibility\, and compact form\, which make them ideal for integration into interventional procedures. In this talk\, I will highlight two major research thrusts in our lab. First\, I will present our work on PA-based functional image-guided interventions\, which provide functional information such as disease states and therapy progression. This approach enables high-sensitivity\, multimodal robotic-assisted surgical guidance. Specifically\, we are investigating the use of molecular-targeted contrast agents to delineate prostate cancer using spectroscopic PA (sPA) imaging\, and a label-free sPA method to monitor therapeutic progression during cardiac ablation. Second\, I will discuss autonomous robotic imaging\, which aims to reduce user dependency during image acquisition\, resulting in higher-quality images and more comprehensive scanning. This includes our development of a robotic optical coherence tomography (OCT) platform for quantifying microstructural parameters of human kidneys during transplant surgeries to assess organ viability\,and an autonomous ultrasound robot for diagnosing lung diseases. These advancements in robotic imaging and intervention have the potential to significantly enhance both diagnostic capabilities and therapeutic outcomes\, paving the way for the next generation of medical imaging and robotics. \nBiography \nDr. Haichong (Kai) Zhang is an Associate Professor in Biomedical Engineering and Robotics Engineering with an appointment in Computer Science at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI). He is the founding director of the Medical Frontier Ultrasound Imaging and Robotic Instrumentation (Medical FUSION) Laboratory. His research interests include advanced medical imaging and robotic instrumentation with an emphasis on ultrasound and photoacoustics. Dr. Zhang received his B.S. and M.S. in Human Health Sciences from the Kyoto University\, Japan\, and subsequently earned his M.S. and Ph.D. in Computer Science from the Johns Hopkins University. Dr. Zhang is the recipient of the NIH Director’s Early Independence Award (DP5) in 2019 and the Early Investigator Research Award from the Department of Defense Prostate Cancer Research Program in 2018. He has served as a Program Committee Member for two tracks at the Image-Guided Procedures\, Robotic Interventions\, and Modeling and Ultrasonic Imaging and Tomography at the SPIE Medical Imaging Conference. \n  \nREGISTER HERE FOR ZOOM \n  \nClick here to register for in-person attendance (lunch will be served) \n  URL:https://leadersinlight.com/event/dr-haichong-kai-zhang/ LOCATION:BLI Library CATEGORIES:2025 Hybrid Seminar Series,LAMP Seminar ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://leadersinlight.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/HaichongZhang-192x192-1.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250925T120000 DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250925T130000 DTSTAMP:20260513T122123 CREATED:20251121T183409Z LAST-MODIFIED:20251121T183553Z UID:33659-1758801600-1758805200@leadersinlight.com SUMMARY:Guillem Pratx\, PhD DESCRIPTION:Small but mighty: Micropysiological models for simulating complex clinical oncology workflows\nAbstract \nMicrophysiological tumor models (μPTMs) are tissue-engineered 3D tumors that are grown in the lab and retain the biological and functional characteristics of the tissue of origin. These μPTMs provide a powerful model of individual patients’ tumor and are used for drug discovery\, cancer research\, and personalized medicine. This talk will discuss various projects related to these models. First\, we will show how radioluminescence microscopy (RLM) can image clinical radionuclides in μPTMs\, providing the equivalent of PET/CT but with higher spatial resolution. By imaging patient-derived organoids\, RLM provides a quantitative endpoint that can be linked to in vivo PET data from the same patient. We will then discuss how RLM can also be applied to “on-chip” tumors\, which are engineered using microfluidics technology to create environmental gradients of oxygen and nutrients\, resulting in heterogeneous physiology. Finally\, we will explore how μPTMs can help decipher the complex biology behind so-called FLASH radiotherapy\, which involves treating tumors with high doses of ionizing radiation in a fraction of a second. By reducing the complexity of animal models while enabling use of patient-derived cells\, μPTMs can reveal crucial biological mechanisms\, yielding biological knowledge that can then be applied to translating these novel treatments. \nBiography \nGuillem Pratx\, PhD is associate professor of Radiation Oncology and Medical Physics at Stanford University. The physical Oncology Lab\, which he leads\, employs physics and math to advance cancer research and patient care. Research projects blend traditional medical physics concepts with recent advances in biomedical engineering to incorporate novel capabilities into current medical imaging and enhance radiation therapy processes. Prof. Pratx is a Damon Runyon Innovator\, an SNMMI Young Investigator\, an NIH investigator\, and the author of over 100 publications. \n  \nREGISTER HERE FOR ZOOM \n  \nClick here to register for in-person attendance (lunch will be served) \n  URL:https://leadersinlight.com/event/guillem-pratx-phd/ LOCATION:BLI Library CATEGORIES:2025 Hybrid Seminar Series,LAMP Seminar ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://leadersinlight.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Guillem-Pratx-PhD.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250626T120000 DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250626T130000 DTSTAMP:20260513T122123 CREATED:20251121T183744Z LAST-MODIFIED:20251121T183744Z UID:33658-1750939200-1750942800@leadersinlight.com SUMMARY:Prof. C.P.J. Chris Barty DESCRIPTION:Distributed Charge Compton Sources and the Precision Detection and Treatment of Disease\nAbstract \nMedical robotics has been widely applied in areas such as surgical assistance\, enabling higher precision\, reduced fatigue\, and enhanced performance\, and tele-operation\, allowing surgeons to perform procedures remotely without being physically present with the patient. A key enabler of medical robotics is imaging\, which has rapidly evolved over the past two decades to support more minimally invasive\, personalized\, and low-risk diagnostic and therapeutic approaches. My research group focuses on the intersection of medical robotics\, sensing\, and imaging\, with the aim of developing robotic-assisted imaging systems and image-guided robotic interventional platforms. We emphasize ultrasound and photoacoustic (PA) imaging due to their real-time capabilities\, accessibility\, and compact form\, which make them ideal for integration into interventional procedures. In this talk\, I will highlight two major research thrusts in our lab. First\, I will present our work on PA-based functional image-guided interventions\, which provide functional information such as disease states and therapy progression. This approach enables high-sensitivity\, multimodal robotic-assisted surgical guidance. Specifically\, we are investigating the use of molecular-targeted contrast agents to delineate prostate cancer using spectroscopic PA (sPA) imaging\, and a label-free sPA method to monitor therapeutic progression during cardiac ablation. Second\, I will discuss autonomous robotic imaging\, which aims to reduce user dependency during image acquisition\, resulting in higher-quality images and more comprehensive scanning. This includes our development of a robotic optical coherence tomography (OCT) platform for quantifying microstructural parameters of human kidneys during transplant surgeries to assess organ viability\,and an autonomous ultrasound robot for diagnosing lung diseases. These advancements in robotic imaging and intervention have the potential to significantly enhance both diagnostic capabilities and therapeutic outcomes\, paving the way for the next generation of medical imaging and robotics. \nBiography \nProf. C.P.J. (Chris) Barty is a Distinguished Professor of Physics and Astronomy at the University of California\, Irvine (https://faculty.sites.uci.edu/bartylab/). He is also the co-founder of Lumitron Technologies\, Inc of Irvine\, California (www.lumitronxrays.com). At UCI he has affiliations with the Beckman Laser Institute and Medical Clinic\, the Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center\, and is the senior member of UCIʼs Convergence Optical Sciences Initiative (COSI). Prior to his arrival in Southern California in 2017\, he had served as the chief technology officer for the $0.5B/annum\, National Ignition Facility and Photon Science Directorate at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. Prof. Barty received his Ph.D. and M.S. in applied physics from Stanford University and B.S.ʼs in chemistry\, physics and chemical engineering\, each with honors\, from North Carolina State University. He is a fellow of OSA\, IEEE\,APS\, SPIE\, and AAAS. Recent recognitions include; the Harold E. Edgerton Award of the SPIE and the R. W. Wood Prize of the OSA. \n  \nREGISTER HERE FOR ZOOM \n  \nClick here to register for in-person attendance (lunch will be served) \n  URL:https://leadersinlight.com/event/chris-barty-6-25/ LOCATION:BLI Library CATEGORIES:2025 Hybrid Seminar Series,LAMP Seminar ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://leadersinlight.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/chrisfinal-192x192-1.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250501T120000 DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250501T130000 DTSTAMP:20260513T122123 CREATED:20250428T202348Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250428T202348Z UID:33097-1746100800-1746104400@leadersinlight.com SUMMARY:ABRAHAM QAVI\, M.D.\, PH.D. DESCRIPTION:Controlling Light to Reimagine Clinical Diagnostics\nAbstract \nCurrent diagnostic testing faces several challenges\, including limited multiplexing capabilities\, a lack of quantitation information\, the need for centralized laboratories\, and/or cold chain custody.  In this talk\, we highlight the use of photonic resonators and plasmonic enhanced sensors as tools to address these critical gaps in diagnostics.  Both techniques enable the control and manipulation of light to significantly improve the analytical sensitivity and performance of conventional laboratory assays. We demonstrate the use of these technologies for the rapid and sensitive detection of viruses\, including filoviruses and coronaviruses.  We also highlight how optical toolkits can be leveraged to meet urgent global health challenges. \nBiography \nDr. Abraham Qavi completed his undergraduate studies at the University of California\, Irvine\, followed by his PhD and MD at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.  He subsequently completed medical residency in Clinical Pathology and postdoctoral studies at Washington University in St. Louis.  His research program focuses on the application of photonic resonators and plasmonic enhanced sensing to improve current diagnostic assays.  His clinical obligations include serving as Director of Point of Care Testing\, Director of Innovative Laboratory Diagnostics\, and Associate Director of Clinical Chemistry at UCI Medical Center. \n  \nREGISTER HERE FOR ZOOM \n  \nClick here to register for in-person attendance (lunch will be served) \n  URL:https://leadersinlight.com/event/abraham-qavi/ LOCATION:BLI Library CATEGORIES:2025 Hybrid Seminar Series,LAMP Seminar ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://leadersinlight.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Screenshot-2025-04-28-132238.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250410T120000 DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250410T130000 DTSTAMP:20260513T122123 CREATED:20250325T193729Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260312T173309Z UID:32897-1744286400-1744290000@leadersinlight.com SUMMARY:Elliot S. Yu\, MD DESCRIPTION:Pitfalls in Clinical Gastroenterology\nAbstract \nGastroenterology is a multi-organ medical specialty pertaining to the treatment of the entire alimentary tract. I would like to introduce biomedical concepts and current treatment and diagnostic modalities of common gastrointestinal disorders and in turn discuss the current limitations of technological and clinical limitations to spark collaboration and ideas for improvement with engineering colleagues who may be interested. Upper endoscopy bleeding\, gastroesophageal reflux disease\, and gastroparesis are areas of the GI foregut where we are still lacking certain tools for early diagnosis\, treatment and understanding of the pathophysiology of these disorders.  \nAs proceduralists\, gastroenterologists practice both medicine and therapeutic endoscopy in our practice. I hope to brainstorm concepts and feasibilities of current wavelength imaging\, proximity sensors and temporal spatial markers to be able to explore these different modalities further and bridge our current gap of knowledge. \nBiography \nDr. Yu earned his medical degree from the State University of New York Jacobs School of Medicine in Buffalo with research honors. He completed a residency in internal medicine and fellowship in Gastroenterology and Hepatology at the Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee. \nAs a physician deeply invested in advancing esophageal care\, Dr. Yu completed an additional year of fellowship research in Neurogastroenterology and Motility at the Medical College of Wisconsin with his clinical training. His work\, including publications and abstracts on the rehabilitative potential of striated esophageal muscles and gastroesophageal reflux disease\, reflects his commitment to advancing care for patients with esophageal conditions through evidence-based practices. Dr. Yu is also interested in investigating novel endoscopic and manometric techniques for diagnosis of esophageal motility disorders and assessment of physiological reflux barriers in the esophagus. He has a clinical focus in dysphagia (difficulty swallowing) and is adept at performing and interpreting esophageal manometry. He also has interest in eosinophilic esophagitis and mechanisms to evaluate and prevent gastroesophageal reflux disease. \n  \nREGISTER HERE FOR ZOOM \n  \nClick here to register for in-person attendance (lunch will be served) \n  URL:https://leadersinlight.com/event/elliot-yu/ LOCATION:BLI Library CATEGORIES:2025 Hybrid Seminar Series,LAMP Seminar ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://leadersinlight.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Yu-Elliot01-test2.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250226T120000 DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250226T130000 DTSTAMP:20260513T122123 CREATED:20250325T194942Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250325T212420Z UID:32911-1740571200-1740574800@leadersinlight.com SUMMARY:James Rosenzweig\, PhD DESCRIPTION:Relativistic Compton Scattering Experiments: Applications to Science and Medicine\nBiography \nJames Rosenzweig is a Distinguished Professor of Physics in the UCLA Department of Physics and Astronomy specializing in research into advances accelerator\, beam and radiation techniques\, and their frontier applications across science. In pursuit of these goals\, he directs a large research group at UCLA\, the Particle Beam Physics Laboratory (PBPL.) The PBPL concentrates on fundamental aspects of high brightness\, ultra-fast relativistic electron beams\, with application to very high field accelerators based on lasers\, wakefields\, plasmas\, dielectrics and to radiation production\, such as free-electron lasers and Compton scattering sources. \nThis research enables new scientific methods using electron\, terahertz optical and X-ray beams\, which have to applications ranging from high field pumps to study nonequilibrium high field phenomena\, and atomic-molecular level ultra-fast imaging techniques. This research program is based on-campus at the MITHRA advanced accelerator lad and the MOTHRA high field microwave research lab. These state-of-the-art facilities are complemented by a large external program emphasizing wakefield acceleration and at user facilities. Professor Rosenzweig is the author of more than 600 scientific articles and has written a textbook\, Fundamentals of Beam Physics\, emphasizing unity of concepts between charged particle and laser beams. \nDr. Rosenzweig is a lifetime member and Fellow of the American Physical Society. He has been the recipient of Sloan\, SCC and Wilson Fellowships. In recognition of his contributions to his research fields\, he has received the 2007 International Free-electron Laser Prize\, 2022 Advanced Accelerator Prize and the 2023 Alfven Prize in Plasma Physics. Professor Rosenzweig has trained over 35 graduate students\, and these scientists have gone on to key positions in the national labs\, universities\, and industry. He has served five years as the Chair of the UCLA Department of Physics and Astronomy\, and has also co-founded several industrial accelerator companies. \n  \nREGISTER HERE FOR ZOOM \n  \nClick here to register for in-person attendance (lunch will be served) \n  URL:https://leadersinlight.com/event/james-rosenzweig/ LOCATION:BLI Library CATEGORIES:2025 Hybrid Seminar Series,LAMP Seminar ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://leadersinlight.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Screenshot-2025-03-25-124910-e1742932263664.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250121T120000 DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250121T130000 DTSTAMP:20260513T122123 CREATED:20250325T200206Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250325T212454Z UID:32916-1737460800-1737464400@leadersinlight.com SUMMARY:Vasilis Ntziachristos\, M.Sc.\, Ph.D. DESCRIPTION:From Optical to Optoacoustic Imaging: Technology Advances and Clinical Translation\nAbstract \nBiological discovery is a driving force of biomedical progress. With rapidly advancing technology to collect and analyze information from cells and tissues\, we generate biomedical knowledge at rates never before attainable to science. Nevertheless\, conversion of this knowledge to patient benefits remains a slow process. To accelerate the process of\nreaching solutions for healthcare\, it would be important to strongly complement this culture of discovery with a culture of problem-solving in healthcare. \nThe talk focuses on recent progress with optical and optoacoustic technologies\, including Multispectral Optoacoustic Tomography (MSOT) and Raster-scan Optoacoustic Mesoscopy (RSOM)\, as well as computational methods\, as the means to opening new paths for solutions in biology and medicine. Particular attention is given on the use of these\ntechnologies for early detection and monitoring of disease evolution. The talk further shows new classes of imaging systems and sensors for assessing biochemical and pathophysiological parameters of systemic diseases\, complement knowledge from –omic analytics and drive integrated solutions for improving healthcare. \nBiography \nProfessor Vasilis Ntziachristos studied electrical engineering at Aristotle University in Thessaloniki. Following his M.Sc. and Ph.D. in the Department of Bioengineering at the University of Pennsylvania\, he was then appointed Assistant Professor and Director of the Laboratory for Bio-Optics and Molecular Imaging at Harvard University and Massachusetts General Hospital. \nSince 2007\, he has served as Professor of Medicine and Electrical Engineering and the Chair of Biological Imaging at the Technical University of Munich and Director of the Institute of Biological and Medical Imaging at Helmholtz Munich. Prof. Ntziachristos is also currently Director of Bioengineering at the Helmholtz Pioneer Campus\, the Head of the Bioengineering Department at Helmholtz Munich\, and Director of the IESL at FORTH. Prof. Ntziachristos is the founder of the journal Photoacoustics\, regularly Chairs in international meetings and councils and has received numerous awards and distinctions\, including the Karl Heinz Beckurts prize (2021)\, the Chaire Blaise Pascal (2019) from the Region Ile-de-France\, the Gold Medal from the Society for Molecular Imaging (2015)\, the Gottfried Leibnitz prize from the German Research Foundation (2013)\, the Erwin Schrödinger Award (2012) and was named one of the world’s top innovators by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Technology Review in 2004. In 2024\, he has been elected as a new member of the German Academy of Sciences Leopoldina. \n  \nREGISTER HERE FOR ZOOM \n  \nClick here to register for in-person attendance (lunch will be served) \n  URL:https://leadersinlight.com/event/vasilis-ntziachristos/ LOCATION:BLI Library CATEGORIES:2025 Hybrid Seminar Series,LAMP Seminar ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://leadersinlight.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Professor-Vasilis-Ntziachristos2.jpg END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR