FU
GROUP
Precision Chemical Imaging of Living Biological Systems
What We Do
The Fu lab develops quantitative chemical imaging tools to study various pathophysiological processes of living biological specimens at single-cell resolution. These tools involve state-of-the-art laser engineering, innovation in ultrasensitive signal detection, and novel machine learning/deep learning based data analysis. Leveraging these powerful tools, the Fu lab aims to drive biomedical applications in three areas: 1) developing more sensitive and accurate diagnostic methods; 2) understanding brain metabolism and brain dysfunction in neurodegenerative diseases; 3) quantifying drug transport and drug metabolism in complex tissue environments to understand drug resistance.
Imaging method development
We focus on nonlinear optical spectroscopy-based label-free, precision chemical imaging method development, particularly stimulated Raman scattering microscopy and transient absorption microscopy.
Hardware development
We build state-of-the-art multimodal optical imaging microscopes to achieve high resolution, high sensitivity, quantitative chemical imaging of a wide variety of biological samples from cell cultures to living animals.
Data science tool development
We develop advanced computational algorithms to process multidimensional chemical imaging data and extract meaningful and interpretable information about the sample through image segmentation, classification, and prediction.
Cancer diagnosis
We collaborate with UW surgeons and pathologists and investigate the potential application of SRS in a wide range of intraoperative cancer diagnosis applications, including breast, brain, bone, and thyroid cancer.
Brain structure and function
We leverage the capabilities of our label-free chemical imaging technology to investigate brain structure and function. In particular, we are interested in exploring the role of capillaries in oxygen delivery and the contribution of dysfunctional capillaries to neurodegenerative diseases.
Drug transport and drug response
We develop quantitative chemical imaging tools to quantify single-cell drug exposure and single-cell drug response, with the goal of understanding transport-related drug resistance mechanisms and developing better drug screening methods.