Professor Giacomelli receives NIH MERIT Award
Thursday, April 1, 2021
Dr. Giacomelli received the NIH R37 MERIT award for his proposal "Two photon fluorescence microscopy for dermatologic surgery and biopsy" which aims to develop rapid tools for diagnosis and treatment of skin cancer. The MERIT award provides additional support beyond a normal R01 for up to 7 years for new investigators with promising, long term research projects.
The proposal will develop real-time histology instruments based on two photon microscopy that can be used to diagnose skin cancer in biopsies and then enable immediate treatment. Initially, clinical trials will be conducted using the two photon microscopy to diagnose skin cancer in patients being treated at Rochester Dermatologic Surgery, a Rochester-area clinic. These will proceed to studies of cancerous tissue removed during surgery with the goal of accelerating surgery and reducing the number of clinical visits needed to treat skin cancer. Technology and clinical studies conducted during this program will aim to enable same day diagnosis and treatment of skin cancer, a dramatic reduction from the weeks to months currently required for many skin cancers.
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