Published: 
By  Charles Feigenoff

In its conception, photoacoustic microscopy (PAM) is elegance itself, capitalizing on the strengths of light microscopy and ultrasound, two mainstays of modern imaging. It combines the molecular sensitivity of optical waves with the deep penetration of ultrasonic waves to generate high-resolution images of optically absorbing biomolecules—among them hemoglobin, lipids and melanin—that can be used to diagnose diseases such as cancer and cardiovascular disease. This makes PAM an exciting innovation. Currently, it is difficult to image these molecules without the drawbacks of using contrast agents. Thanks to a recent NSF CAREER Award, Song Hu, an assistant professor of biomedical engineering, has the opportunity to be among the first to translate PAM into an imaging device that will find its place in operating rooms and clinics alongside MRIs and X-rays. “Over the last five years, we have made significant progress demonstrating the use of PAM to understand disease mechanisms,” Hu says. “In particular, we have developed a technique called multi-parametric PAM, which enables us to look at the circulation system from a number of perspectives at the same time. In the next stage of my career, I would like to see PAM have a more direct clinical impact.”