Mark Niedre

Dr. Mark Niedre is an Associate Dean of PhD Education and COE Distinguished Professor of Bioengineering at Northeastern University's College of Engineering. His research focuses on biomedical optics, non-invasive imaging, and the detection of rare circulating cells (e.g., circulating tumor cells) using diffuse optical techniques. He leads the Biomedical Optics Research Group, which integrates optical engineering, biology, and signal processing to develop innovative diagnostic tools.

Dr. Niedre earned his PhD in Medical Biophysics from the University of Toronto (2005) and completed a postdoctoral fellowship at Harvard Medical School/Massachusetts General Hospital. His work has been supported by grants from the National Cancer Institute, NIH, and other agencies, including a $2.7M NIH grant for studying metastasis mechanisms.

His research interests emphasize ultrafast time-domain imaging, image reconstruction, and biomedical signal processing. Notable projects include developing instruments for real-time detection of fluorescently labeled cells and non-invasive monitoring of cancer progression. His lab’s advancements aim to translate these technologies into clinical applications for early cancer detection and personalized medicine.

• Awards: COE Distinguished Professor (2015), Søren Buus Outstanding Research Award, Massachusetts Life Sciences Center New Investigator Award
• Grants: NIH/NCI grants for in vivo flow cytometry and tumor cell monitoring
• Lab Team: Includes students like Jane Lee, Amber Williams, and Fernando Ivich, focusing on sensor design and signal processing

Dr. Niedre’s work bridges engineering and medicine, with a vision to create low-cost, accessible medical devices for global health challenges, as highlighted in student-driven projects and co-op experiences.