The Biophotonics Lab is focused on researach using non-invasive, diffuse optical imaging with near-infrared light. Such imaging gives contrast to the light absorbing and/or scattering structures in tissue. The dominant source of absorption contrast is hemoglobin in the microvasculature, which can be used to measure functional brain activation when placing a sensor on the head, as well as hemoglobin saturation in vascular tumors. Due to its non-invasiveness, imaging can be performed directly on patients. Using diffuse optical imaging methods, the lab is focused on clinical applications with the emphasis spanning two primary areas: