Department of Health Physics

My primary research focus is on the use of lasers in diagnostic and therapeutic medicine. I’m currently collaborating with scientists and physicians at the University of California, Irvine (Beckman Laser Institute) and at the National Hospital in Oslo, Norway.

We are trying to develop better treatments for patients with advanced brain tumors. Specifically, we are using lasers and photoactivable drugs – a procedure known as photodynamic therapy (PDT). We are also interested in determining the effects of combining various therapies such as PDT, ionizing radiation, hyperthermia and anti-angiogenic treatments.

Basic scientific studies are presently being performed in a variety of in vitro and in vivo systems, including multicell spheroids and immuno-compromised rats.

I am also performing studies with a plastic surgeon to investigate the utility of lasers to reshape human cartilage. Lasers may provide an additional tool for use in reconstructive surgery. My role in this project is to characterize changes in the optical properties of cartilage in response to laser irradiation.

In summary, I have projects that may be of interest to students with backgrounds in biology, chemistry, physics, engineering or mathematics.