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Information and deadlines for nominations

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Michael S. Feld Biophotonics Award

Recognizes individuals for their innovative and influential contributions to the field of biophotonics, regardless of their career stage. 

The scope of the award encompasses all areas of biophotonics, ranging from fundamental optics discoveries in biology to the development of new theoretical frameworks and novel instrumentation to clinical translational research for biomedicine.

The award was established in 2012 to honor Michael Feld for his fundamental contributions to applications of photonics technologies to solving biomedical problems. It is endowed by Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Hamamatsu Photonics K.K., Coherent Inc., David Feld along with Ramachandra Dasari, Adam Wax, Kyungwon An, Robert Gold, Charles Holbrow, Firooz Partovi, Manoharan Ramasamy, Rebecca Richards-Kortum and Guillermo Tearney. 

Winners

2024

Zhongping Chen

Zhongping Chen

For pioneering research, development, and clinical translation of Doppler optical coherence tomography (OCT), OCT angiography, OCT elastography, and multimodality intravascular imaging

2023

Brian Thomas Cunningham

Brian Thomas Cunningham

For innovative and transformative research in optical sensing, spectroscopy, and microscopy as well as leadership and entrepreneurship in technology development of photonic crystal biosensors

2022

Valentina Emiliani

Valentina Emiliani

For pioneering research on wavefront engineering in neurophotonics, which enabled the selective control of individual neurons in the intact brain using light and optogenetics, and initiated the era of all-optical brain control.

2021

Arjun G Yodh

Arjun G Yodh

For pioneering research on optical sensing in scattering media, especially diffuse optical and correlation spectroscopy and tomography, and for advancing the field of biophotonics through mentorship

2020

Nirmala Ramanujam

Nirmala Ramanujam

For advances in precision diagnostics and therapeutics to address global disparities in cervical and breast cancer management and mortality

2019

Valery V Tuchin

Valery V Tuchin

For pioneering research in biophotonics, particularly in the field of tissue optics and tissue optical clearing, and for promoting biophotonics by educating future researchers through seminal monographs and reviews

2018

Lihong V Wang

Lihong V Wang

For inventing the world’s fastest two-dimensional receive-only camera and enabling real-time imaging of the fastest phenomena such as light propagation and fluorescence decay

2017

Paras N Prasad

Paras N Prasad

For pioneering research in biophotonics, particularly in application of nonlinear optical and multiphoton processes, and for promoting biophotonics and educating future researchers through his seminal monographs and reviews

2016

Robert R Alfano

Robert R Alfano

For leadership and pioneering contributions in the field of biophotonics, comprising the diverse use of label-free native fluorescence, Raman spectroscopy, and optical imaging for cancer detection in tissues and cells

2015

Bruce J Tromberg

Bruce J Tromberg

As an advocate for and leader of the Biophotonics Community and for pioneering the development and clinical application of spatially and temporally modulated light imaging

2014

Rebecca R Richards-Kortum

Rebecca R Richards-Kortum

For exceptional contributions to advancing the applications of optics in disease diagnosis and inspiring work in disseminating low-cost health technologies to the developing world

2013

Brian C Wilson

Brian C Wilson

For sustained contributions to the field of biophotonics, spanning over thirty years and encompassing outstanding research, technology development, clinical translation and training and education, in the areas of light dosimetry, photodynamic therapy fluorescence and Raman endoscopy, microscopy and nanophotonics

* Deceased

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