Laura Marcu, professor in the Departments of Neurological Surgery and Biomedical Engineering and a co-leader of the cancer center’s Biomedical Technology Program, has been appointed to the Endowed Professorship of Neurosurgical Research. This distinguished appointment is made possible by a $1.5 million anonymous gift. It provides funds for scientific discovery and development that have the potential to significantly improve the lives of patients.
“I am deeply grateful for this endowment. It will enable transformative research, accelerate clinical translation and expand the impact of emerging light-based or biophotonic technologies in patient care,” Marcu said.
Pioneer in biophotonic technologies
Marcu is the founding director of the National Center for Interventional Biophotonic Technologies (NCIBT) at UC Davis. The center is funded in part by the National Institutes of Health.
At NCIBT, Marcu is building on her pioneering work in medical applications of light-based technologies, particularly Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging (FLIm). FLIm is a pen-like device that surgeons can use to scan and highlight unhealthy tissue in real time to treat cancer and heart disease.
First developed in an engineering lab by Marcu and her team, FLIm is one of the most advanced clinical fluorescence lifetime imaging systems in the world. It’s currently being used at UC Davis Health — with great accuracy and success — to collect data and prove its value for widespread use.
Targeted approach for cancer and other diseases
Marcu’s lab is advancing the use of FLIm across several medical specialties, with the goal of giving clinicians clearer, real-time insights into tissue health. Their work currently focuses on surgical oncology, cardiovascular diagnostics and regenerative medicine.
FLIm allows surgeons to detect abnormalities in tissue while operating on a tumor. Because tumor cells have different optical properties than healthy tissue, their fluorescence changes under the device’s light, helping surgeons more accurately identify cancerous areas.
Cancerous tissue behaves differently from healthy tissue at a molecular level, and FLIm can detect those differences instantly. By integrating FLIm into surgical tools, surgeons can better distinguish tumor margins while operating. This helps ensure that cancerous tissue is fully removed while sparing as much healthy tissue as possible. This precision is especially critical in cancers where margins are difficult to define, such as head and neck cancer and brain cancer.
Marcu’s research has also advanced the concept of an “optical biopsy.” Instead of removing tissue for lab analysis and waiting days for results, FLIm provides immediate feedback in the operating room or clinic. This capability supports faster clinical decisions, reduces repeat procedures and may lower the physical and emotional burden on patients.
Bridging the gap from bench to bedside
The intersection of engineering and medicine has always been at the core of Marcu’s work.
“There can be a language barrier between engineers and clinicians who have different ways of thinking and doing things,” said Marcu. “Working in a clinical environment taught me how to communicate with physicians and surgeons, and that helped me bridge between scientific and medical communities.”
Marcu’s research in FLIm and other imaging systems demonstrates this interdisciplinary expertise and the importance of developing tools that translate from the research lab to patient care.
“I have always enjoyed connecting ideas across disciplines and interacting with people who have come from different domains and perspectives,” Marcu said. “This is what stimulates creativity and technological innovation with impact on patient care.”
Expanding impact through philanthropy
Located at the new Aggie Square, the NCIBT is the first center of its kind at UC Davis. It is critical to the dissemination and future commercialization of a range of optical spectroscopy and imaging technologies. It’s also critical for training the next generation of scientists.
Endowed chairs and professorships are among the university’s highest faculty honors and are created through donor support. Their invested funds generate enduring resources that empower professors to advance research, mentor students and drive innovation that benefits society.
“Philanthropy is very important because it provides the flexibility needed to accelerate the translation of technologies such as FLIm from discovery at the benchtop to clinical applications, and ultimately to the broader population,” Marcu explained. “Through this endowment, I am hoping to better emphasize the role that the NCIBT can play, not just institutionally but nationwide, and expand its visibility and impact.”
