Where Biophotonics Meets the Future
Welcome to #ICOB2026 at the University at Albany, NY.
ICOB 2026 will take place from March 18 to 21, 2026 in the ETEC Building at the University at Albany, SUNY, in the heart of New York’s Capital Region. As the leading international forum for light-based technologies in medicine and the life sciences, this forward-looking congress brings together scientists, clinicians, engineers, industry leaders, and policymakers to explore the full potential of biophotonics in shaping the future of healthcare.
More than just a scientific meeting, ICOB 2026 is a catalyst for interdisciplinary collaboration and real-world innovation. With a strong focus on translational research, the congress highlights cutting-edge developments in areas such as non-invasive diagnostics, personalized medicine, and the integration of artificial intelligence in photonic health technologies.
The program will feature world-class keynote speakers, dynamic panel discussions, and an industry exhibition — offering participants not only scientific insights but also valuable networking and strategic foresight.
Whether you’re advancing foundational science, driving clinical applications, or shaping research and innovation policy, ICOB 2026 invites you to be part of a community that’s collectively defining the future of biophotonics.
Keynote Speaker
Ji-Xin Cheng
Boston University, MA, USA
Kirill Larin
University of Houston, TX, USA
Confirmed Speaker
Jaishankar Raman
University of Melbourne, Australia
Orlando Guntinas-Lichius
Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany
Prabhu Senthil-Kumar
Virginia Commonwealth University, VA, USA
Anja Silge
Leibniz IPHT, Jena, Germany
Benjamin Miller
University of Rochester, NY, USA
David Erickson
Cornell University, NY, USA
Lewis Carpenter
AIM Photonics, NY, USA
Rupsa Datta
Morgridge Institute for Research, Madison, USA
· About ICOB 2026 ·
Interdisciplinary and Cross-Sector Collaboration
Beyond the Lab: Focus on Translation and Impact
Fostering Talent, Education, and Strategic Roadmaping
Engaging Program and Networking Opportunities
A Community Shaping the Future
Impressions of ICOB 2024
Confirmed Speakers
Norwegian University of Life Sciences | Ås | Norway
Achim Kohler
University of Edinburgh | UK
Ahsan Akram
Cyprus Research & Innovation Center Ltd - CyRIC | Nicosia | Cyprus
Alessandro Giusti
“Nello Carrara” Institute of Applied Physics | Sesto Fiorentino | Italy
Andrea Barucci
University of California | Davis | USA
Andrew Birkeland
Leibniz Institute Of Photonic Technology | Jena | Germany
Anja Silge
InfectoGnostics | Jena | Germany
Anni Mathes
Ruhr University | Bochum | Germany
Axel Mosig
Monash University, School of Chemistry | Melbourne | Australia
Bayden Wood
TU Wien | Austria
Bernhard Lendl
Jena University Hospital | Jena | Germany
Bettina Löffler
University Ulm | Germany
Boris Mizaikoff
Silicon Austria Labs & TU Wien | Austria
Borislav Hinkov
Evangelische Elisabeth Klinik | Berlin | Germany
Carsten Philipp
Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology | Thiruvananthapuram | India
Chandrabash Narayana
National Research Council of Italy | Rome | Italy
Chiarello Fabio
University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf | Germany
Christian Betz
University of Innsbruck | Austria
Christian Huck
Leibniz Institute Of Photonic Technology | Jena | Germany
Dana Cialla-May
Imperial College London | UK
Daniel Elson
Helmholtz Zentrum Munich | Germany
Dimitris Gorpas
Texas A&M Uniersity | College StationUSA
Dimitry Kurouski
Université Laval | Québec | Canada
Flavie Lavoie-Cardinal
University of Florence | Italy
Francesco Pavone
imec-OnePlanet Research Center | Nijmegen | Netherlands
Gabriela Vollet Marson
Università degli Studi di Firenze| Sesto Fiorentino | Italy
Giacomo Mazzamuto
Vrije Universiteit Brussel | Belgium
Heidi Ottevaere
University at Albany - State University of New York | Albany | USA
Igor Lednev
Innsbruck Medical University | Innsbruck | Austria
Johannes Pallua
Leibniz Institute of Photonic Technology | Jena | Germany
Juergen Popp
University of Innsbruck | Austria
Justyna Grabska
PolitoBIOMed Lab | Torino | Italy
Kristen M. Meiburger
University of Freiburg | Germany
Leonardo Sacconi
Jagiellonian University | Kraków | Poland
Małgorzata Barańska
Jena University Hospital | Jena | Germany
Michael Bauer
University Hospital | Jena | Germany
Orlando Guntinas-Lichius
National Research Council of Italy | Pisa | Italy
Sara Colantonio
Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences | Göttingen | Germany
Stefan Hell
Leibniz Institute of Photonic Technology | Jena / Germany
Thomas Bocklitz
Leibniz Institute of Photonic Technology | Jena | Germany
Thomas Mayerhöfer
InfectoGnostics | Jena | Germany
Anni Mathes
University Ulm | Germany
Boris Mizaikoff
National Research Council of Italy | Rome | Italy
Chiarello Fabio
University of Innsbruck | Austria
Christian Huck
Helmholtz Zentrum Munich | Germany
Dimitris Gorpas
University of Florence – UNIFI | Italy
Giulietta Smulevich
Universität Duisburg-Essen | Germany
Heinz Siesler
Aston University | Birmingham | UK
Igor Meglinski
University of Latvia | Riga | Latvia
Inga Saknīte
Czech Academy of Sciences | Prague | Czech Republic
Jakub Dostalek
Institute of Science and Technology Austria | Vienna
Johann Danzl
DUKE University | Durham | UK
Junjie Yao
VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland Ltd | Espoo
Jussi Hiltunen
Application laboratory for in-situ spectroscopy - ISAS | Berlin | Germany
Karsten Hinrichs
Lund University | Sweden
Katarina Svanberg
bm-t beteiligungsmanagement thuringia gmbh | Erfurt | Germany
Kevin Reeder
University of St. Andrews | US
Kishan Dholokia
University of California | Davis | US
Laura Marcu
Universität Bayreuth | Germany
Lena Käster
University College London | UK
Mervyn Singer
Lightnovo | Birkerød | Denmark
Oleksii Ilchenko
Imperial College London | UK
Paul French
Technical University of Denmark | Ørsteds Plads
Peter Andersen
University of Cambridge | UK
Pietro Liò
Politecnico Milano | Italy
Rebecca Re
InfectoGnostics | Jena | Germany
Robby Markwart
Analytik Jena GmbH+Co. KG | Jena | Germany
Robert Möller
University of Illinois | Urbana | United States
Rohit Bhargava
University Hospital of Munich | Germany
Ronald Sroka
Indian Institute of Science | Bangalore | India
Siva Umapathy
Univeristy Delft | Netherlands
Sjoerd Stallinga
Lund University | Sweden
Sune Svanberg
DWI – Leibniz Institute for Interactive Materials | Aachen | Germany
Sven Stegemann
Leibniz Institute Of Photonic Technology | Jena | Germany
Ute Neugebeuer
DiaMonTech AG | Berlin | Germany
Werner Mäntele
Thanks to our Sponsors & Partners
Thanks to our Funding Partners
