Nathaniel Fried

Nathaniel Fried is a Professor in the Department of Physics and Optical Science at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte (UNC Charlotte), with dual roles as Adjunct Faculty in the McKay Department of Urology at Carolinas Medical Center and Adjunct Assistant Professor at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. His research focuses on laser-tissue interactions, biomedical optics, and minimally invasive laser surgical techniques. He holds a Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering from Northwestern University (1998), an M.S. in Physics from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (1994), and a B.A. in Physics from Swarthmore College (1992).

Research Interests
Fried’s work spans laser applications in medicine, including optical nerve stimulation, infrared laser sealing of blood vessels, and advancements in lithotripsy for kidney stone treatment. His lab explores optical coherence tomography (OCT) for real-time imaging and novel fiber optic designs to reduce tissue damage during surgery. Recent efforts include developing transparent laparoscopic devices for vascular sealing and improving Thulium fiber laser efficiency in urological procedures.

Publications & Awards
With 99 peer-reviewed manuscripts and 125 conference papers, Fried has contributed to seminal studies on laser-induced vapor bubbles and subsurface thermal lesions. Notable honors include the 2022 Edmund Optics Gold Medal and multiple Department of Defense grants for prostate cancer research. His work on optical nerve preservation during radical prostatectomy was highlighted in Nature Reviews Urology (2015).

Grants & Collaborations
Current funding includes NIH grants for laser sealing of vascular tissues and industry partnerships with Medtronic and Lockheed Martin. He leads a lab at UNC Charlotte and collaborates with Johns Hopkins on optical nerve mapping. His interdisciplinary approach integrates physics, engineering, and clinical urology to advance minimally invasive treatments.

Labs & Teams
Director of the Biophotonics Laboratory (formerly at Johns Hopkins) and core member of UNC Charlotte’s Optical Science Group. His team develops next-generation laser tools for precision surgery, including fiber-optic probes for nerve stimulation and OCT-guided systems.