Biophotonics Discovery: The Podcast

In this episode of our commercialization series, Darren and Gwen sit down with David Cuccia (President & CTO) and Amaan Mazhar (CEO) of Modulim, a biophotonics startup developing commercial applications of Spatial Frequency Domain Imaging (SFDI).

David and Amaan share their journey from graduate school at UC Irvine's Beckman Laser Institute to building a medtech company. The conversation covers practical lessons about FDA regulatory pathways, the importance of quality systems, and how they're addressing diabetic complications and amputations through tissue oxygenation measurements. They also share valuable insights about finding the right early adopter customers, adapting product form factors based on clinical feedback, and understanding that in medtech, you have multiple "customers"—from the FDA to insurance companies to physicians.

Whether you're a researcher considering commercialization or simply curious about the path from lab to market, this episode offers an honest, detailed look at building a biophotonics startup.

Imagine checking your blood pressure as easily as taking a selfie—with no cuff, no discomfort, and continuous readings throughout the day. That’s the promise of optical, cuffless blood pressure monitoring, and it’s closer to reality than ever. In a new review, Garrett and colleagues explore the state of the science behind this emerging technology, its challenges, and what it will take to bring it into everyday clinical use.

Read the article: ⁠https://www.spiedigitallibrary.org/journals/biophotonics-discovery/volume-3/issue-01/010901/Optical-methods-for-cuffless-blood-pressure-measurements/10.1117/1.BIOS.3.1.010901.full

New research highlights a critical gap in our understanding of how light interacts with the skin’s outermost layer—and the consequences for the accuracy and equity of wearable health technologies. While skin-interfacing optical devices like pulse oximeters and smartwatches are now common, the optical properties of the epidermis—the very layer these systems rely on—remain poorly characterized, especially across diverse skin tones. Boonya-ananta and colleagues reviewed decades of published data, revealing major inconsistencies and missing information that could explain persistent racial disparities in wearable device performance.

Read the article: ⁠https://www.spiedigitallibrary.org/journals/biophotonics-discovery/volume-2/issue-3/032505/What-do-we-know-about-the-epidermis-optical-properties-and/10.1117/1.BIOS.2.3.032505.full

Photoplethysmography is a powerful optical technique used indevices like smartwatches and pulse oximeters to track vital signs. Yet this seemingly simple technology has a complicated, and at times inequitable, truth—it doesn’t work equally well for everyone. Jakachira and colleagues have developed and tested a novel wearable PPG sensor that could mark a significant step forward in addressing one of the field’s most persistent challenges:signal degradation in individuals with darker skin tones.

Read the full article: ⁠https://www.spiedigitallibrary.org/journals/biophotonics-discovery/volume-3/issue-01/012509/Evaluation-of-a-polarization-sensitive-dual-wavelength-wearable-photoplethysmography-sensor/10.1117/1.BIOS.3.1.012509.full

In this AI briefing, hear about a new breakthrough by a team from Duke University that brings high-speed, high-precision blood cell imaging closer to clinical reality by using a low-cost, embedded GPU platform to powerone of the most advanced microscopy techniques known. The work opens the path towards portable, cost-effective diagnostic devices with almost lab-grade performance.

Read the full article: ⁠https://www.spiedigitallibrary.org/journals/biophotonics-discovery/volume-3/issue-01/012902/Real-time-processing-of-high-throughput-quantitative-phase-microscopy-data/10.1117/1.BIOS.3.1.012902.full⁠

In October, Biophotonics Discovery hosted a webinar on biophotonics in global health. This episode includes the recorded audio from that event. To watch the full video recording, visit https://www.spiedigitallibrary.org/bios-hot-topics-webinars⁠.

Optical techniques offer an ideal solution for global healthcare challenges thanks to their low cost, high sensitivity to a wide range of molecules and analytes, and their portability and durability.

However, designing technologies for global health requires careful consideration of diverse use cases, operating environments, and local needs. Successful standardization and commercialization also depend on creative approaches that account for regional regulations, available resources, and other local factors.

In this episode, leading experts in biophotonics share insights into the current state of the field, present cutting-edge research, and explore promising future directions. Hear from Jenna Mueller (University ofMaryland), Jonathan Celli (U Mass Boston), Nicholas Durr (Johns Hopkins University), and Vanderlei Bagnato (Texas A&M University / University of São Paulo).

In this episode, hosts Darren and Gwen explore the innovative journey behind Dose Optics, a startup co-founded by Brian Pogue, Robert A. Pritzker Professor of Biomedical Engineering at Dartmouth College. The company is pioneering the use of Cherenkov radiation imaging to enhance precision in radiation therapy, offering clinicians a visual tool to verify and optimize treatment in real time. Brian shares what he learned along the way about funding, the regulatory approval process, and finding the right team.

Oral cancer often goes unnoticed until it's too late—but a new low-cost, smartphone-based imaging tool might change that reality for good. Researchers at Rice University have developed an innovative system called mDOC that combines white light and autofluorescence imaging with machine learning to help dental professionals assess oral lesions and recommend specialist referrals, even if they’re not experts in cancer detection.

Read the article online: https://doi.org/10.1117/1.BIOS.2.4.042307

In a promising leap toward faster and more accurate cancer diagnosis, researchers have demonstrated that artificial intelligence can distinguish pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors from normal tissue using label-free microscopy images. This breakthrough could one day replace time-consuming histology workflows, speeding up clinical decisions and improving surgical outcomes.

Read the article online: https://doi.org/10.1117/1.BIOS.2.4.045001

Can photonics help detect microbial imbalances before symptoms appear? In this AI briefing, we learn how the Locke Lab at Vanderbilt University is using laser-based spectroscopy to transform women’s reproductive health—offering early, non-invasive insights into the vaginal microbiome and paving the way for smarter point-of-care diagnostics.

Read the article online: https://doi.org/10.1117/1.BIOS.2.4.042102