Biospectroscopy luminaries to conduct webcast
OCTOBER 10, 2008 -- BioOptics World magazine will offer an interactive learning opportunity on Wednesday, October 29 with two respected leaders in spectroscopy applications for life sciences: Prof. Robert Alfano, Distinguished Professor of Science and Engineering at City College and Graduate School, City University of New York, is a pioneer in the application of light and photonics technology to the study of ultrafast laser spectroscopy and biomedical systems. He is also a leading inventor of novel light sources, having discovered the ultrafast supercontinuum light source (white-light continuum). Alfano has served as director of the Institute for Ultrafast Spectroscopy and Lasers since 1982 and director of the New York State Center for Advanced Technology in Ultrafast Photonics since 1993.
Dr. Alfano will be joined by Dr. Stavros Demos of the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, who has led an effort -- with University of California, Davis Cancer Center Director Dr. Ralph deVere White -- to modify commercial cystoscopes to include a second imaging channel with infrared light to identify cancerous lesions in situ.
Alfano and Stavros will present a program called "Key secrets of biospectroscopy." As biomedical researchers and clinicians continue to look for better ways to analyze complex processes, spectroscopy becomes an increasingly useful tool; this webcast will demonstrate why. Spectroscopy underpins many of the most promising approaches to early cancer diagnosis, drug development, and other critical life sciences applications—as well as noninvasive alternatives to traditional methods of detecting various medical conditions. The discussion will explore key spectroscopic methods (including Raman, near infrared, and more) and technologies involved in detecting cellular and sub-cellular changes that indicate disease and guide treatment.
Interested parties will be able to view the presentation live and ask questions of the presenters -- and must register to participate at http://video.webcasts.com/events/penn001/28405/. The program will also be available online for later viewing -- and the audio portion will be available as a podcast.