Photonics is playing an ever more important role in a variety of medical techniques and practices, mainly in non-invasive diagnosis, imaging and treatment. Some more specific examples include photodynamic cancer treatment, pulseoxymeters, laser surgery, infrared spectroscopy, optical coherence tomography and advanced microscopes.
In Catalonia, the Institute of Photonic Sciences (ICFO) carries out research and development activities in biophotonics and nanophotonics, and has specialized in the different modes and techniques of imaging in order to overcome the limits of resolution (spatial and temporal). Currently, the ICFO is working as a local biophotonics platform for Catalan hospitals, healthcare centers, biomedical research centers, universities and companies.
On 28 and 29 June, the ICFO will hold a symposium at their Castelldefels facility with leaders from the biophotonics field, who will discuss their experiences at conferences, round tables and networking sessions.
The session on 28 June will focus on light as a diagnostic and treatment tool, with participation from Brian C. Wilson of the Ontario Cancer Institute (Canada), Katarina Svanberg from the Lund University Hospital (Sweden), Daniel Licht from the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (United States) and Hellmuth Obrig of the Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences (Germany).
The session on 29 June will be about nanoscopy and optical super-resolution imaging, with Niek van Hulst from the ICFO, Paul French from Imperial College (United Kingdom), Melike Lakadamyali from Harvard University (United States), Alberto Diaspro of the Italian Institute of Technology (Italy) and Luis Serrano from the Barcelona Center for Genomic Regulation.
Catalan minister of Innovation, Universities and Enterprise, Josep Huguet; Catalan minister of Health, Marina Geli; rector of the Polytechnic University of Catalonia, Antoni Giró, and director of the ICFO, Lluís Torner, will participate in the inaugural ceremony. CEO of Biocat, Montserrat Vendrell, will present the BioRegion of Catalonia.
The event will also include tours of the laboratories and the European launch of the new STED CW system, which will be presented by Raniero Centrone from Leica Microsystems (Germany).
Registration (Deadline: 22/6/2010)
Dates: 28 and 29 June 2010
Place: ICFO • Auditorium • Av. Canal Olimpic, s/n (Mediterranean Technology Park) • Castelldefels (Barcelona, Spain)