Introduction
Prof. Zhongping Chen, University of California, Irvine, is a renowned scholar in biophotonics, and also the chairman of the board of OCT Medical Imaging Inc. He and his research group are particularly interested in obtaining functional information using optical techniques. Prof. Chen pioneered Optical Doppler Tomography (ODT), which allows motion quantification and analysis in vivo. ODT is one of the main focuses of his group. In addition, using Optical Coherence Elastography (OCE), his researchers also study the mechanical properties of tissues.
Other optical techniques, such as Intravascular Optical Coherence Tomography (IVOCT), Photoacoustic Tomography (PAT), and Minature Multiphoton and Coherent anti-Stokes Raman spectroscopy are also actively being studied in Prof. Chen’s lab.
Education
B.S., Shanghai Jiaotong University, Applied Physics (1982)
M.S., Cornell University, Electrical Engineering (1987)
Ph.D., Cornell University, Applied Physics (1992)
Research
Chen’s general research interests are in the areas of biomedical photonics, microfabrication, biomaterials and biosensors.
Chen and his group have developed a noninvasive technology, known as functional optical coherence tomography, which allows cross-sectional imaging of tissue structure, blood flow, and birefringence simultaneously with high spatial resolution.
Current research foci are: (a) investigating light/tissue interactions; (b) developing medical diagnostic and therapeutic devices and instruments using advanced optical, microfabrication and biomedical technologies; (c) applications of these technologies for the early diagnosis of cancer and other diseases.
Chen currently has several active research projects funded by the NSF, NIH/NIBIB, NIH/NCI, and DARPA. Most of these projects are interdisciplinary, involving research areas in fiber optics, lasers and optoelectronics, MEMS, signal processing, and biomedical instrumentation.
Chen’s laboratory is located at the Beckman Laser Institute, and he holds a joint appointment with the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Department of Surgery, and Materials Science and Engineering Program.
