Michael W. Jenkins

Michael W. Jenkins is a Professor of Biomedical Engineering at the Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine and a member of the Cancer Imaging Program at the Case Comprehensive Cancer Center. His research focuses on developing biomedical optics tools for studying congenital heart disease and peripheral nervous system disorders. Key techniques include optical coherence tomography (OCT), light-sheet microscopy, and infrared neuromodulation. The Jenkins Lab specializes in advancing 3D imaging modalities for real-time tissue analysis, aiming to reduce surgical delays and improve diagnostic accuracy.

Research interests include rapid 3D tissue visualization to replace traditional frozen-section pathology, optical pacing of cardiac tissues, and corneal nerve imaging. His work bridges engineering and medicine, with applications in ophthalmology, cardiology, and neurology. Recent innovations include label-free microscopy techniques (e.g., MUSE imaging) and AI-driven segmentation tools for neural anatomy analysis.

Publications highlight advancements in corneal crosslinking assessment, vagus nerve microanatomy characterization, and cardiac tissue imaging. The lab collaborates with industry to translate optical tools into clinical settings, emphasizing precision and real-time diagnostics.

Teaching and mentorship are integral to his role, fostering interdisciplinary training in biomedical optics. Ongoing projects address unmet clinical needs in neural modulation therapies and regenerative medicine through optical platforms.