From Basic Science Discovery to Translational Applications

The development and use of lasers and light in medicine and biology have had a profound impact in our understanding of disease, in our ability to detect disease, and our ability to treat disease. Innovative optical microscopy and imaging tools have enabled biologists and medical scientists to fundamentally investigate the cellular and molecular changes that occur in diseases such as cancer, heart disease, inflammation, and infection, among many others. Optical biomedical imaging technologies are uniquely capable of visualizing tissues, cells, and molecules from the nano-scale with superresolution techniques up to the scale of organs or the human body with diffusive optical tomography methods. Most importantly, the micro-scale imaging capabilities allow researchers and clinicians the ability to visualize changes at the scale where disease originates.

The science and technology behind biophotonics are not only highly significant, but also have demonstrated a proven record of making significant impacts and changes on our health and our healthcare systems. This Gordon Research Conference, with nearly a 50-year history, focuses on the development, investigation, and translation of novel lasers and optical technologies and methods in medicine and biology. Because of the importance of translating fundamental discoveries to clinical applications with impact on human health, this conference has always involved practicing and research-based clinicians as well as industry leaders to provide a "pull" for the science and technology that is being "pushed" by researchers. There is always a beneficial mix of attendees along this translational path, those who are driven to understand fundamental physics and biology, those developing and engineering tools and instruments, and those applying these innovations to critical problems in medicine and surgery. This unique mix, in a small conducive setting, is one of the key reasons why this particular Gordon Research Conference has enjoyed a long history of success, starting from 1965, and continuing on today. This conference has consistently received some of the highest satisfaction ratings of all Gordon Research Conferences, and has proven to deliver the needed interdisciplinary interactions that are so critically important for addressing the challenging problems we face today.

The 2014 GRC on Lasers in Medicine and Biology will feature 9 technical sessions covering topics that are innovative, impactful, scientifically relevant, progressive, and expected to be critical for the future of our field and the future of medicine and biology. These sessions also provide a broad and comprehensive coverage of the biophotonics field, while giving focus to some rapidly emerging sub-fields. Sessions are balanced between being more fundamental in nature, with others more applied toward current and future biomedical needs. The sub-theme for the 2014 GRC-LMB is "From Basic Science Discovery to Translational Applications". This theme was chosen based on attendee feedback in prior years, identifying the need to emphasize basic principles and fundamental discoveries in optics, imaging science, biology, and medical science, as well as establish and demonstrate clear applications and pathways that showcase how these discoveries can be translated via technological and engineering-based solutions.