Label-free Biomedical Imaging and Sensing (LBIS)

SPIE Photonics West, San Francisco, CA, USA

LBIS 2021: https://spie.org/PWB/conferencedetails/label-free-biomedical-imaging-and-sensing

LBIS 2020: https://spie.org/PWB/conferencedetails/label-free-biomedical-imaging-and-sensing

LBIS 2019: https://spie.org/PWB/conferencedetails/label-free-biomedical-imaging-and-sensing

Conference Chairs:
Natan T. Shaked, Tel Aviv Univ. (Israel)
Oliver Hayden, Technische Univ. München (Germany)

Program Committee:
Valery V. Tuchin, Saratov National Research State Univ. (Russian Federation)
Jürgen Popp, Friedrich-Schiller-Univ. Jena (Germany)
Aydogan Ozcan, Univ. of California Los Angeles (United States)
Shi-Wei Chu, National Taiwan Univ. (Taiwan)
Adam de la Zerda, Stanford Univ. School of Medicine (United States)
Pietro Ferraro, Istituto di Scienze applicata e Sistemi Intelligenti (Italy)
Jochen R. Guck, TU Dresden (Germany)
Ori Katz, The Hebrew Univ. of Jerusalem (Israel)
Alexander T. Khmaladze, Univ. at Albany (United States)
Francisco E. Robles, Georgia Institute of Technology (United States)
Melissa C. Skala, Univ. of Wisconsin-Madison (United States)
Yihui Wu, Changchun Institute of Optics, Fine Mechanics and Physics (China)
Bahram Jalali, , Univ. of California Los Angeles (United States)
Pierre Mariqute, Univ. Laval (Canada)
Yizheng Zhu, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State Univ. (United States)

Label-free biomedical optical imaging and sensing refers to optical measurements performed on biological samples or living organisms without the need for utilizing labeling agents. Label-free imaging of cells in vitro is specifically of interest, since isolated cells are optically transparent and regular bright-field imaging does not present enough imaging contrast. Labeling agents, such as fluorescent dyes or labels using antibodies, can create molecular specificity and enhance contrast but they might interfere with the biological phenomena measured, and thus are not always allowed. In addition, some biological targets do not have suitable labeling agents. In vivo imaging of living organisms, and humans in particular, should be preferably performed without using labeling agents, due to possible hazardous effects induced by these agents.

Optical detection methods for label-free imaging and sensing are typically based on internal contrast mechanisms of the sample; for example, its ability to delay the light interacting with the sample due to refractive index changes, or its ability to create unique optical spectroscopic, auto-fluorescence, and birefringence or acoustic signatures. In addition, the substrate holding the sample during measurement can be used to enhance the detection and monitor of the sample properties via various effects, including Plasmon resonance, total internal reflection, etc. Furthermore, life science tools, such as optogenetics or gene expression methods, can be applied to achieve molecular specificity in living objects.

Label-free imaging and sensing in the nanoscale, including tracking of single molecules, is of high interest as well. Specifically, label-free optical nanoscopy is still considered as an unsolved challenge in this field.

This conference will gather scientists from various disciplines, who are interested in optical imaging and sensing of biological substances without using labeling: physicists and engineers on the one hand, chemists and life scientists performing optical label-free sensing on the other hand.

Relevant topics include, but are not limited to:

• Phase imaging (Zernike’s, differential interference contrast (DIC), holography, optical diffraction tomography (ODT), etc.)
• Coherent Raman spectroscopy techniques (CARS, SRS, etc.)
• Spontaneous Raman imaging
• Interferometric and coherence gated imaging (optical coherence tomography, etc.)
• Polarization and birefringence imaging
• Dark-field microscopy
• Brillouin microscopy (spontaneous and stimulated)
• High harmonic generation and nonlinear imaging and sensing
• Auto-fluorescence imaging and sensing
• Hyperspectral imaging and sensing
• Total internal reflection imaging and sensing
• Acoustic and photoacoustic imaging
• Plasmonic sensors
• Fiber-optics-based label-free bio-detectors
• Label-free imaging in the nano-scale
• On-chip implementations of label-free sensors
• Preclinical, clinical, and life science applications
• Label-free imaging using optogenetic and gene expression tools.