KEYNOTE: Seeing Life at the Molecule Level via Advanced Chemical Microscopy

Chemical microscopy utilizing fingerprint vibrational spectroscopic signals is able to map the chemical contents temporally and spatially. Such capacity opens a new window through which to visualize the orchestra of molecules and/or biological structures inside living systems. Ji-Xin Cheng and his research team have been dedicated to pushing the boundaries of chemical microscopy in the entire spectrum of molecular spectroscopy, discovering molecular signatures in diseases, and translating label-free techniques to the clinic for molecule-based precision diagnosis or treatment. The Cheng team further harnesses photons to modulate the behavior of cells, including photolysis of intrinsic chromophores to eradicate drug-resistant bacteria and photoacoustic modulation of neurons at ultrahigh spatial precision.

About the presenter
Ji-Xin Cheng, Ph.D., is currently the Inaugural Theodore Moustakas Chair Professor in Photonics and Optoelectronics at Boston University. Cheng and his team has been constantly at the most forefront of chemical imaging in innovation, discovery, commercialization, and clinical translation. For his contributions to the field of vibrational spectroscopic imaging, Cheng received the 2020 Pittsburgh Spectroscopy Award from the Spectroscopy Society of Pittsburgh, the 2019 Ellis R. Lippincott Award from OSA, Society for Applied Spectroscopy, Coblentz Society, and the 2015 Craver Award from Coblentz Society. Cheng is authored in over 250 peer-reviewed articles with an h-index of 78 (Google Scholar). His research has been supported by over 30 million ($) fund from federal agencies including NIH, NSF, DoD, DoE and private foundations including the Keck Foundation. Cheng is a Fellow of Optical Society of America, a Fellow of American Institute of Medicine and Biological Engineering, and associate editor of Science Advances.