“Shining light on early development”
Hosted by the Department of Biomedical Engineering (BME)
Abstract: Over the last decades, developments in biophotonics significantly contributed to multiple areas of g developmental biology. Early mammalian development is of dynamic nature featuring dramatic structural changes, happening on different spatial scales, these ranging from subcellular to the whole organism, providing exciting and challenging questions for biophotonics researchers. In our pursuit of building a comprehensive understanding of mammalian developmental dynamics in vivo, we took advantage of multiple laser-based technologies and developed a series of imaging methods and protocols combining functional optical coherence tomography (OCT), vital fluorescence reporters, optogenetic control, non-linear microscopy, intravital imaging approaches and mouse models of human developmental defects. These optical technologies have great potential to answer many important biological questions, leading to a better understanding, prevention, and treatment of congenital defects and embryonic failures in humans. Additionally, highly dynamic and diverse developmental processes of development provide a great platform for laser physicists and optical engineers to develop new imaging and manipulation methods, pushing forward technological advances in optical engineering.
Bio: Dr. Irina V. Larina’s research focuses on development of novel methods for intravital, optical imaging in mouse models to understand normal development and the nature of congenital defects and reproductive disorders in humans. Dr. Larina is an Associate Professor at the Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics at the Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, USA. She received Masters Degree in Physics from the Saratov State University, Russia, in 1996, PhD degree in Physiology and Biophysics and Bioengineering from the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston in 2005, and completed postdoctoral training at the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. She is a recipient of Arthur V. Simmang Academic Scholarship for Excellence in Academic Achievement, Ralph and Mary Spence Centennial Scholarship for Superior Academic Performance, High Personal and Professional Ethics, Values and Standards, Katherina Siebert Award for Excellence in Oncologic Research, Louis C. Sheppard Award, fellowship from the American Heart Association named in honor of Paula McCann-Harris, and a finalist for the Burrows Wellcome Fund Award at Scientific Interface. Dr. Larina is an author of over 50 peer-reviewed publications and 12 book chapters, and her research activities are funded by multiple grants from the National Institutes of Health.
Full list, Biomedical Engineering (BME) seminars
For inquiries contact Suesy Seel.
