Junjie Yao

Biomedical Engineering

Associate Professor of Biomedical Engineering

Junjie  Yao Profile Photo
Junjie Yao Profile Photo

Research Interests

Photoacoustic tomography (PAT) technologies, and translating PAT advances into diagnostic and therapeutic applications, especially in functional brain imaging and early cancer theranostics.

Bio

Our mission at PI-Lab is to develop state-of-the-art photoacoustic tomography (PAT) technologies and translate PAT advances into diagnostic and therapeutic applications, especially in functional brain imaging and early cancer theranostics. PAT is the most sensitive modality for imaging rich optical absorption contrast over a wide range of spatial scales at high speed, and is one of the fastest growing biomedical imaging technologies. Using numerous endogenous and exogenous contrasts, PAT can provide high-resolution images at scales covering organelles, cells, tissues, organs, small-animal organisms, up to humans, and can reveal tissue’s anatomical, functional, metabolic, and even histologic properties, with molecular and neuronal specificity.

At PI-Lab, we develop PAT technologies with novel and advanced imaging performance, in terms of spatial resolutions, imaging speed, penetration depth, detection sensitivity, and functionality. We are interested with all aspects of PAT technology innovations, including efficient light illumination, high-sensitivity ultrasonic detection, super-resolution PAT, high-speed imaging acquisition, novel PA genetic contrast, and precise image reconstruction. On top of the technological advancements, we are devoted to serve the broad life science and medical communities with matching PAT systems for various research and clinical needs. With its unique contrast mechanism, high scalability, and inherent functional and molecular imaging capabilities, PAT is well suited for a variety of pre-clinical applications, especially for studying tumor angiogenesis, cancer hypoxia, and brain disorders; it is also a promising tool for clinical applications in procedures such as cancer screening, melanoma staging, and endoscopic examination.

Education

  • Ph.D. Washington University in St. Louis, 2012

Positions

  • Associate Professor of Biomedical Engineering
  • Associate Professor in Neurology
  • Affiliate, Duke Global Health Institute
  • Faculty Network Member of the Duke Institute for Brain Sciences
  • Member of the Duke Cancer Institute

Awards, Honors, and Distinctions

  • Early Career Development (CAREER) Award. National Science Foundation (NSF). 2022
  • Fellow. Optica (formally OSA). 2022
  • 2019 Young Investigator Award. IEEE Photonics Society . 2019
  • Collaborative Sciences Award. American Heart Association . 2018
  • OSA/Quantel Bright Idea Competition (Finalist). Optical Society of America. 2017
  • Seno Medical Best Paper Award. SPIE conference Photons Plus Ultrasound 2016: Imaging and Sensing. 2016
  • Seno Medical Best Paper Award. SPIE conference Photons Plus Ultrasound 2015: Imaging and Sensing . 2015
  • Seno Medical Best Paper Award. SPIE conference Photons Plus Ultrasound 2013: Imaging and Sensing . 2013
  • Chinese Government Award for Outstanding Self-financed Students Aboard. The Education Ministry of China. 2012
  • Best Master Dissertation Award. Tsinghua University. 2008
  • Comprehensive Student Fellowship. Tsinghua University. 2008
  • KangShien Outstanding Graduate Fellowship. Tsinghua University. 2006
  • CyrusTang Fellowship (2002-2006). Tsinghua University. 2002

Courses Taught

  • BME 792: Continuation of Graduate Independent Study
  • BME 791: Graduate Independent Study
  • BME 790L: Advanced Topics with the Lab for Graduate Students in Biomedical Engineering
  • BME 590: Special Topics in Biomedical Engineering
  • BME 553: Deep Tissue Optics (GE, IM)
  • BME 494: Projects in Biomedical Engineering (GE)
  • BME 493: Projects in Biomedical Engineering (GE)
  • BME 394: Projects in Biomedical Engineering (GE)
  • BME 303L: Modern Diagnostic Imaging Systems (AC or GE)

Publications

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