Join Dr. Alexander A. Oraevsky, a scientist and pioneer in the field of biomedical optoacoustics for a public lecture entitled "New imaging technology uses light to make cancer 'talk' to the doctor," on Wednesday, August 7 at 7:00 pm, Don and Marion McDougall Hall, room 242. Dr. Oraevsky presently leads TomoWave Labs as Chief Technology Officer holds an adjunct professor position at the Biomedical Engineering Department of the University of Houston. He will discuss a new emerging imaging technology that uses light and sound to detect breast cancer. Presently breast cancer is being detected with mammography using ionizing radiation, which may cause cancer in the breast. Mammography also uses painful compression. Mammography misses 20 per cent of cancerous tumors in elder women and cannot visualize tumors in the breast of young women. Furthermore, when something is detected, it is likely a noncancerous tumor, but mammography cannot differentiate the two types, exposing too many women to unnecessary surgical procedures. A new imaging technology that uses red light that can be converted into sound in tumors, making them “speak” about their location and their medical conditions. The new modality uses the fact that aggressive cancers develop their own system of microscopic blood vessels to support their rapid growth. Thus, all aggressive tumors have more blood. Red light can be strongly absorbed in cancerous tumors, producing signals that can be detected at the skin surface. This way, early tumors can be reliably detected. Dr. Oraevsky is the recipient of multiple research awards advancing biomedical applications of the optoacoustic imaging sensing and monitoring. Alexander is the primary inventor of 17 patents, has published five book chapters and over 200 scientific papers dealing with novel laser technologies applicable in biology and medicine. For more information about Dr. Oraevsky's visit to UPEI or to organize a time to meet with him, please contact Dr. Bill Whelan, Department of Physics at 566-0419, wwhelan@upei.ca.