From Speckles to Spectra: Using optical contrast to reveal label-free biomarkers of disease

Speaker:

Darren Roblyer, PhD

Professor, Graduate Chair

Department of Biomedical Engineering, Boston University

Abstract:

Professor Darren Roblyer's research focuses on translational diffuse optical imaging and spectroscopy, with an emphasis on developing label-free optical technologies for identifying novel clinical biomarkers. His work aims to transform standards of care across a wide range of diseases. In this talk, he will first highlight his team’s exploration of the shortwave infrared (SWIR) window, spanning 900 to 2000 nm, to uncover unique optical contrasts for addressing diseases and conditions that have been previously overlooked by conventional biophotonics. Compared to the more commonly used near-infrared (NIR) window (700–900 nm), SWIR offers several advantages, including deeper tissue penetration and greater sensitivity to water and lipid content. However, its use has been limited until recently due to the lack of high-sensitivity SWIR detectors suitable for deep tissue imaging. The emergence of lower-cost, high-performance SWIR cameras and sensors is now enabling a new generation of clinical applications. In addition, he will explain the fundamental tissue optics of the SWIR range and discuss the trade-offs associated with imaging in this spectral region. Clinical examples will include quantitative SWIR imaging and spectroscopy for real-time monitoring of hemodialysis in kidney disease management, and non-invasive blood lipid measurements for cardiovascular disease prediction. In both applications, the ability to quantify SWIR optical properties yields novel insights into disease mechanisms and progression. The talk will conclude with an introduction to a novel technique developed by his group: speckle contrast optical spectroscopy (SCOS). This method uses long-coherence-length light to measure microvascular blood flow. Roblyer’s team is advancing SCOS to achieve high sensitivity and rapid data acquisition, enabling real-time, continuous, and cuffless blood pressure monitoring—offering potential break-throughs in the management of hypertension and cardiovascular health.

Darren Roblyer received his BS in Biomedical Engineering from Johns Hopkins University and his PhD in Bioengineering from Rice University, where he trained under Professor Rebecca Richards-Kortum. He completed his postdoctoral research at the Beckman Laser Institute at the University of California, Irvine, in the lab of Professor Bruce Tromberg, current Director of the NIH’s National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB). Dr. Roblyer is the recipient of numerous honors, including the Department of Defense Era of Hope Scholar Award and the NIH Trailblazer Award. He also serves as the inaugural Editor-in-Chief of Biophotonics Discovery, a journal published by SPIE.