Alexander Oraevsky

Adjunct Professor

Office Location 7505 Fannin Street, Ste 500, Houston, TX 77054-1943

Phone 713-282-9353

Email aaoraevs [at] cougarnet.uh.edu

Dr. Alexander A. Oraevsky has over 25 years experience managing research and development laboratories in academia and small businesses. He is a pioneer in the field of biomedical optoacoustics. Alexander received his initial training in physics and mathematics from the Moscow Physical and Engineering Institute in Moscow, Russia and obtained a doctorate in laser spectroscopy and laser biophysics from the USSR Academy of Sciences in 1986. He began his pioneering research in the field of optoacoustic imaging, sensing and monitoring in 1987. In 1992, as Whitaker Fellow, he joined the faculty at Rice University, Houston, Texas. He was the Director of the Optoacoustic imaging and Spectroscopy Laboratory at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, TX and an Assistant Professor at the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences. In 1998 Dr. Oraevsky founded LaserSonix Technologies, the first company dedicated to commercialization of optoacoustic imaging systems based on the core patent filed in 1996. Presently Dr. Oraevsky is the holder of 12 patents, has published 7 book chapters and over 250 scientific papers dealing with novel laser technologies applicable in biology and medicine. Before founding TomoWave Labs in 2010, he was Vice President of R&D at Fairway Medical Technologies. Being business strategist for TomoWave, Alexander continues to lead the research community of biomedical optoacoustics he created by founding and Chairing international conference on “Photons plus Ultrasound: Imaging and Sensing” the largest forum in the area of biomedical optoacoustics held annually under auspices of International Society of Photo-optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE). Dr. Oraevsky also holds an adjunct Professor position at the Biomedical Engineering Department of the University of Houston. He is the recipient of over $15M in major research grants from NIH, DOD and other sponsors advancing the science of optoacoustics for clinical applications in the areas of cancer diagnostics and therapy.

Education

Ph.D., Laser Spectroscopy, Photochemistry and Biophysics, Institute of Spectroscopy, USSR Academy of Sciences, Russia

M.S., Ultrafast Laser Spectroscopy of Biomolecules, Moscow Physical and Engineering Institute, Russia

B.S., Theoretical and Experimental Physics Moscow Physical and Engineering Institute, Russia

Courses

1986-1989, Laser Photochemistry, graduate course, Institute of Spectroscopy, Russian Academy of Sciences.

1993, Tissue Engineering, Short Course for Continuing Studies, "Laser Biomedical Diagnostics and Treatment", Rice University.

1994 -1998, Two original courses for undergraduate and graduate students: "Fundamentals of Biomedical Photonics" and "Laser Biomedical Instrumentation", Biomedical Engineering Program, Electrical and Computer Engineering Department, Rice University.

1999, Supervision of a High School Teacher participated in Texas HECB Advanced Technology Supplemental Program.

2000-2002, Facilitator, Problem Based Learning at SOM, UTMB, “Great Syndromes” Course (2000), “Tissues-Cells-Molecules” Course.

2000-2004, Educational Program at SPIE Photonics West Symposium, course “Optoacoustic Tomography”.

2009, “Optoacoustic imaging and sensing”, Graduate study short course, the University of Houston.

Awards and Honors

2025 - Member of Forbes Technology Council

2022 - The Best Paper Award, SPIE Photonics West Symposium, Conference on “Photons Plus Ultrasound: Imaging and Sensing” (paper on Quantitative Optoacoustic Tomography).

2021 - Elected Fellow of Optica (Optical Society of America)

2017 - Santander Award and Chair of Excellence Grant for the project “Laser optoacoustic and Laser ultrasound endoscopy of cancer using high power diode lasers”, University of Carlos III, Madrid Spain

2016 - Elected Fellow of International Society of Photonics Engineering (SPIE)

2015 - James Smith Award from the International Photoacoustic and Photothermal Association for pioneering research, development and seminal contributions to biomedical photoacoustic (optoacoustic) imaging.

2014 - Berthold Leibinger Innovations Prize, the First Place Award for the invention and development of the “Laser Optoacoustic Imaging System and its biomedical applications”.

2009 - The Best Paper Award, SPIE Photonics West Symposium, Conference on “Photons Plus Ultrasound: Imaging and Sensing” (Paper on Laser Optoacoustic Imaging System, LOIS-3D).

1989 - “Outstanding Young Faculty Award”, Institute of Spectroscopy, USSR Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia.

1987 - Academy of Sciences Award for young researchers for the project "Optical monitoring of neuron activity", Moscow, Russia.

Professional Activities

SPIE / Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers (Fellow

Optica / Optical Society of America (Fellow)

BIOS / Biomedical Optics Society (Fellow)

IEEE / Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (Biomedical Engineering)

Research Interests

Optoacoustic Imaging (Tomography, Microscopy, Endoscopy, Sensing) of Tissue and Cell

Biomedical Optics and Imaging of Nanoparticles

Laser Fluorescence Microscopy and Spectroscopy

Laser Photochemistry of Biomolecules

Medical Diagnostics, Image guided surgery, Monitoring thermal therapy

Pulsed Laser Ablation of Tissues and Biomaterials

Photothermal, Photomechanical and Photochemical Tissue Effects

Laser Physics, Optical Systems

Funding Received

US Army /DOD Breast Cancer Imaging Program, “Spectroscopic optoacoustic tomography for diagnostic imaging of early breast cancer”, 4/1/2004- 3/31/2006

NIH/NCI, R43/R44 Subcontract, “Optoacoustic and Ultrasonic Imaging of Angiogenesis”, 4/01/2005 – 3/30/2007

NIH/NCI, R43/R44 (SBIR Phase I and Phase II) "Optoacoustic imaging enhanced with gold nanorods”, 10/1/2005-9/30/2009

NIH/NCI, R43/R44 (SBIR Phase I plus Phase II) “Optoacoustic image guided biopsy of prostate cancer”, 4/1/2006 – 3/30/2009

DoD/ Alliance for Nanohealth, Image guided Laser Activated Nano-Thermolysis of Leukemia Cells from bone marrow transplants”, 11/1/2006 – 10/30/2007

NIH/NCI, R43/R44 (SBIR Phase I plus Phase II) “3D Hybrid Optoacoustic-Ultrasonic System for Diagnostic Imaging of Breast Cancer”, 9/1/2007 – 8/30/2010

Office of Naval Research, (Subcontract from SA UTHSC) “Rapid Identification of pathogenic agents biological samples using pulsed laser optoacoustic spectroscopy with targeted nanoparticle contrast agent”, 2/1/2008 – 1/30/2011

NIH/NCI, American Recovery and Reinvestment Act Program, “Novel Nanotechnology based contrast agents for optoacoustic imaging”, 9/1/2009 – 8/30/2010

NIH/NCI, R01 "Multimode laser optoacoustic tomography system for breast cancer care", 4/1/2012-3/30/2017.

NIH/NIHD, R43 “Point-of-care monitoring of feto-placental oxygen uptake”, 4/1/2018-3/30/2019.

NIH/NIBIB, R01 “Computational Framework Enabling Virtual Imaging Trials of 3D Quantitative Optoacoustic Tomography Breast Imaging”, 4/1/2022-3/31/2026.

Selected Publications

P. Chen, S. Park, R.M. Cam, H-K. Huang, A.A. Oraevsky, U. Villa, M.A. Anastasio: Learning a Filtered Backprojection Reconstruction Method for Photoacoustic Computed Tomography with Hemispherical Measurement Geometries, IEEE Trans. Med. Imaging, 2024: xx: xxx (DOI: 10.1109/TMI.2025.3591706).
M. Sanchez, D. Gallego, A.A. Oraevsky, H. Lamela: A laser ultrasound emitter based on high-power diode laser in overdrive operation mode for biomedical imaging applications, Ultrasonics 2025; 148, 107548 DOI: 10.1016/j.ultras.2024.107548
S. Park, U. Villa, Fu Li, R.M. Cam, A.A. Oraevsky, M.A. Anastasio: Stochastic three-dimensional numerical phantoms to enable computational studies in quantitative optoacoustic computed tomography of breast cancer, J. Biomedical Optics 2023; 28(6): 066002.
S. Park, F.J. Brooks, U. Villa, R. Su, M.A. Anastasio, A.A. Oraevsky, Normalization of optical fluence distribution for three-dimensional functional optoacoustic tomography of the breast, J. Biomed. Opt. 2022; 27(3): 210367GR. [DOI: 10.1117/1.JBO.27.3.036001]
J. Zalev; L.M. Richards; B.A. Clingman; J. Harris; E. Cantu; G.L.G. Menezes; C.A. Avila; A. Bertrand; X.R. Saenz; S.C. Miller; A.A. Oraevsky; M.C. Kolios: Optoacoustic imaging of relative blood oxygen saturation and total hemoglobin for breast cancer diagnosis. J. Biomedical Optics 2019; 24(12): 121915. doi.org/10.1117/1.JBO.24.12.121915
Y. Lou, S. Park, F. Anis, R. Su, A.A. Oraevsky, M.A. Anastasio, Analysis of the use of unmatched backward operators in iterative image reconstruction with application to three-dimensional optoacoustic tomography, IEEE Trans Computer Imaging, 2019; 5(3): 437-449. [DOI 10.1109/TCI.2019.2895217].
A.A. Oraevsky, B. Clingman, T. Stavros; J. Parikh, W.T. Yang: Clinical Optoacoustic Imaging Combined with Ultrasound for Coregistered Functional and Anatomical Mapping of Breast Tumors, Photoacoustics 2018; 8: 2345-2351. DOI.org/10.1016/j.pacs.2018.08.003.
E.V. Petrova, H.P. Brecht, M. Motamedi, A.A. Oraevsky, S.A. Ermilov: In vivo optoacoustic temperature imaging for image-guided cryotherapy of prostate cancer, Phys. Med. Biol. 2018; 63(6) 064002. doi:10.1088/1361-6560/aab241
D.L. Longo, R. Stefania, S. Aime, A.A. Oraevsky: Melanin-Based Contrast Agents for Biomedical Optoacoustic Imaging and Theranostic Applications. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2017; 18: 1719-1739.
E. Petrova, A. Liopo, S.A. Ermilov, A.A. Oraevsky: Temperature-dependent optoacoustic response and transient through zero Grüneisen parameter in optically contrasted media. Photoacoustics 2017; 7: 36-46. doi: 10.1016/j.pacs.2017.06.002

AA. Oraevsky, S.L. Jacques, R.O. Esenaliev: "Laser Optoacoustic Imaging System for Medical Diagnostics", USPTO Serial # 05,840,023
R.O. Esenaliev, A.A. Karabutov, M. Motamedi, A.A. Oraevsky: “Real Time Optoacoustic Monitoring of Changes in Tissue Properties”, USPTO Serial # 06,309,352
A.A. Oraevsky, A.A. Karabutov: “Time-resolved optoacoustic method and system for noninvasive monitoring of glucose”, USPTO Serial # 06,405,069.
R. Esenaliev, D. Prough, M. Motamedi, A.A. Oraevsky: “Optoacoustic Monitoring of Blood Oxygenation”, USPTO Serial # 06,498,942.
A.A. Oraevsky, P.M. Henrichs: “High contrast optoacoustic imaging using nanoparticles”, US Patent # 07,500,953, PCT Application # 10/764,213, 01/25/2003
A.A. Oraevsky, D.O. Lapotko: “Laser-activated Nanothermolysis of cells”, US Patent 07,999,161; PCT Application 11/795,857, Priority date 01/22/2005.
A.A. Oraevsky, D.O. Lapotko: “Method of Laser-activated Nanothermolysis of Targeted Cells”, US Patent Application 13/136,939.
A.A. Oraevsky, S.A. Ermilov: “Quantitative Optoacoustic Tomography with Enhanced Contrast”, US Patent 07,740,585, Priority date 01/20/200
A.A. Oraevsky, A. Liopo, “Methods and compositions for carrier agents and clearing agents used in optoacoustic imaging systems”, USPTO Serial No. 13/517,649, Priority Date: Sep 1, 2012, US Patent 9,615,750.
A.A. Oraevsky, S.A. Ermilov, A. Conjusteau, P. Brecht, V.V. Nadvoretrskiy, R. Su, D. Herzog, B. Clingman, J. Zalev: "Dual Modality Imaging System for Coregistered Functional and Anatomical Mapping", U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 13/667,808
A.A. Oraevsky, S.A. Ermilov, A. Conjusteau, P. Brecht, V.V. Nadvoretrskiy, R. Su, D. Herzog, B. Clingman, J. Zalev: Method for Dual Modality Optoacoustic Imaging", U.S. Patent US 9,757,092 B2
A.A. Oraevsky, S.A. Ermilov, A. Conjusteau, P. Brecht, V.V. Nadvoretrskiy, R. Su, D. Herzog, B. Clingman, J. Zalev “Optoacoustic Imaging System Having Handheld Probe Utilizing Optically Reflective Material”, U.S. Patent Application No. US20140039293A1, PCT 13/746,559
A.A. Oraevsky, D. Tsyboulski and T.G. Miller: “Composition of tissue-equivalent opto-acoustic ultrasonic phantoms and assembly method”, U.S. Patent 9,655,594.
A.A. Oraevsky, D.A. Tsyboulski, A. Conjusteau: “Scanning optoacoustic system imaging system with improved signal collection efficiency”, U.S. Patent Application, US Serial 13/748,315, Priority 24 January 2013; Publication US20130190594A1.
A.A. Oraevsky, S.A. Ermilov, A. Conjusteau, Laser Optoacoustic Ultrasonic Imaging System (LOUIS) and Methods of Use; U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 13/748,498, Priority Jan 23, 2012, International App. No. PCT/US2013/022801, US20130190595A1; Canadian CA2861979A1, EP2806803A1, EP2806803A4, EU Patent App. 13740611.2, Japanese Tokugan 2014-553542, International Patent: WO2013112626A1.
A.A. Oraevsky, S.A. Ermilov: Dynamic Optoacoustic Angiography of Peripheral Vasculature; U.S. Patent Application Serial No.: 13/748,563, Priority Jan 23, 2013; CIP Patent U.S. Serial No. 17/074,371.
A.A. Oraevsky, S.A. Ermilov: Optoacoustic-Ultrasonic System for Coregistered Functional and Morphological Imaging of Placentas; US 9,498,133 B2, Date of Patent Nov 22, 2016.
A.A. Oraevsky, A. Liopo, S.A. Ermilov: Optoacoustic-Ultrasonic Contrast Agents with Enhanced Efficiency; U.S. 9,545,456 B2. Date of Patent Jan 17, 2017
A.A. Oraevsky, E. Petrova, S.A. Ermilov: Optoacoustic Image Mapping of Tissue Temperature; U.S. Patent 10,123,707, priority January 31, 2014. International patents: US20150216420 A1, CA2938259A1, EP3099242A1, WO2015117070A1.
A.A. Oraevsky: Screening System for Functional Anatomical Mapping, International PCT patent application PCT/US2019/025885. Priority date: April 4, 2018.
A.A. Oraevsky: Quantitative Imaging System and Uses Thereof; PCT/US2019/025885, U.S. Serial No. 17/063,565. Filed nationally in US, Canada, Australia, Europe, Japan, China, Korea and Russia. Priority Date of Application April 4, 2019.