Renate Zilkens

Renate Zilkens serves as a Research Fellow at The University of Western Australia's Medical School, specializing in advanced optical imaging techniques for breast cancer surgery. Her interdisciplinary work bridges biomedical engineering and clinical oncology, focusing on real-time intraoperative assessment to improve surgical precision and patient outcomes.

Her research interests center on biomedical engineering applications in oncology, particularly optical coherence tomography (OCT) and elastography for breast tissue characterization. She investigates tumor margin assessment, surgical cavity imaging, and tissue biomechanics, with strong alignment to UN Sustainable Development Goal 3 (Good Health and Well-being). Current projects emphasize cost-effective device development and clinical validation of imaging technologies.

Analysis of her 2023-2025 publications reveals a cohesive trajectory in advancing OCT for breast cancer surgery. Key themes include handheld probe development, 3D dynamic imaging, tissue mechanics effects on optical properties, and validation methodologies for surgical cavity assessment. This work demonstrates consistent engineering-clinical collaboration to reduce re-excision rates through improved intraoperative diagnostics.

Dr. Zilkens maintains active collaboration with UWA's breast cancer research team led by Professors Christobel Saunders and Brendan Kennedy. While specific grant details aren't public, her high publication volume indicates robust research funding. She participates in multidisciplinary projects spanning probe engineering, clinical validation, and surgical workflow integration, though no formal student supervision is documented in available sources.