Catherine Alicia Best-Popescu

RES ASST PROF, CI MED
Biomedical and Translational Sciences

(217) 333-8367

cabest@illinois.edu

2050 Beckman Institute

For More Information

The Cellular Neuroscience Imaging laboratory

Education

Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA 2005-2007
Ph.D. Biomedical Sciences, Northeastern University, 2005
B.S. Biology and Psychology, University of Massachusetts, Boston, MA 1994

Academic Positions

RES ASST PROF, Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2014-current
RES ASST PROF, CI MED Department of Biomedical & Translational Sciences Carle Illinois College of Medicine Champaign Illinois, 2024-current
Research Affiliate Faculty Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2023-current
Research Affiliate Faculty Neuroscience Program, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2023-current
LAB COORD FOR SHIELD, Shield Saliva COVID-19 Diagnostic Laboratory Veterinary Diagnostic Lab., University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2020
Research Associate, Clinical Traumatic Brain Injury Trial Primary Investigator, Lovell Federal Health Care Center, Chicago, IL 2019
RES ASST PROF Medical Cell & Structural Biol. Course Director Medical Neuroscience, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2007-2014
RES ASST PROF Medical Cell & Structural Biol. Course Director Medical Biochemistry, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2010-2011
Med UIUC Basic Sciences Adm. Interim Director of Assessment, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2011- 2013
Med UC Basic Sciences Adm. Director of Curricular Alignment and Active Learning Curricular Development, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2011-2013
VISITING RESEARCH SCIENTIST in Cellular Biophysics, School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, 2005-2007
Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Cambridge, MA 2005-2007
Research Associate, Department of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, 2002-2005
Medical Technician, Clinical Chemistry, and Toxicology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, 2001-2002

Documents

Other Professional Employment

COM-UC Americans with Disabilities (ADA) Proctor, College of Medicine at Urbana Champaign, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, 2012-2014
COM-UC Chief Proctor NBME, College of Medicine at Urbana Champaign, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, 2012-2014

Professional Highlights

I serve as the Neural Engineering Working Group Chair
I serve on several committees including: BIOE Diversity Committee, Granger College of Engineering Diversity Committee, Undergrad Curriculum Committee,
I teach the BIOE Summer Camps.
I support and provide research opportunities to many students (International Interns, Undergrad, Masters, PhD and Medical Students)
I have been successful in getting grants from multiple funding sources

Resident Instruction

2023- Present NE 330: Neuroscience for Engineers (Spring 23-25, Fall 2025)
2022, 2023, 2025 NE 100: Intro to Neural Engineering (Fall), University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign.
2021-2024 BIOE 570 Seminar Series (M. EngÂ online, Fall, Spring and Summer), University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign.
2021-2024 BIOE 570 Seminar Series (M. Eng in-person, Fall and Spring), University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign.
2021 BIOE 572: Biological Measurement Advanced Microscopy Module (M. Eng Online), University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign.
2020, 2021 BIOE 571: Biological Measurement Basic Microscopy Module (M. Eng Online), University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign.
2020 BIOE 575: Capstone Project (M. Eng online), Fall and Spring, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign.
2018 - 2022 BIOE 575: Capstone Project (M. Eng in-person), University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign.
2018 - 2021 BIOE 572: Biological Measurement Advanced Microscopy Module (M. Eng In-person, Spring 2018, 20, 22, Spring and Fall 2019, 2021), University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign.
2018 - 2020 BIOE 571: Biological Measurement Basic Microscopy Module (M. Eng In-person), University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign.
2017, 2021-2023, BIOE 120/ BIOE 100: Introduction to Bioengineering (Fall 2017, 2022, Spring 2023, Fall and Spring 2021), University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign.
2017 BIOE 572: Biological Measurement Sensor Module (M.Eng In-Person), University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign.
2012-2015 Catapult: Step One Prep: NBME Board Review Course. College of Medicine at Urbana Champaign, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign.
2012-2014 UIUC COM M2 Excellence in Path and Pathophysiology Review Course. College of Medicine at Urbana Champaign, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign.
2012 Medical Neuroscience M2: Peripheral Neuropathies, Vascular Disorders, CNS Infections and Dementia, College of Medicine at Urbana Champaign, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign
2009-2014 Neuro 529: Medical Neuroscience Lab M1 (College of MedicineÂ University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign.
2009-2014 Neuro 527: Medical Neuroscience M1.Â College of Medicine at Urbana Champaign, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign.
2009 -2012 MCB 527: Human Neuroscience, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign.

Course Development

2023 NE 330: Neuroscience for Engineers (NEW)
2022 NE 100: Intro to Neural Engineering (NEW)
2020 BIOE 570 Seminar Series (NEW M. Eng Online and In-person)
2020 BIOE 575 Capstone Project (NEW M. Eng Online)
2017 BIOE 571 Biological Measurement (NEW M. Eng Advanced Microscopy Module)
2016 BIOE 571 Biological Measurement (NEW M. Eng Basic Microscopy Module)
2012 Catapult Step 1 NBME Exam Preparation (NEW UIUC COM M1/M2 Course)
2012 Excellence in Path and Pathophysiology Review Course (NEW UIUC COM M2)
2010 Microsurgical Anatomy, Cadaveric Dissections, and Technical Considerations (NEW UIUC COM Course, Madison Wisconsin with Dr. Baskaya)

Short Courses

2023-current Center for Label-free Imaging and Multiscale Biophotonics (CLIMB) Summer School, Spatial Light Interference Microscopy Lecture and Lab
2020-current The Granger Worldwide Youth in Science and Engineering Program (WYSE) 3D Day Camp Power of BIOE
2020-2024 The Granger Worldwide Youth in Science and Engineering Program (WYSE) Bioengineering: Exploring Your Options Virtual Summer Camp
2020-2024The Granger Worldwide Youth in Science and Engineering Program (WYSE) Bioengineering Exploring Your Options Residential Summer Camp
2015- 2020 Human Anatomy Cadaver Dissection Lab for Underserved Rural High School Students (Medical Society of Illinois, Leroy IL. Dr. Tom Pliura)
2012 -2016 Catapult NBME Step 1 Exam Preparation (NEW UIUC COM M2 Course)
2012, 2013 Excellence in Path and Pathophysiology (NEW UIUC COM M1/M2 Course)
2010 - 2014 Microsurgical Anatomy, Cadaveric Dissections and Technical Considerations Course (Madison Wisconsin, Dr. Baskaya)
2010, 2011 Illinois Summer Neuroscience Institute Summer Camp, Brain Exploration Laboratory Co-coordinator
2008, 2010, 2011, 2014 NanoBiophotonics Summer School, The Visual System Seen through Illusions and Lesions (ECE, Beckman Institute)

Student Organizations

Mudit Mehta, Research Advisor, 2024,2025
James Keener Edmunds Independent Research Adviser. 2023, 2024
Cindy Chen (Bioengineering) Research Adviser 2024, 2025
Pras Bairwa (Computer Science) Research adviser 2024, 2025
Alexander Byrne (Neuro) Research adviser, Fall & Spring, 2023
Brigitte Joyce (BIOE), Research adviser, Fall & Spring, 2023
Salma El-Naggar (BIOE), Research adviser, Fall & Spring, 2023
Isabelle Guerra (BioE), Research adviser, Fall & Spring, 2022
Julia Stillman (BioE), Research adviser, Fall & Spring, 2021
Aniket Joglekar (Biochemistry) Research Independent Study Fall 2021
Zeena Thakkar, Research adviser. Spring, 2021
Vedanta Kompella (Engineering Physics), Research adviser, Fall, 2021
Haseeb Syed (Bioe) Research adviser, Fall, 2021
Dave Amartya (Chemistry) Research Independent Study 2020-2022 Fall & Spring
Priyal Patel, Research adviser, Fall & Spring, 2020-2022
Shreyaa Jeyakumar, Research adviser. Fall & Spring, 2020, 2021
William Walton, Research adviser, Fall and Spring, 2020
Vraj Shah (MCB), Research adviser, Fall and Spring, 2020
Jessie Koh, Research adviser. Spring, 2020
Shreya Rao (MCB), Research adviser, Fall, 2020
Ziyin Wang, Siebel School Comp & Data Sci, Engineering. Research adviser. Fall & Spring, 2023
Enrico Persico, NE Honors student Engineering James Scholar Student. Research adviser. Fall & Spring, 2023
Shriya Anant, Honors student Engineering James Scholar Student, Research adviser. Fall & Spring, 2023
Margaret We, Honors student Engineering James Scholar Student, Research adviser. Fall & Spring, 2023
Meghan Honore Blomberg ISUR Student, Research adviser. Fall & Spring, 2022-2024
Jaehyun Nam, Research adviser. Fall & Spring, 2022-2024
Bilal Karim, Research adviser. Fall & Spring, 2022- 2023
Aditi Patel Honors student Engineering James Scholar Student, Research adviser. Fall & Spring, 2022
Joseph Jung. Research adviser. Spring, 2022
Linyuan Li (Alina), Research adviser. Fall & Spring, 2022
Dziyana Balakir (Biochemistry), Research adviser. Fall & Spring, 2021-2024
Justin Yung, Research adviser. Fall & Spring, 2021, 2022
Darsh Gupta Honors student Engineering James Scholar Student (The Relationship between COVID-19 & Vitamin D), Research adviser. Fall & Spring, 2021
Omeed Miraftab-Salo, Research adviser. Fall & Spring, 2020 and 2021
Bianca Savant, Research adviser. Fall & Spring, 2019-2022
Keshav Shvam (Computer Science), Research adviser, Fall and Spring 2018-2019
Yujin Lee, Research adviser, Fall and Spring 2017-2022

Other Undergraduate Advising Activities

Cheyanne Ligutan Big Ten Academic Alliance (BTAA) Summer Research Opportunities Program (SROP) Summer 2025, supervised her research.
Yasmine Khan Spring 2025 supervised Beckman Open House
David Marroquin, Summer 2025, Supervised his SCI-LSAMP Summer Research Program research project
Meghan Bloomberg, 2023-2024 supervised her Granger Engineering Illinois Scholars Program (ISUR) research project
Javier Dejesus REU Discoveries in Bioimaging Program Summer Student, University of Illinois at Urbana, Champaign. Summer 2017, supervised research.

Research Statement

I direct the Cellular Neuroscience Imaging Lab (CNI) in the Department of Bioengineering. Our research group uses quantitative phase microscopy techniques to investigate neurological disease and trauma.

The CNI works across the molecular to the behavioral scales and at the intersection between bioengineering, neuroscience, and medicine.

Post-Doctoral Research Opportunities

Looking for energetic post-docs interested in projects at the interface of bioengineering, neuroscience and medicine.

Graduate Research Opportunities

Looking for energetic students interested in projects at the interface of bioengineering, neuroscience and medicine.

Undergraduate Research Opportunities

We are looking for undergraduate students interested in integrating bioengineering, neuroscience and medicine.

Research Interests

Mobility and Communication Solutions for Cerebral Palsy
QPI Investigation of Glioblastoma Treatment
Quantitative Phase Imaging (QPI) of Mouse Models of Neurological Disease and Trauma.

Chapters in Books

Optical Sensing of Red Blood Cell Dynamics by YK Park, C A. Best-Popescu, and G Popescu, in "Mechanobiology of cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions," Edited by Amy Wagoner Johnson (Springer, 2011)
Erythrocyte Nanoscale Flickering: A Marker for Disease by C. A. Best-Popescu, in Nanobiophotonics, Edited by G. Popescu (McGraw Hill, 2010).

Selected Articles in Journals

Ranoa DRE, Holland RL, Alnaji FG, Green KJ, Wang L, Fredrickson RL, Wang T, Wong GN, Uelmen J, Maslov S, Weiner ZJ, Tkachenko AV, Zhang H, Liu Z, Ibrahim A, Patel SJ, Paul JM, Vance NP, Gulick JG, Satheesan SP, Galvan IJ, Miller A, Grohens J, Nelson TJ, Stevens MP, Hennessy PM, Parker RC Jr, Santos E, Brackett C, Steinman JD, Fenner MR Jr, Dohrer K, DeLorenzo M, Wilhelm-Barr L, Brauer BR, Best-Popescu C, Durack G, Wetter N, Kranz DM, Breitbarth J, Simpson C, Pryde JA, Kaler RN, Harris C, Vance AC, Silotto JL, Johnson M, Valera EA, Anton PK, Mwilambwe L, Bryan SP, Stone DS, Young DB, Ward WE, Lantz J, Vozenilek JA, Bashir R, Moore JS, Garg M, Cooper JC, Snyder G, Lore MH, Yocum DL, Cohen NJ, Novakofski JE, Loots MJ, Ballard RL, Band M, Banks KM, Barnes JD, Bentea I, Black J, Busch J, Conte A, Conte M, Curry M, Eardley J, Edwards A, Eggett T, Fleurimont J, Foster D, Fouke BW, Gallagher N, Gastala N, Genung SA, Glueck D, Gray B, Greta A, Healy RM, Hetrick A, Holterman AA, Ismail N, Jasenof I, Kelly P, Kielbasa A, Kiesel T, Kindle LM, Lipking RL, Manabe YC, Mayes J, McGuffin R, McHenry KG, Mirza A, Moseley J, Mostafa HH, Mumford M, Munoz K, Murray AD, Nolan M, Parikh NA, Pekosz A, Pflugmacher J, Phillips JM, Pitts C, Potter MC, Quisenberry J, Rear J, Robinson ML, Rosillo E, Rye LN, Sherwood M, Simon A, Singson JM, Skadden C, Skelton TH, Smith C, Stech M, Thomas R, Tomaszewski MA, Tyburski EA, Vanwingerden S, Vlach E, Watkins RS, Watson K, White KC, Killeen TL, Jones RJ, Cangellaris AC, Martinis SA, Vaid A, Brooke CB, Walsh JT, Elbanna A, Sullivan WC, Smith RL, Goldenfeld N, Fan TM, Hergenrother PJ, Burke MD. Mitigation of SARS-CoV-2 transmission at a large public university. Nat Commun. 2022 Jun 9;13(1):3207. doi: 10.1038/s41467-022-30833-3. PMID: 35680861; PMCID: PMC9184485.
Goswami, N., He, Y.R., Deng, Y.H., Oh C., Sobh N., Valera E., Rashid B., Nahed I., Kong H., Nguyen T.H., Best-Popescu C.A., and Popescu G. Label-free SARS-CoV-2 detection and classification using phase imaging with computational specificity. Light Sci Appl. 2021;10, 176.
Ma Y, Lee Y, Best-Popescu C, Gao L. High-speed compressed-sensing fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy of live cells. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2021 Jan 19;118(3):e2004176118. doi: 10.1073/pnas.2004176118. PMID: 33431663; PMCID: PMC7826382.
King WP, Amos J, Azer M, Baker D, Bashir R, Best C, Bethke E, Boppart SA, Bralts E, Corey RM, Dietkus R, Durack G, Elbel S, Elliott G, Fava J, Goldenfeld N, Goldstein MH, Hayes C, Herndon N, Jamison S, Johnson B, Johnson H, Johnson M, Kolaczynski J, Lee T, Maslov S, McGregor DJ, Milner D, Moller R, Mosley J, Musser A, Newberger M, Null D, O'Bryan L, Oelze M, O'Leary J, Pagano A, Philpott M, Pianfetti B, Pille A, Pizzuto L, Ricconi B, Rubessa M, Rylowicz S, Shipley C, Singer AC, Stewart B, Switzky R, Tawfick S, Wheeler M, White K, Widloski EM, Wood E, Wood C, Wooldridge AR. Emergency ventilator for COVID-19. PLoS One. 2020 Dec 30;15(12):e0244963. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0244963. PMID: 33378363; PMCID: PMC7773325.
Goswami, N., He, Y. R., Deng, Y-H., Oh, C., Sobh, N., Valera, E., Bashir, R., Ismail, N., Kong, H. J., Nguyen, T. H., Best-Popescu, C., & Popescu, G. (2020). Rapid SARS-CoV-2 Detection and Classification Using Phase Imaging with Computational Specificity. (bioRxiv). Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press. https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.12.14.422601.
Fanous M, Caputo MP, Lee YJ, Rund LA, Best-Popescu C, Kandel ME, Johnson RW, Das T, Kuchan MJ, Popescu G. Quantifying myelin content in brain tissue using color Spatial Light Interference Microscopy (cSLIM). PLoS One. 2020 Nov 19;15(11):e0241084. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0241084. PMID: 33211727; PMCID: PMC7676665.
M. Kandel, C. Hu, G. Kouzehgarani, E. Min, K. Sullivan, H. Kong, J. Li, D. Robson, M. Gillette, C. Best-Popescu, and G. Popescu, Epi-illumination gradient light interference microscopy for imaging opaque structures, Nature Communications, October 16, 2019.
R. W. Motl, G.M. Niemiro, M.D. Lisio, S. Suommer, B.J. Riskin and C.A. Best-Popescu Hu, G. Kouzehgarani, E. Min, K. Sullivan, H. Kong, J. Li, D. Robson, M. Gillette, C.A. Best-Popescu, Ultraviolet B Phototherapy Intervention in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis: A Prospective, Randomized Pilot Trial. Journal of Neurological Research and Therapy, 3 (1), (2019). DOI: 10.14302/issn.2470-5020.jnrt-19-2797.
H. Majeed, L. Ma, Y.J. Lee, M.E. Kandel, E. Min, W. Jung, C.A. Best-Popescu and G. Popescu. Magnified Image Spatial Spectrum (MISS) microscopy for nanometer and millisecond scale label free imaging. Optics Express, 26 (5), 5423 (2018).
R. Barakat, P.C. Lin, C.J. Park, C. Best-Popescu, H.H. Bakery, M.E. Abosalum, N.M. Abdelaleem, J.A. Flaws, and CheMyong Ko. Prenatal Exposure to DEHP Induces Neuronal Degeneration and Neurobehavioral Abnormalities in Adult Male Mice, Toxicological Sciences, 1-14 (2018). PMID:29688563 doi: 10.1093/toxsci/kfy103
M. E. Kandel, M. Fanous, C.A. Best-Popescu and G. Popescu. Real-time halo correction in phase contrast imaging, Biomed. Opt. Express 9(2), 623-635 (2018).
Y.J. Lee, P. Cintora, J. Arikkath, A. Olaoluwa, M. Kandel, G. Popescu, and C.A. Best-Popescu, Quantitative assessment of neural outgrowth using spatial light interference microscopy. J. Biomed. Opt. 22 (6) (2017). doi:10.1117/1. JBO.22.6.066015.
P. Cintora, Y.J. Lee, G. Popescu and C.A. Best-Popescu, Cell density modulates intracellular mass transport in neural networks Cytometry: Part A, 91(5): 503-509 (2017).
E. Min, S. Ban, Y. Wang, S. Bae, G. Popescu, C.A. Best-Popescu, and W. Jung, Measurement of multispectral scattering properties in mouse brain tissue, Biomed. Opt. Express 8 (3), 1763-1770 (2017)
T. H. Nguyen, M. Kandel, H. M. Shakir, C.A Best-Popescu, M. N. Do, and G. Popescu, Halo-free Phase Contrast Microscopy, Scientific Reports 7, article number:44034 (2017). doi: 10.1038/srep44034.
M. Kandel, H. Shakir, C.A. Best-Popescu, and G. Popescu, Three-Dimensional Intracellular Transport in Neuron Bodies and Neurites Investigated by Label-Free Dispersion-Relation Phase Spectroscopy, Cytometry: Part A 91(5):519-526. doi: 10.1002/cyto.a.23081 (2017).
E. Min, M.E. Kandel, J. Ko. CheMyong, G. Popescu, W. Jung. and C.A. Best-Popescu, Label-free, multi-scale imaging of ex-vivo mouse brain using spatial light interference microscopy, Scientific Reports, 6: (2016). PMCID: PMC5180101
S. Lee, H. Park H, C.A.Best-Popescu, S.Jang, and Y. Park Y, The Effects of Ethanol on the Morphological and Biochemical Properties of Individual Human Red Blood Cells PLoS ONE 10 (12): e0145327 (2015). PMCID: PMC4699194.
H. Wang, B.Wang, N. Kieran, K. Jackson, K. Spitler, M.F. Sharrock, C. Miller, C. Best, D. Llano and D. Rose. Brain temperature and its fundamental properties: a review for clinical neuroscientists, Frontiers in Neuroscience, 8:307 (2014) doi:10.3389/fnins.2014.00307
H.V. Pham, B. Bhaduri, K. Tangella, C.A. Best-Popescu and G. Popescu, Real time blood testing using quantitative phase imaging, PloS ONE, 8(2):e55676 (2013). PMCID: PMC3565969
Y.K. Park, C.A. Best-Popescu, T.Kuriabova, M.L. Henle, M.S. Feld, A.J. Levine and G. Popescu, Measurement of nonlinear microrheology of red blood cells, Phys. Rev. E, 83 (2011). PMCID: PMC3350818
Y. K. Park, C. A. Best-Popescu, R. R. Dasari, and G. Popescu, Light scattering of human red blood cells during metabolic remodeling of the membrane, Biomed Opt 16 (2011). PMCID: PMC3041812
Y. K. Park, C. A. Best-Popescu, K. Badizadegan, R. R. Dasari, M. S. Feld, T. Kuriabova, M. L. Henle, A. J. Levine and G. Popescu, Measurement of red blood cell mechanics during morphological changes, Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci., (2010). PMCID: PMC2872375
Y. K. Park, C. A. Best-Popescu, T. Auth, N. Gov, S. A. Safran, G. Popescu, S. Suresh and M. S. Feld, Metabolic remodeling of the human red blood cell membrane, Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci., 107, 1289 (2010). PMCID: PMC2802590
G. Popescu, Y. Park, N. Lue, C.A Best-Popescu, L. Deflores, R. R. Dasari, M. S. Feld and K. Badizadegan, Optical imaging of cell mass and growth dynamics, Am J Physiol Cell Physiol, 295, C538-44 (2008). PMCID: PMC2518415
M. Abkarian, M. Faivre, R. Horton, K. Smistrup, CA Best-Popescu, and H.A. Stone, Cellular-scale hydrodynamics, Biomed Mater., 3, 034011 (2008).
D. Mischoulon, C. A. Best-Popescu, M Laposata, W. Merens, J.L. Murakami, S.L. Wu, G.I. Papakostas, C.M. Dording, S.B. Sonawalla, A.A. Nierenberg, J.E. Alpert, and M. Fava. A double-blind dose-finding pilot study of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) for major depressive disorder, Eur Neuropsychopharmacol., 9, 639-45 (2008).
J. Wozniak, J. Biederman, E. Mick, J. Waxmonsky, L. Hantsoo, C.A Best, J.E. Cluette-Brown, and M. Laposata. Omega-3 fatty acid monotherapy for pediatric bipolar disorder: A prospective open label trial. Eur Neuropsychopharmacol., 17 (6-7): 440-7 (2007).
C.A. Best, T. Sarkola, C.J.P. Eriksson, J.E. Cluette-Brown and M. Laposata. Increased plasma fatty acid ethyl ester levels following inhibition of oxidative metabolism of ethanol by 4-methylpyrazole treatment in human subjects. Alcoholism-Clinical and Experimental Research, 30(7):1126-1131 (2006).
G. Popescu, T. Ikeda, K. Goda, C. A. Best-Popescu, M. Laposata, S. Manley, R. R. Dasari, K. Badizadegan and M. S. Feld, Optical measurement of cell membrane tension, Phys. Rev. Lett., 97, 218101 (2006).
D.M. Yoerger, C.A. Best, B.M. McQuillan, G.E. Supple, J.L. Guererro, J.E. Cluette-Brown, A. Hasaba, M.H. Picard, J.R. Stone and M. Laposata. Rapid fatty acid ethyl ester synthesis by porcine myocardium upon ethanol infusion into the left anterior descending coronary artery. American Journal of Pathology, 168(5):1435-1442 (2006).
C.A. Best, M. Laposata, V.G. Proios and Z.M. Szczepiorkowski. Method to assess fatty acid ethyl ester binding to albumin. Alcohol and Alcoholism, 41(3):240-246 (2006).
G. Popescu, T. Ikeda, C. A. Best, K. Badizadegan, R. R. Dasari and M. S. Feld, Erythrocyte structure and dynamics quantified by Hilbert phase microscopy, J. Biomed. Opt. Lett., 10, 060503 (2005).
C.A. Best, J.E. Cluette-Brown. M. Teruya, A. Teruya and M. Laposata. Red blood cell fatty acid ethyl esters: a significant component of fatty acid ethyl esters in the blood. J Lipid Res, 44(3):612-20 (2003)
C.A. Best and M. Laposata. Fatty acid ethyl esters: toxic non-oxidative metabolites of ethanol and markers of ethanol intake. Front Biosci, 8:e202-17 (2003).
B.L. Soderberg, R.O. Salem, C.A. Best, J.E. Cluette-Brown, and M. Laposata. Fatty acid ethyl esters: Ethanol metabolites that reflect ethanol intake, Am J Clin Pathol, 119 Suppl: s94-9 (2003).
M. Laposata, A. Hasaba, C.A. Best, D.M. Yoerger, B.M. Mcquillan, R.O. Salem, M.A. Refaai and B.L. Soderberg, Fatty acid ethyl esters: recent observations, Prostaglandins Leukot Essent Fatty Acids, 67: 193-6 (2002).

Abstracts (in print or accepted)

Quantitative Phase Imaging Cartography: A New Lens into Traumatic Brain Injury. Jorge Maldonado DeJesus, Yuliia Kohut, David Liang, Sarah Alashqar, Isidra Baker, Casey Fornal, Siva Reddy Challa, Krishna Kumar Veeravalli, Billy Wang, and Catherine Best-Popescu. Neurotrauma, Philidelphia, PA, 2025
Characterization of regional matrix metalloproteinase-12 expression in traumatic brain injury through immunofluorescence and spatial light interference microscopy. David Liang, Jorge Maldonado DeJesus, Sarah Alashqar, Catherine Best-Popescu, Isidra Baker, Casey Fornal, Siva Reddy Challa, Krishna Kumar Veeravalli, and Billy Wang. Neurotrauma, Philidelphia, PA, 2025
Histopathology of Cellular Profiles and Tissue Barriers in a Model of TBI Using Spatial Light Interference Microscopy. Yuliia Kohut,Jorge Maldonado, Catherine Best-Popescu. Undergraduate Research Symposium PO 91. University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, IL, USA. 2025
Systematized Review of Shunt Technologies Used in the Treatment of Hydrocephalus. Yasmine Khan, Anh Nguyen, Yuliia Kohut, Noreen Adoni, Cindy Chen, Safa Thameem, Jorge Maldonado, Catherine Best-Popescu. Undergraduate Research Symposium PO 76. University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, IL, USA. 2025
Label-Free Biophysical Profiling of White Matter Myeloarchitecture in a Traumatic Brain Injury and Alzheimerâ€™s Model Using Spatial Light Interference Microscopy Cindy Chen, Anh Nguyen, Jorge Maldonado, Catherine Best-Popescu. Undergraduate Research Symposium PO 93. University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, IL, USA. 2025
Leveraging Deep Learning for Label-Free Cellular and Vascular Segmentation in Brain Tissue Using Spatial Light Interference Microscopy. Prasheetha Bairwa, TJ Pavaritpong, Yuliia Kohut, Cindy Chen, Shubham Thakar, Jorge Maldonado, and Dr. Catherine Best-Popescu. PO Undergraduate Research Symposium, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, IL, USA. 2025
Leveraging Deep Learning for Label-Free Cellular Segmentation in Brain Tissue Using Spatial Light Interference Microscopy. Prasheetha Bairwa, Jorge Maldonado, Catherine Best-Popescu. PO 21. Undergraduate Research Symposium, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, IL, USA. 2025
Label-free Biophysical Profiling of White Matter Myeloarchitecturein a Traumatic Brain Injury and Alzheimerâ€™s Model Using Spatial Light Interference Microscopy. Anh Nguyen, Cindy Chen, Jorge Maldonado, Billy Wang, Catherine Best-Popescu. Undergraduate Research in Scientific Advancement Poster Symposium, University of Illinois 2024
Engineered systems for tumor modeling facilitate the assessment of therapeutic interventions. Joseph Mueller, Ryan Yao, Kim Selting, Catherine Best-Popescu, Brendan Harley, Sara Pedron-Haba. ]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Brain Cancer; 2023 Oct 19-22; Minneapolis, Minnesota. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(5 Suppl_1):Abstract nr A045.
Pras Bairwa Jorge Maldonado, Billy Wang, Catherine best-Popescu Undergraduate Research in Scientific Advancement Poster Symposium, University of Illinois 2024 (Best Poster Presentation Award)
Real-Time, Dose-Fractionated Irradiation of Cell Cultures Synchronously Imaged Using Quantitative, Label-Free Microscopy: A Glimpse into Time-Resolved Radiobiology. MAS Lamba, JAMDeJesus, C Best-Popescu, L Myers, D Ionascu. American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM) 66th Annual Meeting & Exhibition. Los Angeles, CA, 2024
Designing Flow Rate Sensors for Management of Hydrocephalus. Meghan Blomberg, Catherine Alicia Best-Popescu. Illinois Scholars Undergraduate Research Expo (ISUR). University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, IL, USA. 2024
Hypothermic Effects on In Vitro Traumatic Brain Injury Models. James Keener Edmunds, Raghav Tirumale,Jorge Maldonado. Catherine Best. PO12. Undergraduate Research Symposium, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, IL, USA. 2024
Evaluating fetal neocortical development in germ-free mice in response to maternal IL-17A administration. Izan Chalen, Selena S. Wang, Ashley M. Otero, Rafael Gonzalez-Ricon, Catherine A Best-Popescu, Adrienne M. Antonson Nanosymposium 15.08. Society for Neuroscience, Chicago, IL, USA 2024.
The Antioxidant Effect to Counter Radiation in Aging/ Neurotoxicity Genes. Faisal Ahmad and Catherine Best-Popescu. PO 110. Undergraduate Research Symposium, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, IL, USA. 2024
AI-Mediated Segmentation and Identification of Glioblastoma Cellular Microenvironment. Yasmine Khan, Chadrick Gyabin, Jorge Maldonado and Catherine Best-Popescu. Undergraduate Research Symposium PO 2. University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, IL, USA. 2024
Quantitative histopathology of breast and bladder cancer using color spatial light interference microscopy (CSLIM) with computational specificity (PICS). Jingfang Zhang and Catherine A. Best-Popescu. SPIE Photonics Europe. Strasbourg, France. 2024
Advances in label-free optical quantification of Alzheimerâ€™s disease associated cellular and tissue level pathology. Jorge Maldonado and Catherine A. Best-Popescu. SPIE Photonics-Europe. Strasberg France. 2024
Using Spatial Light Interference Microscopy (SLIM) and Standard Histological Techniques for Multi-Scale Quantitative Brain Analysis. Dmitry Yurchanka, Ammaar Malik, Jorge Alexis Maldonado DeJesus, and Catherine Alicia Best-Popescu. PO20. Undergraduate Research Symposium, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, IL, USA. 2023
Quantitative Label-free Cell Cycle Microscopy. Sanjana Satish, Jorge Alexis Maldonado DeJesus, and Catherine Alicia Best-Popescu. PO110. Undergraduate Research Symposium, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, IL, USA. 2023
A Step Towards Automated Bioreactor Cell Viability Microscopy. Sharon Ignatius Newton, Jorge Alexis Maldonado DeJesus,and Catherine Alicia Best-Popescu. PO85. Undergraduate Research Symposium, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, IL, USA. 2023
Quantifying the Anti-inflammatory Effects of Fluoxetine, Propanolol, and Anticorticosteroid Treatment Using Quantitative Phase Microscopy in a Chronic Social Stress Model. Tanishka Trivedi, Jorge Alexis Maldonado DeJesus, and Catherine Alicia Best-Popescu. PO 14. Undergraduate Research Symposium, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, IL, USA. 2023
Three-Dimensional Anatomical Reconstruction of Mice Brain. Dziyana Balakir, Jorge Maldonado and Catherine Best-Popescu. PO 37. Undergraduate Research Symposium, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, IL, USA. 2023
Biomimetic Fluid Flow Sensing in Hydrocephalus. Meghan Blomberg, Megan Amber Lim, Jaya Ganapathi, Daniella Champan, Hailey Waltenburg, Catherine Alicia Best-Popescu. Illinois Scholars Undergraduate Research Expo (ISUR) Office of Undergraduate Research (OUR). University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, IL, USA. 2023
Spatial Light Interference Microscopy for Quantification of Brain and Gut Changes in a Repeated Social Defeat Model. Jorge Maldonado, Jacob Allen, Patricia Brewster and Catherine Best-Popescu. Gastronauts Global Symposia, Galapagos Islands, Ecuador 2023
Measuring fetal neuroarchitecture in germ-free mice in response to maternal IL-17A administration. Chalen I., Wang S., Best-Popescu C., Antonson A.M. Gastronauts Global Symposia, Galapagos Islands, Ecuador 2023
Quantifying Neuroinflammation Across Multiple Scales: A Novel Approach Employing Quantitative Phase Imaging in Models of Neuroinflammation and Neurodegeneration. Jorge Maldonado DeJesus and Catherine Best. PS1-1. PsychoNeuroImmunology Research Society (PNIRS) Annual Meeting, Boulder, CO. 2023
Measuring fetal cortical architecture in response to maternal immune activation by live influenza virus. Chalen I., Wang S., Florianowicz V., Matan A., Otero A.M., Gonzalez-Ricon R., Karim B., Best-Popescu C., Antonson A.M. PS1-46. PsychoNeuroImmunology Research Society (PNIRS) Annual Meeting, Boulder, CO. 2023
Evaluating fetal corticogenesis in germ-free mice in response to maternal IL-17a administration. Chalen-Paredes I., Wang S.S., Otero A.M., Gonzalez-Ricon R., Best-Popescu C., Antonson A.M. Microbial Multiverse Symposium, Illinois Microbial Systems Initiative, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, IL. 2023
Identifying Optical Biomarkers of Neuroinflammation and Neurodegeneration Across Multiple Scales: A Novel Approach Using Quantitative Phase Imaging. Jorge Maldonado, Yasmine Khan, Karna Trepstra, Lawrence Best, Liviu Mirica, Catherine Best-Popescu. CLIMB University of Illinois. 2023
Spatial Light Interference Microscopy (SLIM) for Label-Free Quantification of Neuroinflammation in Alzheimer's Disease. Suhaani Nigam, Yasmine Khan,Jorge Maldonado, Karna Terpstra, Liviu Mirica, Catherine Best-Popescu. PS2-54. PsychoNeuroImmunology Research Society (PNIRS) Annual Meeting, Boulder, CO. 2023
Quantification of Biophysical Markers of Inflammation using Spatial Light Interference Microscopy (SLIM) in a Repeated Social Stress Disorder Murine Model. Tanishka Trivedi, Jorge Maldonado, Patti Brewster, Isabelle Guerra, Jacob Allen, and Catherine Best-Popescu. PS3-50. PsychoNeuroImmunology Research Society (PNIRS) Annual Meeting, Boulder, CO. 2023
Quantifying neuroanatomical variations across multiple mouse models of multiple sclerosis. Maldonado, J., Best, L., Chalen, I., & Best-Popescu, C. PsychoNeuroImmunology. Research Society (PNIRS) Annual Meeting, ETH, Zurich, Switzerland. 2022
Measuring fetal neuroarchitecture in germ-free mice in response to maternal IL-17a administration. Chalen I., Wang S.S., Jung J., Maldonado J., Linyuan L., Best-Popescu C., Antonson A.M. PsychoNeuroImmunology Research Society (PNIRS) Annual Meeting, ETH, Zurich, Switzerland, 2022
Scarred Stars: Investigating the Role of Astrocytes in Alzheimer's Disease. Michelle Nelson, Jorge Maldonado and Catherine Best-Popescu. Basic Science UIC Health Sciences Campus-Rockford Research Day. 2021
Spatial Light interference Microscopy as a quantitative histopathology tool in the study of dys-myelinating disorders. Jorge Maldonado DeJesus, Lawrence Best, Catherine Best-Popescu, NSF-Miniature Brain Machines Retreat. Beckman Institute, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, IL, USA. 2020
Across the scales investigation of Traumatic Brain Injury and Multiple Sclerosis. Jorge Maldonado DeJesus and Catherine Best-Popescu. NSF Industry/University Cooperative Research Center for Computational Biotechnology and Genomic Medicine Meeting, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, IL, USA. 2019
Multiple scale quantitative analysis of white matter connectivity on a MYRF knock-out mouse model using spatial light interference microscopy (SLIM) J. A. Maldonado, Lawrence Best, C. Best. PO 703.16. Optical Methods: Applications. Society for Neuroscience, Chicago, IL, USA. 2019
Quantifying myelination of single neurons using Spatial Light Interference Microscopy(SLIM). Young-Jae Lee, Michael Fanous, Megan P. Caputo, Laurie A. Rund, Rodney W. Johnson, Tapas Das, Matthew J. Kuchan, Catherine Best-Popescu, Gabriel Popescu. PO 206.14 Molecular and Cellular Mechanisms of Demyelinating Disorders. Society for Neuroscience, Chicago, IL, USA 2019
Spatial Light Interference Microscopy Revealed Myelin Differences Quantified in De and Dys/myelination Mouse Models. Jorge Maldonado, Lawrence Best, Kiran Murphy, Gabriel Popescu, and Catherine Best-Popescu. NSF-Miniature Brain Machinery Retreat, Beckman Institute, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, USA. 2019.
Label-free Identification and Analysis of Demyelination in Murine Models Using Spatial Light Interference Microscopy (SLIM). ColÃ³n, Marisabel, Maldonado, Jorge, Best, Catherine. Biomedical Engineering Society (BMES) P-SAT-282. Undergraduate Research, Design & Leadership. Biomedical Imaging and Optics. BMES2019-004042.pdf. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. 2019
Traumatic Brain Injury Quantified by S.L.I.M. Microscopy with Omega 3 Fatty Acid Treatments. Darnella Cole and Catherine Best-Popescu Abstract ID 3929. Undergraduate Research and Design. Biomedical Imaging and Instrumentation. Biomedical Engineering Society (BMES) Annual Meeting, Atlanta, GA, USA. 2018
Spatial Light Interference Microscopy Revealed Myelin Differences Quantified in De and Dys/myelination Mouse Models. Jorge Maldonado, Lawrence Best, Kiran Murphy, Gabriel Popescu, and Catherine Best-Popescu.Society for Neuroscience, San Diego, CA, USA. 2018.
Multiplexing imaging development using phase light interference and fluorescence microscopy to bridge the scales from single molecule to whole organ J. A. Maldonado, C. Best, T, A. Smith, G. Popescu. PO612.12 - Physiological Methods: Optical Methodology: Development II. Society for Neuroscience, San Diego, CA, USA. 2018.
Synaptic plasticity revealed by spatial light interference microscopy(slim) coupled with fluorescence imaging. Y. J. Lee, M. Kandel, C. Best PO 202.04 Structural Plasticity II. Society for Neuroscience, San Diego, CA, USA. 2018.
Gradient Light Interference Microscopy for Label-Free Quantitative Assessment of Brain Slices. M. E. Kandel, Sangyun Joung, Ghazal N. Kouzehgarani, Martha U. Gillette, Catherine Best-Popescu, Gabriel Popescu. PO 338.25. Physiological Methods: Optical Methodology: Development I. Society for Neuroscience, San Diego, CA, USA. 2018.
Non-contact measurement of electrical activity in neurons using magnified image spatial spectrum (MISS) microscopy. H. Majeed, Young JL, Best-Popescu CA, Popescu G, Jang SS, Chung HJ. Proc. SPIE 10074, Quantitative Phase Imaging III, 100740Y. San Francisco, CA, USA.
Murine cell and layer-specific distribution abnormalities in the hippocampus following trauma. Y J. Lee, M. E. Kandel, S. Joung, I. Uzcanga, J. De Jesus Astacio, C. Best. PO 675.02. Traumatic Brain Injury: Therapeutic Interventions III. Society for Neuroscience, Washington, DC, USA. 2017.
3D Murine Brain Cartography: Reconstruction using Spatial Light Interference Microscopy (SLIM). J. de Jesus, P. Cintora, M.E. Kandel and Catherine Best-Popescu. Biomedical Engineering Society (BMES) P-SAT-215. Undergraduate Research, Design & Leadership. Biomedical Imaging and Optics. BMES2017-003397.pdf. Phoenix Arizona, USA. 2017.
Using spatial light interference microscopy (SLIM) to quantify the neuroprotective effects of temperature and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) on primary neurons following trauma. Michael Szewczyk, I. Miches, P. Cintora, Y. J. Lee, M. E. Kandel, D. Kline, C. A. Best-Popescu. PO 675.04 Traumatic Brain Injury: Therapeutic Interventions III. Society for Neuroscience, Washington, DC, USA. 2017.
Summative Assessment of a High School Human Cadaveric and Neuroanatomy Dissection Laboratory. I. Miches, and C. A. Best-Popescu. PO 027.08SU/WW39 Topic: J.03.Neuroscience Outreach Activities II, Society for Neuroscience, Washington, DC, USA. 2017.
Neural structure and dynamics using halo-free phase-sensitive microscopy. G. Popescu, M. Kandel, S. Joung, C. A. Popescu. PO 675.03. Traumatic Brain Injury: Therapeutic Interventions III. Society for Neuroscience, Washington, DC, USA. 2017
Helmholtz phase tomography for label-free imaging of neuronal intracellular transport. ME Kendal, H. Shakir, C. A. Best, G. Popescu. PO 94.06 Light Microscopy: Advances in Technologies, Software, and Analysis. Society for Neuroscience. San Diego, CA, USA. 2016
Dynamics of cortical neuronal growth, transport and motility associated with cell trauma assessed by quantitative phase imaging (QPI). YJ Lee, P Cintora, ME. Kandell, and CA Best-Popescu. PO 676.12. Society for Neuroscience, San Diego, CA, USA. 2016
Omega Three Fatty Acids and Cooling Mitigate Altered Structural Properties of Cortical Neurons Following Mechanical Injury. Patty Cintora, YJ Lee, ME. Kandell, and CA Best-Popescu. PO 316. Neuroprotective Mechanisms: Brain or Spinal Cord Injury. Society for Neuroscience, San Diego, CA, USA. 2016
Temperature modulates stress response of neurons to repetitive low-force mechanical impacts. D. C. Kline, C. Best-Popescu, and P. Sengupta. PO 768.05. Cellular Mechanisms of Degeneration and Inflammation in Models of Neurodegenerative Disease. Society for Neuroscience, Washington, DC, USA. 2015
3D Murine brain connectome reconstruction using spatial light interference microscopy (SLIM). S. Kim, E. Min, L. Ma, W. Jung, G. Popescu, C. Best-Popescu. PO734 Whole Brain Imaging and Atlasing II, Society for Neuroscience, Chicago, Il, USA. 2015
Infrared diffraction phase microscopy for nanoscale imaging of live brain slices. E. Min, S. Kim, L. Ma, W. Jung, Y. Wang, G. Popescu, and C. Best-Popescu. PO60 at the Cell Symposia SFN: Engineering the Brain- Technologies for Neurobiological Applications. Society for Neuroscience, Chicago, Il, USA. 2015
Implementation of Team-Based Learning at a Multi-Site Medical School. Amy Y. Lin, Catherine Best-Popescu, Stephanie Ceman, Mark Gelula, Abbas Hyderi, Janet M. Riddle, and Carien Williams Central Group on Educational Affairs (CGEA) Meeting. Washington University in St. Luis School of Medicine, USA 2012
Reduction in M1 Lecture Hours Impacts Student Test Performance. C. Williams, S. Kies, and Catherine Best-Popescu. Central Group on Educational Affairs (CGEA) Meeting. Washington University in St. Luis School of Medicine, USA 2012

Refereed Conference Papers and Presentations

Quantitative Phase Imaging Cartography: A New Lens into Traumatic Brain Injury. Jorge Maldonado DeJesus, Yuliia Kohut, David Liang, Sarah Alashqar, Isidra Baker, Casey Fornal, Siva Reddy Challa, Krishna Kumar Veeravalli, Billy Wang, and Catherine Best-Popescu. Neurotrauma, Philidelphia, PA, 2025
Characterization of regional matrix metalloproteinase-12 expression in traumatic brain injury through immunofluorescence and spatial light interference microscopy. David Liang, Jorge Maldonado DeJesus, Sarah Alashqar, Catherine Best-Popescu, Isidra Baker, Casey Fornal, Siva Reddy Challa, Krishna Kumar Veeravalli, and Billy Wang. Philidelphia, PA, Neurotrauma 2025
Quantitative Phase Imaging Spatial Histocytometric Morpholomics in Mouse Models of Neurological Trauma and Disease. Catherine Best-Popescu. NIH/NIBIB Center for Label-free Imaging and Multiscale Biophotonics (CLIMB) Annual Symposium, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign 2025
Spatial Light Interference Microscopy Morpholomics in Mouse Models of Traumatic Brain Injury. Catherine Best-Popescu Biophotonics Summer School 2025
Advances in multiscale biomedical imaging with Spatial Light Interference Microscopy. Catherine Best-Popescu Biophotonics Summer School 2024
Real-Time, Dose-Fractionated Irradiation of Cell Cultures Synchronously Imaged Using Quantitative, Label-Free Microscopy: A Glimpse into Time-Resolved Radiobiology. MAS Lamba, JAMDeJesus, C Best-Popescu, L Myers, D Ionascu. American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM) 66th Annual Meeting & Exhibition. Los Angeles, CA, 2024
Advances in label-free optical quantification of Alzheimer’s disease-associated cellular and tissue level pathology. Jorge Maldonado and Catherine A. Best-Popescu. SPIE Photonics-Europe. Strasberg France. 2024
Quantitative histopathology of breast and bladder cancer using color spatial light interference microscopy (CSLIM) with computational specificity (PICS). Jingfang Zhang and Catherine A. Best-Popescu. SPIE Photonics Europe. Strasbourg, France. 2024
Advances in multiscale biomedical imaging with quantitative phase imaging. Catherine Best-Popescu. SPIE Photonics Europe, Strasbourg France 2024
Engineered systems for tumor modeling facilitate the assessment of therapeutic interventions. Joseph Mueller, Ryan Yao, Kim Selting, Catherine Best-Popescu, Brendan Harley, Sara Pedron-Haba. ]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Brain Cancer; 2023 Oct 19-22; Minneapolis, Minnesota. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(5 Suppl_1):Abstract nr A045.

Pending Articles

Dynamic topological characterization of SLIM imaging in normal and in TBI derived neuronal culture network. Chenzhong Y, Best-Popescu CA., Maldonado,J., and P Bogdan.
Quantitative phase microscopy of cell cultures in real-time and under dose-fractionated radiation fields: A glimpse into time-resolved radiobiology. Jorge Maldonado, Catherine Best- Popescu and Dan Ionescu. Journal of Radiation Research and Applied Sciences
Label-Free and Multiscale Biophysical Analysis of Myelinated Brain Structures Using Spatial Light Interference Microscopy Combined with Open-Source Tools Jorge Maldonado, Pras Bairwa, Will Hans, Shubham Thakar, Catherine Best-Popescu
Multimodal, Multiscale Spatial Quantitative Phase Brain Moropholomics in a Murine Model of Traumatic Brain Injury. Jorge Maldonado and Catherine Best-Popescu Scientific Reports
Biomimetic model for the identification of distinctive microenvironmental factors in glioblastoma radiosensitivity. Ryan Yao Isabella Rivera, Kimberly A Selting, Jorge Maldonado, Catherine A Best-Popescu, Hui Xu, Jann N Sarkaria, Yi Lu, Brendan AC Harley, Sara Pedron-Haba
AI-enabled live-dead cell viability classification and motion forecasting. Anzhe Cheng, Chenzhong Yin, Michael A.S. Lamba, Mathieu Sertorio, Jorge Maldonado, Alexandre R. Sathler, Yu Chang, Catalin Chiritescu, Catherine A. Best, Dan Ionascu, Nicholas Kotov5, Shahin Nazarian, and Paul Bogdan
Neuronal Dry Mass Dynamics Drives the Evolution of Neurons, Neurites and their Topology in Healthy and Traumatized Neuronal Networks Chenzhong Yin, Mingxi Cheng, Xinghe Chen, Anzhe Cheng, Young Jae Lee, Ruochen Yang, Jorge Maldonado De-Jesus, Gabriel Popescu, Catherine Best, Nicholas A. Kotov and Paul Bogdan.
Quantitative Phase Imaging Cartography: A New Lens into Traumatic Brain Injury Jorge Maldonado DeJesus, Yuliia Kohut, David Liang, Sarah Alashqar, Isidra Baker, Siva Reddy Challa, Krishna Kumar Veeravalli, Billy Chen Wang and Catherine Best-Popescu. Journal of Neurotrauma
Characterization of regional MMP12 expression after traumatic brain injury through multimodal imaging with immunofluorescence and spatial light interference microscopy. David Liang, Jorge Maldonado DeJesus, Catherine Best-Popescu, Sarah Alashqar, Isidra Baker, Siva Reddy Challa, Krishna Kumar Veeravalli, Billy Chen Wang Journal of Neurotrauma

Invited Lectures

Spatial Light Interference Microscopy Historical Perspectives, Today and in the Future
Power of BioE: COVID-19 a Case Study
Quantitative Phase Imaging Spatial Histocytometric Morpholomics in Mouse Models of Neurological Trauma and Disease
Advances in multiscale biomedical imaging with quantitative phase imaging
Biomedical Imaging with Quantitative Phase Imaging
Remembering Gabi
Mechanisms and Markers of Traumatic Brain Injury
Investigating TBI: Light Emitting Diode Phototherapy in a Human Pilot Study, 2016
Studying cells at the nanoscale using light
Changes in Neurite Growth in a Cell Trauma Model Quantified by Phase Microscopy.
Cellular Neuroscience Imaging Lab Research
Measurement of Red Blood Cell Deformability during Morphological Changes
The Visual System Seen Through Illusions and Lesions

Other Publications

Magazine Articles

Feature cover story. Illinois Medicine Summer 2014 Illinois Medicine. Golden Apple Faculty Shine Across COM's Four Sites.

Journal Editorships

Journal of Biomedical Optics 29 (S2), S22701 2024. Guest Editor. Stephen A. Boppart, Catherine A. Best-Popescu, Randy A. Bartels, and Kevin Eliceiri Introducing the Special Issue on Label-Free Quantitative Phase Imaging Honoring Prof. Gabriel Popescu, a Pioneer in Biomedical Optics, Journal of Biomedical Optics 29(S2), S22701 2024. https://doi.org/10.1117/1.JBO.29.S2.S22701

Professional Societies

2024 The International Society for Optics and Photonics (SPIE)
2022-2024 Psychoneuroimmunology Research Society (PNIRS)
2017-2024 Society for Neuroscience (SFN)
2016 Biomedical Engineering Society (BMES)
2005-2007 Society of Nephrology
2003-2005 Society for Investigative Pathology
2005 Member of Rho Chi Honor Society
1994 Member of Psi Chi Honor Society

Service on Department Committees

2023-current UIUC Bioengineering Undergraduate Curriculum Committee, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign
2023-current UIUC Neural Engineering Working Group Chair, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign
2020-current UIUC Bioengineering Summer Camps Coordinator, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign (48 hours student instructional contact time, independent of councilor training and activity preparation time)
2020-current UIUC Bioengineering Diversity Committee, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign

Service on College Committees

2025 Strategic Research Initiative (SRI) Program Phase 1 Proposal Application Reviewer. University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign
2019-current Â Granger Engineering Diversity Committee. University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign
2013-2014 COM-UC Team-Based Learning Working Group, College of Medicine at Urbana Champaign, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign
2012-2014 COM- UC Chief Proctor NBME, College of Medicine at Urbana Champaign, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign
2012-2014 COM-UC Americans with Disabilities (ADA) Proctor, College of Medicine at Urbana Champaign, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign
2012-2014 COM-UC Executive Committee member, College of Medicine at Urbana Champaign, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign
2012-2014 COM-UC Basic Science Subcommittee member, College of Medicine at Urbana Champaign, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign
2012 COM-UC MSB 2 and 3-floor Remodeling Committee member. From instructional labs to an Active Learning Space and M2 Clinical learning patient rooms. College of Medicine at Urbana Champaign, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign
2012 COM-UC Associate Program Director for the Internal Medicine Residency Program at the COM UC site Search Committee member, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign
2011-2014 COM-UC Committee on Student Progress and Promotions member, College of Medicine at Urbana Champaign, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign
2011-2014 COM-UIC Team-Based Learning Collaborative member College of Medicine at Chicago, University of Illinois at Chicago
2011-2014 COM-UC Secretary for the Faculty, College of Medicine at Urbana Champaign, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign

Service on Campus Committees

2022-2024 UIUC Senator for Bioengineering Department

Other Outside Service

2020- 2021 Academy High School Crisis Plan Chair (Covid 2019 Five-member Task Force)

Teaching Honors

Alpha Omega Alpha Robert Glaser Distinguished Teacher Nominee, College of Medicine at Urbana Champaign, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign (2015)
UIC Urban Health program COM Team Member Servant Leadership Award, College of Medicine, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (2014)
Teacher ranked as excellent by the students, Medical Neuroscience, College of Medicine at Urbana Champaign, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign (2012, 2013, and 2014)
Raymond B. Allen Award - Golden Apple award winner, COM UIUC M1 (first-year medical school students), College of Medicine at Urbana Champaign, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign (2014)
Raymond B. Allen Award - Golden Apple award winner, COM UIUC M2 (second-year medical school students), College of Medicine at Urbana Champaign, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign (2012)

Research Honors

Individual Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award recipient, 2005, 2006

Public Service Honors

COVID-19 Wall of Recognition in Engineering, Granger College of Engineering University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (April 1 2020)

Improvement Activities

2021 CITL Illinois Summer Teaching Institute (Designing Your Course, Best Practices in Assessment for All Modalities, Developing Assessments with Quality Feedback, Alternative Summative Assessments, Assessments Using Zoom and Other Tools)

Recent Courses Taught

BIOE 120 - Introduction to Bioengineering
BIOE 570 - Seminar Series
BIOE 571 - Biological Measurement I
BIOE 572 - Biological Measurement II
BIOE 575 - Capstone Project
NE 100 - Intro to Neural Engineering
NE 330 - Neuroscience for Engineers