Ulas Sunar

Ulas Sunar is the SUNY Empire Innovation Associate Professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at Stony Brook University, affiliated with the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences. His research focuses on developing quantitative optical imaging tools for neuroimaging and cancer imaging in both preclinical and clinical settings. Key areas include diffuse correlation spectroscopy (DCS), fluorescence imaging, and photodynamic therapy (PDT) monitoring.

His work spans optical techniques for cerebral blood flow monitoring in traumatic brain injury (TBI), non-invasive imaging of tumor response to therapy, and device innovation such as FPGA-based real-time DCS systems. Collaborations involve interdisciplinary applications in oncology, neurology, and medical diagnostics. Notable contributions include clinical trials of time-gated DCS systems and studies on light-triggered drug release mechanisms.

Research trends highlight advancements in optical imaging sensitivity, integration of therapeutic and diagnostic tools (theranostics), and translational studies linking preclinical models to clinical applications. His lab emphasizes multimodal approaches combining optical, ultrasound, and photoacoustic imaging for comprehensive tissue analysis.

Awards and grants are not explicitly listed in the provided text, though his extensive publication record indicates sustained research impact. Advising and mentoring focus on graduate students in biomedical engineering and affiliated programs. He maintains a lab dedicated to optical imaging technologies, contributing to Stony Brook’s interdisciplinary research ecosystem.