2020 Physics/Theoretical Colloquium
 
Thursday, February 13th , 2020
3:45 – 4:45 p.m.
Rosen Auditorium (TA-53, Bldg. 001)
 
 
Refreshments at 3:15pm
 
Speaker: Prof. Irving J Bigio
 
Boston University
 
 
“Elucidating neurological pathologies by imaging structural anisotropy with optical birefringence microscopy”
 
 
 
Abstract: 
 
The functions of many tissues are guided by structural anisotropy at the molecular/cellular levels; and structural anisotropy leads to optical birefringence, facilitating the use of elliptically-polarized-light microscopy (birefringence microscopy) to generate high-contrast, dark-field images, without labeling and in viable tissues. Myelin, the insulating protein that wraps mammalian axons, supports low-loss propagation of action potentials and is key to efficient brain function as well as signaling via peripheral nerves.  Myelin is highly organized and exquisitely birefringent. This opens the door to quantitative birefringence microscopy for label-free imaging of the myelin wrapping of axons, and enables the potential to track the degeneration of myelin associated with neuropathies such as multiple sclerosis (MS), age-related dementia, and Alzheimer’s disease. 
 
Bio:
Irving J. Bigio is Professor at Boston University, with appointments in Biomedical Engineering, Electrical & Computer Engineering, Physics, and the BU School of Medicine.  He previously served as the Leader of the Laser Science and Applications Group at Los Alamos National Laboratory.  Dr. Bigio has authored over 200 scientific publications on laser physics, nonlinear optics and biomedical optics, including a textbook published by Cambridge University Press (with co-author Sergio Fantini): Quantitative Biomedical Optics.  Dr. Bigio is currently focusing on the clinical translation of diagnostic optical spectroscopy, on optical monitoring of drug delivery and response to treatment, and on the application of quantitative birefringence microscopy to image the underlying pathologies associated with a variety of neurodegenerative diseases.  His strong interest in the translation of optical technologies to clinical use has led to large-scale clinical studies with clinical research collaborators in several medical centers, and to partnering with medical device companies for commercial development. Dr. Bigio is a Fellow of the OSA, the SPIE, and the American Institute of Medical and Biological Engineering.


 If you are interested in meeting with the speaker, please contact his host: Dr. Mourant, Judith R jmourant@lanl.gov