Organizing Comittee

Professor Hielscher leads the recently established Department of Biomedical Engineering and directs research in his Clinical Biophotonics Laboratory (CBL). The mission of the CBL is to establish optical tomography as a viable biomedical imaging modality and transfer this technology into clinical practice. The goal is to develop a patient-centered approach that addresses all aspects of modern precision medicine in state-of-the-art healthcare. To this end, Prof. Hielscher's team is developing cutting-edge imaging hardware and software that provide 3-dimensional distributions of physiologically relevant parameters such as oxygen saturation or total hemoglobin concentrations and more. This includes the design of wearable devices that allow continuous patient monitoring. The CBL is currently applying this emerging technology in various clinical and preclinical studies that focus on the diagnosis and monitoring breast cancer, arthritis, peripheral artery disease (PAD), and diabetic foot syndrome (DFS). Furthermore, techniques are being developed for real-time monitoring of brain activities.

Dr. Irene de Lázaro is an Assistant Professor of Biomedical Engineering at NYU Tandon School of Engineering and an Assistant Professor of Medicine (Cardiology) at NYU Grossman School of Medicine. She leads the NanoBioengineering for Tissue Reprogramming and Regeneration laboratory, focusing on understanding how genetic, biochemical, and mechanical signals impact cell plasticity, identity, and function. Her research aims to develop therapeutic interventions that modulate cell fate to induce tissue regeneration or rejuvenation and enhance cellular function, particularly in immunotherapies. Dr. de Lázaro earned her 5-year degree in Pharmacy from the University of Alcalá in Madrid, Spain. She then pursued postgraduate studies in the UK, obtaining an MSc in Drug Delivery and a PhD in Regenerative Medicine from University College London (UCL). She conducted postdoctoral training in Regenerative Therapeutics at The University of Manchester and in Bioengineering at Harvard University and the Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering. Throughout her career, Dr. de Lázaro has contributed to over 30 publications in high-impact journals, including Nature Materials, Nature Nanotechnology, Science Translational Medicine, ACS Nano, and Biomaterials.

Michael Hanna, Ph.D., is an Industry Assistant Professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at NYU Tandon School of Engineering. He began his academic journey with a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from the American University in Cairo, followed by a master's degree in product design from France's École Nationale Supérieure d'Arts et Métiers. Dr. Hanna initially worked as a design Engineer for 10 years then, his career took a pivotal turn at the New Jersey Institute of Technology, where he engaged in research on surrogate head models to study traumatic brain injury (TBI). This experience ignited his passion for biomedical engineering, leading him to pursue and earn a Ph.D. in the field. His doctoral research focused on the biomechanics of brain injuries, particularly the role of microtubules in the brain and their response to trauma. Before joining NYU, Dr. Hanna taught at Mercer County Community College, where he served as director of the Advanced Manufacturing Technology Program. At NYU Tandon, he teaches courses such as computational methods in biomedical engineering and biomaterials, aiming to inspire students by "lighting a fire" for the subject, rather than merely "filling a pail" with knowledge.