Drezek wins Adolph Lomb Medal

The Optical Society of America (OSA) has awarded Rebekah Drezek the prestigious Adolph Lomb Medal for her work at the intersection of bioengineering, photonics, and nanotechnology.

The award, established in 1940, is presented annually to an individual who has made noteworthy contributions to optics before the age of 35. Drezek is the 45th recipient of the Adolph Lomb Medal.

“OSA is honored to recognize Dr. Drezek as a talented young leader in the field of optics and photonics,” said Elizabeth Rogan, OSA executive director. “She has demonstrated tremendous foresight and ingenuity toward the development of molecular imaging technologies that fight cancer and improve the quality of life for a growing number of patients.”

Drezek, associate professor in both bioengineering and in electrical and computer engineering at Rice University, uses an interdisciplinary approach to develop cost-effective, miniaturized, point-of-care optical technologies that detect biophysical changes in tissue inside the body to screen, diagnose, and monitor disease.

Working with clinicians at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Drezek’s group has built optical systems for a variety of diagnostic and therapeutic imaging needs that range from early detection to guiding surgery to monitoring the efficacy of radiation therapy and targeted drug treatments. Several imaging technologies have progressed to clinical trials.

Additional work from Drezek’s Optical Molecular Imaging and Nanobiotechnology Laboratory is also making significant contributions to health care. Time-saving modeling tools optimize the design of optical systems and molecular imaging agents leading to more efficient approaches to clinical trials.

Since 1916, OSA has worked to advance the common interests of the optics and photonics field, providing educational resources to the scientists, engineers and business leaders and by promoting the science of light and the advanced technologies made possible by optics and photonics. For more information, visit www.osa.org.

Shawn Hutchins, Bioengineering