Technical Groups

Bio-Medical Optics

Explore the technical groups of the Bio-Medical Optics Technical Division, which cover a wide range of topics, from fundamental research and technology development, to biomedical studies, to clinical applications.

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The Bio-Medical Optics Technical Division focuses on the use of light in biological research and medical applications as well as the development of the optical tools needed to perform this work. This division encompasses laser and optical techniques and technologies for basic biological research, as well as medical diagnostics and therapeutic applications. Explore the seven technical groups within this division, each of which offers their members access to innovative events, focused networking opportunities and engaging webinars.

Technical Groups

Microscopy and Optical Coherence Tomography (BM)

This group emphasizes the development and application of new techniques for micrometer-scale structural and functional imaging of biological systems. Some areas of interest include super-resolution microscopy, multimodal approaches and linear and nonlinear quantitative imaging.

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Molecular Probes and Nanobio-Optics (BP)

This group focuses on the use of molecularly specific exogenous agents to image biological tissues. The information provided by these techniques (including fluorescent proteins, quantum dots and plasmonic nanoparticles) makes it possible to construct nanoscale probes to produce therapeutic effects.

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Optical Biosensors (BB)

This group emphasizes the development and application of optical technologies for the targeted detection of trace biological compounds for molecularly oriented medical diagnostics as well as for alerting to biological threat and contamination.

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Optical Trapping and Manipulation in Molecular and Cellular Biology (BT)

This group focuses on the development and application of novel optical trapping and manipulation techniques to biological problems. Focus areas include the use of optical tweezers for molecular- and cellular-scale manipulation and the integration of optical manipulation with microfluidics.

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Therapeutic Laser Applications (BA)

This group focuses on the use of lasers in surgery and in treatment of disease. This includes the use of lasers as surgical tools for tissue cutting, welding and coagulation, as well as the use of optics to initiate cell-damaging photochemical reactions for the treatment of diseases such as cancer.

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Tissue Imaging and Spectroscopy (BS)

This group focuses on the use of light to form images of tissue or to determine tissue properties through spectroscopic measurements. The techniques used are an essential tool for biomedical research and hold great promise for clinical tasks such as breast cancer imaging and brain mapping.

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Photobiomodulation (BL)

This group focuses on photobiomodulation, the process by which nonionizing optical radiation from lasers and noncoherent sources in the visible and near-infrared spectral range is absorbed by endogenous chromophores to elicit photophysical and photochemical events leading to physiological changes.

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