April 29, 2011
11:00 am - 12:30 pm
521 Cory Hall
Dr. THOMAS M. BAER, Executive Director, Stanford Photonics Research Center, Stanford University
Biomedical Applications of Dynamic Quantitative Imaging: Oncology, Developmental Biology, and Neuroscience
Abstract
Our understanding of the molecular basis of life has been greatly expanded by the development of highly precise analytical instruments capable of measuring tens of thousands of molecular targets simultaneously. In parallel with these revolutionary developments, new imaging technologies have also rapidly evolved, providing unsurpassed resolution and highly accurate three dimensional images of cells and organ systems in living organisms. A growing research frontier is at the intersection of these two areas: correlating dynamic quantitative imaging data with precise multi-parameter molecular analysis of DNA, RNA, and proteins in vivo, and from samples harvested from live tissue. Working at this intersection requires mathematical modeling of complex molecular data sets and development of automated image analysis and feature extraction algorithms of large three dimensional image data sets. In this seminar I will discuss several examples of recent research using this approach in studies in human development biology, neuroscience, and oncology.
Bio
Dr. Baer is currently the Executive Director of the Stanford Photonics Research Center and a member of the Applied Physics Department at Stanford University. His research is focused on developing imaging and analysis technology for exploring the molecular basis of developmental biology and neuroscience.
From 1996 to 2005 Dr. Baer was CEO, chairman, and founder of Arcturus Bioscience, a biotechnology company located in Mountain View, CA, which he established in 1996. Arcturus Bioscience pioneered the area of Microgenomics by developing and manufacturing laser microdissection instrumentation and integrated bioreagent systems. Arcturus developed products that allowed precise genetic analysis of microscopic tissue samples and which were integrated into a new generation of cancer diagnostic tests. Prior to Arcturus, Dr. Baer was Vice President of Research at Biometric Imaging, where he led an interdisciplinary group developing products with applications in the areas of AIDS monitoring, bone marrow transplant therapy, and blood supply quality control. From 1981 to 1992 Dr. Baer was at Spectra-Physics, Inc., where he held positions as Vice-President of Research and Spectra-Physics Fellow. While at Spectra-Physics his research focused on ultra-fast lasers, optical pulse compression, diode-pumped solid-state lasers, and nonlinear optics.
Dr. Baer has made major contributions in the areas of biotechnology, quantum electronics, and laser applications. He is listed as an inventor on 60 patents and is a co-author on many peer reviewed publications in a number of different scientific fields. His commercial products have received many industry awards for design innovation. Co-founder of four companies in Silicon Valley, he was named entrepreneur of the year for emerging companies in Silicon Valley in 2000 by the Silicon Valley Business Journal. Dr. Baer graduated with a BA degree in Physics Magna Cum Laude from Lawrence University and received his MS and Ph.D. degrees in Atomic Physics from the University of Chicago. He is also an alumnus of Harvard Business School and in 1994 he received the Distinguished Alumni Award from Lawrence University. He has been elected to the status of Fellow in two international scientific societies, the American Association for the Advancement of Science and The Optical Society of America (OSA), and served as the President of OSA in 2009.