Tomasz Tkaczyk : Rice University Department of Bioengineering

Associate Professor in Bioengineering AssociateProfessor in Electrical and Computer Engineering Modern Optical Instrumentation and Bio-imaging Laboratory

Postdoctoral Fellow, Applied Optics, The University of Arizona, Tucson (2002 2003) Postdoctoral Fellow, Biomedical Imaging, The University of Arizona, Tucson(2001 2002) Ph.D. Optical Engineering and Physical Optics, Optical Engineering Div.of the Institute of Micromechanics & Photonics, Warsaw Universityof Technology, Warsaw, Poland (2000) MS. Eng. Optical Engineering, Department of Mechatronics, Warsaw Universityof Technology, Warsaw, Poland (1994)

Tomasz Tkaczyk specializes in the development of modern optical instruments that combine advanced technologies in optics, opto-mechanics, electronics and software, and bio-chemical materials for the early detection and treatment of diseases, such as cancer.

Tkaczyks basic, applied, and translational research is leading to the development of new imaging technologies that are compact, robust, portable, inexpensive, and adaptable to mass production. The compact optical imaging systems are ideal for point-of-care diagnostics in various clinical settings around the world.

Tkaczyk isthe principal investigator (PI) on anNIH R01research project tobuild and test an advanced dual-functioning medical instrument called the Bi-FOV Endoscope. The five-year investigator-initiated project involves several institutions and three subcontractors for the development of an integrated optical needle that works with contrast agents to provide real-time cancer detection. The endoscope is part of another ongoing project in which Tkaczyk serves as a co-principal investigator in the fabrication and testing of optical and mechanical technologies, such as miniaturized optics, micro-electromechanical system (MEMS) components, and low-cost/high performance and modern-fabrication technologies. The joint efforts with collaborators at Rice Universityand the University of Arizonahave enabled new platform technologies or methods not possible five or even ten years ago, and are currently in clinical trials.

Through the support of an NIH R21 grant, Tkaczyk developed an imaging technique called Image Mapping Spectrometry (IMS) that uses a specialized compact camera and couples with any high-resolution microscope, endoscope, or camera system to see a biological samples chemical and physical composition. The technology has the potential of becoming a fundamental research tool for microscopy and has many medical and life-science applications. A patent application for the IMS was submitted, and the Optical Society of America recently featured the IMS in its 2010 Papers of the Year.

Tkaczyk is the author of more than 50 peer-reviewed publications and two book chapters. Heserves as editor and reviewer for several scientific journals, and is the author of TheField Guide to Microscopy,which was in the top five best-selling books by SPIE in 2010.

Tkaczykis a fellow of SPIE (2015), the international society for optics and photonics.Awardshehas received forhis achievements in optical engineering include: the Rice University Institute of Biosciences and Bioengineerings Medical Innovations Award (2008, 2014),a Global Health Technologies award (2008) to develop high-throughput microscopy platform technologies that analyze several thousand cells in real time for the detection of tuberculosis,a John S. Dunn Research Foundation award to adapt the endoscopic technologiesand build a high-resolution endoscope that images the intricate workings of the inner ear in vivo (2009),a Becton-DickinsonProfessional Achievement Award by the Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation(2010),a Paul F. Forman Engineering Excellence Award by the Optical Society (2011), and both theNorman Edmund Optics Higher Education Award and the Norman Edmund Inspiration Award (2012).

Research in TkaczyksModern Optical Instrumentationand Bio-imaging Laboratory focuses on the development and application of novel imaging instruments and systems. The compact size and high-performance capabilities of the bio-imaging tools developed in his lab have tremendous potential for point-of-care diagnostics in various clinical settings around the world.

To effectively advance his engineering research, Tkaczyks group combines the newest technologies in:

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Tomasz Tkaczyk : Rice University Department of Bioengineering