SUPA Distinguished Visitor Seminar - Current and Future Trends in Laser Medicine

SUPA Distinguished Visitor Seminar

Current and Future Trends in Laser Medicine:Physics and Engineering in the Development and Applications of Biophotonics

Brian C Wilson PhD, Professor of Medical Biophysics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto Ontario Cancer Institute, Princess Margaret Hospital & Techna, University Health Network Toronto, Canada

Biophotonics, the convergence of optical and life sciences, is rapidly emerging as a key enabler of many diagnostic, therapeutic and analytic methods in clinical medicine and biomedical research. Much of this progress depends on advances in the underlying optical biophysics of how light interacts with biomolecules, cells and tissues and in the engineering translation of this understanding into practical devices, materials and methods. This will be illustrated by several specific examples drawn mainly from the clinical domain, including: the use of light-activated drugs; fluorescence and Raman spectroscopies for early cancer detection; and optical image-guided surgery, radiation and chemotherapy. The increasing role of photonic nanoparticles and links to advances in imaging sciences, nanotechnologies and robotics will be highlighted. Throughout, the focus will be on how deep collaboration between physicists and engineers with other physical scientists and with clinical specialists, working as truly interdisciplinary teams, is essential to “bring light to life”.

Brian C Wilson graduated with BSc and PhD degrees in Natural Philosophy/Experimental Particle Physics from Glasgow University. He then worked at the Institute of Cancer Research, Royal Marsden Hospital, England and at the Queensland Radium Institute and Flinders University Medical Center, Australia, in both clinical service and research in radiation therapy and radiological imaging. He moved to Canada in 1981, first at McMaster University/Hamilton Cancer Center and then at University of Toronto/Ontario Cancer Institute, where he established and directs a multidisciplinary program in biomedical optics, now also part of a broad program in advanced health technologies. Dr Wilson has held Visiting Professorships at Harvard University-USA, University of Sao Paulo-Brazil, Fujian Normal University-China, and University of Western Australia. His is visiting Scotland as a SUPA distinguished visitor.