Qi Fang

Qi Fang is a Senior Research Fellow at the University of Western Australia (UWA), affiliated with the School of Engineering and the Department of Electrical, Electronic and Computer Engineering. Their work bridges medical physics and engineering, focusing on developing innovative imaging technologies for cancer detection. Notably, they contributed to the LIGO Scientific Collaboration, which received the 2016 Special Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics. Since completing their PhD in 2017, Fang has specialized in creating cost-effective imaging tools for surgical cancer detection, particularly in breast and prostate cancer. They hold patents for next-generation devices and collaborate with OncoRes Medical to commercialize these technologies, aiming to improve healthcare equity in rural regions.

Education: PhD in Physics (2011–2016) from UWA, with a thesis on 'High optical power experiments and parametric instability in 80 m Fabry-Perot cavities'. This foundational work in gravitational wave physics remains part of their expertise.

Research Interests: Medical imaging techniques including optical palpation, elastography, and optical coherence tomography (OCT). These methods are applied to enhance surgical precision in cancer removal, assess tumour margins, and visualize tissue mechanics. Recent projects emphasize low-cost, wireless solutions for rural healthcare access and interdisciplinary collaboration with engineering and medical teams.

Scientific Contributions: Fang's articles highlight advancements in stereoscopic optical palpation, friction analysis in micro-elastography, and 3D OCT imaging of prostate microarchitecture. These studies underscore the potential of their work to revolutionize real-time surgical diagnostics and improve patient outcomes.

• 2022 Vice-Chancellor's Early-Career Research Award
• 2022 Harry Perkins Institute Aspire Award
• 2022 Premier's Science Award: Woodside Early Career Scientist of the Year
• 2021 Investigator Initiated Research Scheme Grant (National Breast Cancer Foundation)
• 2021 Raine Priming Grant (Raine Medical Research Foundation)

Grants & Collaboration: Lead Investigator in five active research grants, including projects funded by the Raine Foundation, National Breast Cancer Foundation, and Cancer Council WA. Their collaborations span academic institutions and industry partners like OncoRes Medical. Advising roles are not explicitly stated, but Fang actively mentors teams in interdisciplinary research initiatives.

Labs & Teams: Core member of UWA's biomedical imaging research group. Collaborates with OncoRes Medical on medical device commercialization and maintains ties to the LIGO Scientific Collaboration through prior gravitational wave research. Engaged in cross-disciplinary projects with engineers, physicists, and medical professionals to advance surgical oncology and telehealth technologies.