Overview
Dr. Wax's research interests include optical spectroscopy for early cancer detection, novel microscopy and interferometry techniques.
The study of intact, living cells with optical spectroscopy offers the opportunity to observe cellular structure, organization and dynamics in a way that is not possible with traditional methods. We have developed a set of novel spectroscopic techniques for measuring spatial, temporal and refractive structure on sub-hertz and sub-wavelength scales based on using low-coherence interferometry (LCI) to detect scattered light. We have applied these techniques in different types of cell biology experiments. In one experiment, LCI measurements of the angular pattern of backscattered light are used to determine non-invasively the structure of sub-cellular organelles in cell monolayers, and the components of epithelial tissue from freshly excised rat esophagus. This work has potential as a diagnostic method for early cancer detection. In another experiment, LCI phase measurements are used to examine volume changes of epithelial cells in a monolayer in response to environmental osmolarity changes. Although cell volume changes have been measured previously, this work demonstrates for the first time the volume of just a few cells (2 or 3) tracked continuously and in situ.
Current Appointments & Affiliations
Recent Publications
High-Performance, Low-Cost Optical Coherence Tomography System Using a Jetson Orin Nano for Real-Time Control and Image Processing.
Journal Article Translational vision science & technology · March 2025 PurposeOptical coherence tomography (OCT) has become an indispensable tool for the detection and analysis of diseased retinal tissue. Recent advances in reducing the size and cost of OCT systems have aimed at expanding their use for new applicatio ... Full text CiteDevelopment of next generation low-cost OCT towards improved point-of-care retinal imaging.
Journal Article Biomedical optics express · February 2025 Low-cost optical coherence tomography (OCT) has shown promise in increasing access to noninvasive retinal imaging at the point of care, especially in low-resource environments. A next-generation low-cost OCT system is presented which improves performance o ... Full text CiteEnhanced penetration depth in optical coherence tomography and photoacoustic microscopy in vivo enabled by absorbing dye molecules
Journal Article Optica · January 20, 2025 The scattering and absorption of light within biological tissue severely limits the penetration depth of optical imaging techniques. Recently, it has been found that water-soluble, strongly absorbing dye molecules, such as tartrazine, can achieve in vivo t ... Full text CiteRecent Grants
Point of care diagnostic for sickle cell disease
ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2024 - 2027Retinal Light Scattering Measurements as a Clinical Biomarker of Alzheimer's Disease
ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by National Institute on Aging · 2022 - 2027Title: NRT-FW-HTF: NSF Traineeship in the Advancement of Surgical Technologies
Inst. Training Prgm or CMEParticipants · Awarded by National Science Foundation · 2021 - 2026View All Grants