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Short Course Details

Fundamentals of Optical Imaging, OCT, and Photoacoustics with an Introduction to Classification Methods and Challenges

KA

Instructor:  
Prof. Kamran Avanaki  
Professor of Biomedical Engineering  
University of Illinois Chicago 

About the Instructor: 
Kamran Avanaki, PhD, is a Professor of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC). He specializes in advanced biomedical imaging and image analysis, with expertise in optical coherence tomography (OCT), photoacoustic imaging (PA), photoacoustic microscopy (PAM), ultrasound, and thermoacoustic imaging. His research also integrates AI-based biomedical signal and image processing. Dr. Avanaki directs the Optical & Photoacoustic Imaging Research and Analysis (OPIRA) Lab, where his team develops advanced imaging systems and computational methods for applications such as skin imaging, melanoma, hidradenitis suppurativa, and neonatal brain imaging. His work emphasizes classification, segmentation, and signal enhancement using machine learning, deep learning, transfer learning, and Vision Transformers. He has authored more than 120 peer-reviewed publications and has received numerous honors for excellence in research and teaching, including the UIC Faculty Rising Star Award (2023), UIC College of Engineering Teaching Award (2024), and UIC Teaching Recognition Program Award (2025). Course Overview:
This introductory course covers the fundamental principles of optical imaging, with a focus on optical coherence tomography (OCT) and photoacoustic (PA) imaging. Participants will explore the underlying physics, image formation concepts, instrumentation, and the structural and functional information provided by these modalities. The course will also introduce classification and analysis methods in optical imaging, starting with classical statistical approaches and conventional machine learning, and progressing to modern deep learning techniques. Practical applications and key challenges will be discussed, including data quality, annotation burden, generalizability, interpretability, and barriers to clinical translation.

Date & Time: 
June 4, 2026 18:00 – 20:00 

Location: 
To be announced 

Registration:  

  • Free for registered conference participants
  • $25 for students not registered for the conference
  • $50 for participants not registered for the conference