It is strongly advised to have completed Physics I and II. It is also very beneficial, but not compulsory, if Differential equations and Numerical Methods in Biomedicine have been completed. No prior knowledge on optics or image formation is required.

The student that successfully finishes this course will have an advanced understanding of image formation and how contrast, resolution and signal to noise ratio affects image quality, the quantitative information it may deliver and its interpretation. These main aspects of imaging (resolution, contrast, and quantification) will be studied within different imaging modalities, either currently used in medical imaging or under development for their future implementation in the clinic. Once this course has been completed the student should be able to discuss and defend which imaging modalities are more appropriate for a specific instance, and why. In particular, it is expected that each student will have a good understanding of what each imaging approach can deliver in terms of sensitivity, resolution and quantitation; within the skills acquired the student should be able to second an imaging or combined set of imaging approaches for current medical imaging scenarios.

1. Physical Principles of Image Acquisition and Formation. Sensors. 2. Resolution, Contrast and Noise in Image Formation 3. Current Laser Technology and Biomedical Applications 4. Interaction of Light with Cells and Tissues 5. Principles of Optical Microscopy and Spectroscopy 6. Functional Imaging: Ultrasound and Optics combined 7. Nonlinear Optical Imaging 8. Deep tissue imaging 9. Other Imaging Modalities and Imaging Displays Transversal content: The structure of a business plan, the canvas and SWOT matrix. The structure of a research proposal. Matlab/Octave programming.

LECTURES: Due to the large amount of topics covered and their multidisciplinary nature, it is strongly advised that the student reads the recommended chapters or sections before the class. These will be provided at least one week in advance. 1) Lectures: During the lectures the proposed topic will be presented, always encouraging discussion. 2) Discussion Sessions: When the topic allows it, groups of 3-5 will be formed for discussion sessions to solve particular problems related to the current topic with the main idea of understanding the system and developing different strategies to solve it, underlining the fact that there are almost always different approaches to the same problem. 3) Biomedical Project. In groups of 3-5 the students will develop the project for a technology based company for biomedical applications which makes use of biomedical imaging approaches. 4) Oral Presentations: At least once during the course each student will have the chance to do a short oral presentation on a topic related to the Biomedical Project chosen. These oral presentations will be prepared individually and have a duration of approx. 20 minutes per student. HOMEWORK: Recommended research papers will have to be studied prior to each other's student oral presentation. Data analysis and representation for the laboratory sessions will need good skills in matlab/octave. LABORATORY SESSIONS: Each experiment will be performed in groups of no more than 2 students. During these sessions simple experiments will be done to understand the basics of light transport in tissues, and how scattering affects image quality in microscopy, with emphasis on 3D microscopy. The main goal during these sessions is to understand the physics behind the experiment and how it relates to the theory we presented during the lectures, to obtain rigorous experimental data, and to have a clear understanding on the basis of image formation. Different software for 3D data analysis will be used, mostly Matlab (or Octave) and ImageJ.