Skip to main content

Adam P. Wax

Professor of Biomedical Engineering
Biomedical Engineering
Box 90281, Durham, NC 27708-0281
2571 CIEMAS, Durham, NC 27708

Research Interests


Optical spectroscopy for early cancer detection, novel microscopy and interferometry techniques.

Selected Grants


Point of care diagnostic for sickle cell disease

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2024 - 2027

Retinal Light Scattering Measurements as a Clinical Biomarker of Alzheimer's Disease

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by National Institute on Aging · 2022 - 2027

Title: NRT-FW-HTF: NSF Traineeship in the Advancement of Surgical Technologies

Inst. Training Prgm or CMEParticipants · Awarded by National Science Foundation · 2021 - 2026

Duke CTSA (TL1) Year 5

Inst. Training Prgm or CMEMentor · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2018 - 2024

Using AI to develop a red blood cell health index for the monitoring of sickle cell disease

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by KovaDx · 2021 - 2023

Angle resolved light scattering through a multimode fiber for measuring cell nuclei morphology

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by National Science Foundation · 2020 - 2023

Low cost OCT probe for GI applications

ResearchCo Investigator · Awarded by Lumedica · 2021 - 2022

Analysis of mechanical induction of bioelectric activity in cells

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Army Research Office · 2019 - 2022

Advanced a/LCI systems for improved clinical utility

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2016 - 2022

Novel Coherence Imaging to Evaluate the Health of the Cervical Epithelium

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2014 - 2021

High throughput cell screening for toxic metal exposure

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2018 - 2020

Deep skin imaging with OCT

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by National Science Foundation · 2018 - 2020

Training in Medical Imaging

Inst. Training Prgm or CMEMentor · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2003 - 2020

Coherent light scattering for early detection of Alzheimer's disease

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2017 - 2020

Visualization of mechanical stress in live cells

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by National Science Foundation · 2016 - 2019

Improving Medical Outcomes Through Needle-Based Optical Sensing

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by North Carolina Biotechnology Center · 2015 - 2017

Novel Determination of Microbicide PK in Women's Reproductive Health

ResearchCo Investigator · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2012 - 2017

EAGER: Cell phone enabled spectroscopy

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by National Science Foundation · 2014 - 2016

Coherent light scattering for early detection of retinal disease

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2013 - 2016

Inhibition of Reflux-Induced Esophageal Adenocarcinoma by Proanthocyanidins

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Medical College of Wisconsin · 2013 - 2016

InCh Microscope: Compact and Portable Quantitative Phase Microscope for Label-Free Morphological Diagnosis of Blood Samp

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by M2 Photonics Innovations · 2014 - 2014

Increased Depth Penetration in Coherence Imaging Using Multiply Scattered Light

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by National Science Foundation · 2011 - 2014

MRI: Development of a Hybrid Quantitative Phase Microscope for Live Cell Imaging

EquipmentPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by National Science Foundation · 2010 - 2014

Cross-disciplinary Training in Medical Physics

Inst. Training Prgm or CMEMentor · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2007 - 2013

I-Corps: InCh holographic microscope for cell diagnostics

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by National Science Foundation · 2012 - 2012

Coherence Imaging for Assessing Colorectal Neoplasia

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2009 - 2012

Molecular Imaging Using Hyperspectral Darkfield Microscope of Nanoparticles

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by National Science Foundation · 2007 - 2011

Assessing Deployment of Microbicidal Gels With Label-Free Optical Measurement

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2007 - 2010

In Vivo Detection of Pre-Cancerous Lesions Using a /LCI

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2004 - 2010

Low Coherence Light Scattering for Biophotonics

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by National Science Foundation · 2005 - 2010

CAREER: Low Coherence Light Scattering for Biophotonics

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by National Science Foundation · 2004 - 2009

Assessing Nuclear Morphology in Thick Tissues Using fLCI

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2006 - 2008

In Vivo Detection of Pre-Cancerous Lesions Using a/LCI

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2004 - 2006

External Relationships


  • Lumedica
  • Lumedica Vision

This faculty member (or a member of their immediate family) has reported outside activities with the companies, institutions, or organizations listed above. This information is available to institutional leadership and, when appropriate, management plans are in place to address potential conflicts of interest.