Author: optipath

Post by Jesil Jose on LinkedIn
I had the pleasure of presenting our work at SINTEF MiNaLab – Microsystems and Nanotechnology during the Photonics4Clinics meeting at New Delhi, jointly organized by UiT- The Arctic University of Norway, AIIMS (All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi), and Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi, supported by the UTFORSK and INCP2 programmes.

What truly stood out was the quality of the dialogue – scientists and clinicians engaging directly to explore how photonics research can be translated into tools that function reliably in real clinical settings.
While medical needs and photonics research are both advancing rapidly, translation and integration remain the real bottlenecks. This is precisely where SINTEF is ideally positioned to contribute. At SINTEF MiNaLab, we work at the intersection of fundamental photonics, scalable micro/nanofabrication, and system-level integration, with a strong focus on industrialization and real-world deployment. During my talk, I introduced several ongoing projects that directly address clinical and diagnostic challenges:

🔬 OPTIPATH
– A MEMS-metasurface–based histopathology system designed to enable faster and more streamlined cancer detection, with the potential to significantly improve histopathology workflows.
🔬 COMPAS
– Development of low-loss Al₂O₃ on-chip micro/nanoscopy platforms, alongside co-integrated waveguide–photodetector architectures, paving the way for compact, robust photonic systems suitable for clinical environments.
🔬 STARDUST
– A SERS–microfluidics platform, developed for water monitoring, but readily adaptable for biomedical and bioanalytical applications, demonstrating how modular photonic platforms can serve multiple domains, including healthcare.

The discussions consistently underscored that progress depends not on more complex technology, but on clinically relevant, robust, scalable, and cost-aware solutions, shaped through early and continuous interaction between researchers and end users. These exchanges strongly reinforced how critical early engagement is in shaping photonics platforms that can thrive beyond the lab.

A huge shoutout to Balpreet Singh Ahluwalia for the leadership and vision in assembling such a strong, multifaceted consortium -setting the stage for the kind of interdisciplinary conversations that are critical for real clinical impact. Many thanks to the organizers and colleagues from AIIMS New Delhi, IIT Delhi, Indian Institute of Technology, Madras, IIT Hyderabad, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, University of Southampton, University of Oslo, and others for the open and stimulating discussions.