Investigator, Asst Prof (M) Neurology, Mass General Research Institute

Assistant Professor of Neurology Harvard Medical School

alzheimer's disease; diffuse optical imaging; fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy; fluorescence tomography; multiphoton microscopy; near-infrared imaging

My research goal is to improve our understanding of neurological diseases by developing innovative optical imaging systems and methods and applying these tools for preclinical studies in mouse models. As an optical engineer, I have extensive experience building optical imaging systems including confocal microscopy, multiphoton microscopy, lightsheet microscopy, fluorescence lifetime microscopy, structured illumination tomography and time-domain fluorescence and phosphorescence tomography.

My current research focus is to develop novel fluorescent labeling techniques which can be used in conjunction with two-photon microscopy for in vivo mouse brain imaging. Using our approach, we have demonstrated the ability to monitor in real time the progression and dynamics of neurodegeneration in mice.

Another ongoing project is to expand the scope of current near-infrared fluorescence methods for the detection and the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease. Using a novel near-infrared probe, we have demonstrated the non-invasive monitoring of amyloid-β plaques and neurofibrillary tangles in Alzheimer’s disease mouse models with cellular resolution.