International Connections & Collaborations: Recapping the Chemical Imaging Workshop
Last week (6/22–6/23) ended on a high note for Boston University following the Chemical Imaging workshop, hosted by Professor Ji-Xin Cheng in the BU Photonics Center building. Professors and students from all around the world––including the University of Tokyo, Medical University of Vienna, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, and beyond––visited the Boston University Photonics Center for a chance to learn and present on advancements in the field of chemical imaging.
The event began with opening remarks from Photonics Center director Thomas Bifano and host Ji-Xin Cheng who both praised the capacity of the Photonics Center and utility of the space provided to research, educate, and learn about the ever-advancing field of chemical imaging. There, Cheng noted that each speaker would be introduced by either their student researchers, or a research student of Cheng’s.
“This was a great event,” said Cheng. “Overall, near 100 people from 22 universities, 6 countries (USA, Canada, China, Japan, Austria, Germany) and 9 companies participated.”
Included in the prestigious list of presenters was Photonics Center faculty members Ji-Xin Cheng (“Infrared Thermal Microscopy”), Lei Tian (“Computational Imaging”), and Darren Roblyer (“Spatial Frequency Domain Imaging”). In the case of professors Cheng and Roblyer, both presenters discussed new and advancing means of identifying and researching diseases, including Huntington’s, stroke, cancer, and ulcers.
Professor Tian discussed computation LED-array microscopy, namely intensity diffraction tomography (IDT) and the use of multiplex IDT to address issues in imaging speeds and coverage. Every presenter was given 40 minutes to discuss their topic and answer audience questions, and each brought a new perspective on chemical imaging to the discussion.
“All talks were great,” said Cheng. “We had 7 speakers total, each one covering a specific method of chemical imaging.” Cheng put a particular spotlight on the presentations of Dr. Irene Georgakoudi (Tufts University, “Multimodal Chemical Imaging”) and Dr. Darren Roblyer of BU. “In my view, Irene and Darren’s imaging data from human patients are amazing, showing translational potential of label-free chemical imaging.” He further noted that his own mid-infrared photothermal imaging was rather eye-catching as he and his team have “pushed the chemical imaging sensitivity to an unprecedented level.”
Additional presenters included Dr. Marcus Cicerone from Georgia Tech (“Broadband CARS”), Dr. Dan Fu from the University of Washington (“SRS Microscopy”), and Dr. Daniela Buccella from NYU (“Chemical Imaging Probes”).
Following the presentations on Day 1, a reception and poster session was held, wherein student researchers could present their studies in the field of chemical imaging to scholars from across the globe. Showcasing 18 posters in total, the poster session was chaired by Dr. Qing Xia, a postdoc in Professor Cheng’s group.
Day 2 of the event was a half day filled with hands-on training opportunities within the Photonics Center laboratories. There were three experimental sessions running in tandem with each other both in the morning and in the afternoon.
When the event was over, attendees were invited to celebrate at BU Fuller’s pub. There, attendees continued to discuss research and create connections and collaborations. For example, Professor Cheng’s BU lab plans to collaborate with NYU and MGH following this event. Suffice to say, this year’s Chemical Imaging conference has been nothing short of a major success for the field and researchers alike.