Optical Innovations Solving Challenges in the Life Sciences

The Lasers in Medicine and Biology Gordon Research Conference is regarded as one of the premiere scientific conferences for the field encompassing biophotonics, biomedical optics, and biomedical optical imaging. The application of lasers and light in medicine has had a profound impact over the last several decades, both in diagnostics and in therapy. Today, and in the future, biophotonics and biomedical optical imaging will continue to probe at the molecular and cellular levels, where disease starts. Fundamental biology research relies heavily on technological advances in biophotonics and microscopy, and these advances undoubtedly will continue to foster new biological discoveries that have the potential to translate into more effective healthcare.

This field is inherently interdisciplinary, bringing together biomedical and optical engineers, physicists, chemists, biologists, clinicians, and industry leaders. Engineers are developing innovative instruments and tools for diagnostics and therapy. Physicists are exploring fundamental principles underpinning lasers, optics, and optical science. Chemists are fabricating new molecularly-targeted optical probes for cancer, heart disease, and many other diseases. Biologists are using advanced systems and techniques to elucidate fundamental processes in diseases and organisms. Clinicians are sharing human medical problems they face on a daily basis that are in need for innovative technological solutions. Industrial leaders are describing translational paths to broadly disseminate lab-based results to impact human health and our systems of healthcare. The Lasers in Medicine and Biology conference embraces this diverse community, generating an environment of lively discussion around in-depth presentations of the frontier developments in the field.