Early diagnosis is critically important for effective therapy. Studies have conclusively shown that the earlier a disease is diagnosed, the greater the patient’s chance of recovery. Current diagnostic techniques for many diseases, however, are often invasive and inefficient. Certain types of cancer, like esophageal cancer, are diagnosed through repetitive random biopsies. Other diseases leave markers that are not feasible to access surgically, like the vulnerable plaque that can indicate heart disease.

CIMIT’s Optical Diagnostics Program seeks to make diagnosis efficient, effective, and non-invasive. Projects like Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) and Optical Frequency Domain Imaging (OFDI) make it possible to identify precancerous lesions or arterial plaque at very early stages.