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Q & A
What is special about Telluride Science workshops?
Telluride Science workshops are unique because of their small size. The workshops create a productive environment with quality interactions in and outside of the classroom. Socializing with colleagues while hiking or biking is really enjoyable and meaningful. As the saying goes “All intellectual pursuits arise from leisure” and that holds very true in Telluride.
The whole concept of Telluride Science bringing scientists to this beautiful community is mutually beneficial. The scientists really appreciate it, and it affords them the opportunity to think freely and out of the box. The community benefits because attracting deep thinkers adds an intellectual component that enhances the Telluride experience which is already top-notch with outdoor adventure, festivals, events, and arts.
Is there a grand challenge that your field study could potentially solve?
My specific field is Biophotonics and Optical Biomedical Imaging. We study cancer in particular, but all diseases start at the cellular and molecular level. In today’s practice, we don’t usually look at that level microscopically until there's a pathology sample, and it shows a disease is present. Then the disease must be examined under a microscope to determine what type it is. We are thinking of ways to microscopically image tissue even before the pathology or disease starts, or when it is in its earliest stages.
With optical fiber needles and endoscopes, we can get the light into the body, or during surgery, right when the tissue is exposed, when the surgeon is trying to determine if the entire tumor was removed. Being able to scan the margins of the tumor or the tumor cavity right during the procedure is a game changer as it allows the doctor to make the decision on whether or not more tissue needs to be removed. This is referred to as a “point of care” procedure; the images are available immediately as opposed to getting the results days later in the pathology lab.
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