Stephen Boppart (UIUC) – AI+Science Schmidt Fellows Speaker Series

Organized by the University of Chicago’s Eric and Wendy Schmidt AI in Science Postdoctoral Fellowship Program.

Agenda
4:30pm – 5:15pm: Presentation
5:15pm – 5:30pm: Q&A
5:30pm – 6:00pm: Reception

Meeting location
William Eckhardt Research Center. Room 401
5640 S Ellis Avenue, Chicago, IL 60637
Map It

Abstract: Innovations in biomedical imaging have historically led to discoveries in the life sciences and new detection and diagnostic technologies in medicine and surgery.   Label-free intravital optical imaging and imaging of fresh, unstained, resected tissue specimens, offers a wealth of new biosignatures for revealing the true colors of cancer and diagnosing neurodegenerative changes. Using innovative optical source technology and nonlinear optics to generate tailored excitation wavelengths and manipulate the light stimulus in new ways, Simultaneous Label-free Auto-fluorescence Multi-harmonic (SLAM) microscopy can achieve fast simultaneous visualization of the rich intrinsic molecular and metabolic features within tissues.  Quantitative machine/deep learning analyses of these multi-dimensional datasets can be used to segment cell populations for spatial profiling of the tumor/tissue microenvironment, and to identify selective diagnostic biosignatures for disease.   Specifically, extracellular vesicles (EVs) in cancer and plaque composition in Alzheimer’s disease were analyzed via their optical signatures and spatial distributions. Analysis showed that EVs from the tumor microenvironment and variations in amyloid-beta plaques have unique optical signatures, in comparison to those vesicles and tissues from healthy subjects. The clinical demonstration of these label-free optical biomedical imaging technologies offers new paradigms for point-of-procedure diagnosis and guidance.

Stephen Boppart is a Professor and Grainger Distinguished Chair in Engineering at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) with appointments in the Departments of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Bioengineering, the Carle Illinois College of Medicine, and the Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology. His Biophotonics Imaging Laboratory is focused on developing novel optical biomedical diagnostic and imaging technologies and translating these into clinical applications. Prof. Boppart received his Ph.D. in Medical and Electrical Engineering from MIT, his M.D. from Harvard Medical School, and specialty training in Internal Medicine.  He has published over 450 invited and contributed publications, delivered over 1000 invited and contributed presentations, and has over 55 patents related to optical biomedical imaging technology.  He has mentored over 200 interdisciplinary undergraduate, graduate, and post-graduate researchers. He was recognized by MIT Technology Review magazine as one of the Top 100 Young Innovators for his development of medical technology, and with the Paul F. Forman Engineering Excellence Award from the Optical Society of America for dedication and advancement in undergraduate research education.  He received the international Hans Sigrist Prize in the field of Diagnostic Laser Medicine, the IEEE Technical Achievement Award, and the SPIE Biophotonics Technology Innovator Award.   Prof. Boppart has co-founded four start-up companies to commercialize and disseminate his optical technologies for biomedical imaging and was recently elected a member of the National Academy of Inventors.  He is a Fellow of AAAS, IEEE, OSA, SPIE, AIMBE, BMES, and IAMBE.  He established and served as Director of Imaging at Illinois, a university-wide program to integrate imaging science, technology, and applications across multiple modalities and fields, and is currently Director of the GSK Center for Optical Molecular Imaging, supported   by an academic-clinical-industry partnership with GlaxoSmithKline.  In support of a national NIH Biomedical Technology Research Resource, Prof. Boppart is directing the newly awarded NIBIB P41 Center for Label-free Imaging and Multiscale Biophotonics (CLIMB). Prof. Boppart has   been a strong advocate for the integration of engineering, technology, and medicine to advance human health and our healthcare systems. He played an active role in the initiation, visioning, launch, and growth of the new engineering-based Carle Illinois College of Medicine at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, and served as Executive Associate Dean and Chief Diversity Officer.  Currently he is serving as the Interim Director for the university’s Interdisciplinary Health Sciences Institute, and as the Illinois Co-Chair of the Mayo Clinic & Illinois Alliance for Technology-Based Healthcare. He is also leading the Chancellor’s charge to develop a new cross-campus model for interdisciplinary research and education in technology-inspired health innovation.

Parking
Campus North Parking
5505 S Ellis Ave
Map It