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Fluorescence Imaging

Gorpas lab

Our research focuses on ground-breaking solutions for unmet needs in medicine and biology. Specifically, we investigate the potential of fluorescence and optical imaging as well as spectroscopy for providing

1) insights into the specific molecular changes underlying the process of field cancerization,

2) means of earlier, faster, and personalized disease detection, and

3) imaging-assisted surgical planning and intraoperative guidance.

Gorpas lab

Our research focuses on ground-breaking solutions for unmet needs in medicine and biology. Specifically, we investigate the potential of fluorescence and optical imaging as well as spectroscopy for providing

1) insights into the specific molecular changes underlying the process of field cancerization,

2) means of earlier, faster, and personalized disease detection, and

3) imaging-assisted surgical planning and intraoperative guidance.

About Our Research

Our research focus lies within the investigation and development of ground breaking solutions for medical and biological questions that go well beyond conventional "photographic" fluorescence and optical imaging and spectroscopy. Some examples of our research are:

Our Researchers

Gorpas_Round

Dr. Dimitris Gorpas

Group Leader

Einsteinstr. 25, TranslaTUM, room 22.3.31
Sabir Ui Alam

Dr. Sabir Ul Alam

Postdoc

Einsteinstr. 25, TranslaTUM, room 22.3.41
Jasmin Häberle

Jasmin Häberle

Ph.D. Student

Einsteinstr. 25, TranslaTUM, room 22.3.41
Elena-Kriukowa

Elena Kriukova

Ph.D. Student

Einsteinstr. 25, TranslaTUM, room 22.3.41
Lorenzo Ricciardi

Lorenzo Ricciardi

Ph.D. Student

Einsteinstr. 25, TranslaTUM, room 22.3.41

Sara Selim

Master Student

Einsteinstr. 25, TranslaTUM, room 22.3.41
Richin Sukesh

Richin Sukesh

Ph.D. Student

Einsteinstr. 25, TranslaTUM, room 22.3.41

James Taylor

Scientist

Einsteinstr. 25, TranslaTUM, room 22.3.41
Anna-Tenditnaya

Anna Tenditnaya

Ph.D. Student

Einsteinstr. 25, TranslaTUM, room 22.3.41

We work closely with clinicians to develop real-time fluorescence molecular imaging and endoscopic technologies for earlier, faster, and personalized disease detection and management. This research is geared toward novel multi-spectral instrumentation and the use of appropriate fluorescent agents with clinical relevance. We intensively explore inflammation and gastrointestinal cancers, as early detection is anticipated to have a tremendous impact on disease prognosis and healthcare. Towards this end, we have been awarded grants to systematically explore the added value of fluorescence molecular endoscopy and optical spectroscopy to standard clinical practice.

Our group is one of the leading centers worldwide that has systematically been working towards the high-fidelity fluorescence molecular imaging. We are closely collaborating with numerous groups to enable comparative clinical studies, optimized development of imaging systems and data visualization platforms, and performance assessment and quality control of existing ones. Our vision is the establishment of standardization protocols and phantoms that will ensure the translation of fluorescence molecular imaging and endoscopy into the clinics.

Intravascular ultrasound and near-infrared fluorescence (IVUS-NIRF) is a technology with tremendous potential for becoming a valuable asset for interventional cardiology. Our group works closely with cardiologists and biologists to identify new biomarkers that could lead to faster and personalized cardiovascular diagnostics. We are actively working for the development of more sensitive detection systems, miniaturized catheters, and algorithms that would objectively highlight disease-related morphological and biological alterations in real-time.

We develop robust, multi-spectral approaches for automatic imaging of tissues during serial cryosectioning. Our current research pursues hardware optimization and development of imaging methods to correct for photon scattering and provide quantitative readouts that are consistent with the true biodistribution of fluorescent tracers. Additionally, in close collaboration with other groups, we employ multi-spectral cryo-fluorescence tomography for providing insights in the distribution and kinetics of novel pharmaceuticals and clinically relevant biomarkers.

We have also developed a robust hybrid fluorescence molecular tomography (FMT) and X-ray computed tomography (XCT) imaging system for quantitative in vivo molecular tomography in small animals. Through this work we enable in vivo longitudinal studies for better understanging the temporal biodistribution of pharmaceuticals and new tracers. In addition, we systematically investigate biologically relevant questions and drug discovery, while also improving current technology.

In line with our main research goal to provide solutions for earlier, faster, and personalize disease diagnosis and management, we are developing label-free microscopy technologies and statistical tools to measure and analyze data from numerous modalities, including Raman, two photon excitation fluorescence, second harmonic generation, etc. We are very interested in identifying the optimal combination of modalities that would increase our confidence for the detection of numerous clinically relevant conditions and to better understand the contribution of different clinically relevant biomarkers.

Fluorescence Imaging : Contact

Gorpas_Round

Dr. Dimitris Gorpas

Group Leader

Einsteinstr. 25, TranslaTUM, room 22.3.31