Colloquia Topic and Speaker Bio 

Abstract: Early and accurate diagnosis of malaria in the human red blood cells is acute to the success of eliminating malaria. The method of malaria diagnosis using optical microscopy involves staining and manual counting of infected cells by trained personnel, making the process subjective, time-consuming, and labor-intensive. Here we propose to develop a 3D-printed lensless in-line digital microscope (LiDHM) without the need for staining the cells. We will integrate the microscope with a small embedded systems hardware platform to run multiple neural networks in parallel for image classification, object detection, segmentation, processing, and machine learning algorithms for automatic detection and quantification based on parasite stages in infected cells, and display for the visual user interface. We present the results of LiDHM along with the proof of concept by imaging-controlled phase objects and biological specimens.

Bio: Charlotte is currently a 4th year Ph.D. student in Biophysics at the University of Massachusetts Boston under the supervision of Prof. Chandra S. Yelleswarapu, with a primary research focus on biomedical imaging using digital holographic microscopy techniques. Her research endeavors are conducted in the context of cost-effective field-portable handheld microscopes for healthcare settings, where she aspires to make a meaningful impact.

The primary objective of her research is to develop a device capable of detecting infectious diseases using microscopic images of unstained/label-free samples. This innovation holds the potential to significantly improve the efficiency and accuracy of diagnosing infectious diseases, such as malaria and sickle cell anemia, particularly in developing countries. Their lab collaborates with Duraisingh鈥檚 Lab at Harvard School of Public Health to test the performance of the lensless microscope on malaria-infected red blood cells.

Charlotte is deeply passionate about her work, driven by the profound impact it could have on improving healthcare systems. Her dedication and commitment to advancing scientific knowledge in the field of biomedical imaging exemplify her interest in creating positive change through her academic pursuits.