The Horace Furumoto Innovations Professional Development Awards will be presented to recipients Michael H. Slayton, PhD, and Ishan Barman, PhD, during the Plenary Session at Laser 2014, the 34th Annual Conference of the American Society for Laser Medicine & Surgery, Inc. (ASLMS), to be held in Phoenix, AZ.
Dr Furumoto is credited with developing the world’s first practical dye laser. He founded the Candela Laser Corporation, developed the excited dye laser (FEDL), developed photothermolysis, founded Cynosure, Inc., introduced the Photo-Genica series of lasers, spearheaded the use of long pulse alexandrite lasers for hair removal, and received 26 US patents and 21 international patents.
‘While there were many worthy candidates for the award this year, Drs Barman and Slayton’s nominations clearly stood out to the Awards Committee,’ said Dr Thomas Rohrer, Chair of the Awards Committee. ‘Dr Barman’s innovations in lasers and optics have already led to significant contributions to both early cancer detection and non-invasive glucose monitoring. Dr Slayton’s work has brought intense therapeutic ultrasound (ITU) to the forefront of the aesthetic medical device industry. I am sure Dr Furumoto would be proud of their accomplishments.’
Dr Slayton has been nominated to receive the 2014 Distinguished Contribution Award, which recognises an individual who has played a significant role in industry with multiple accomplishments.
‘The ASLMS membership is so full of talented practitioners and pioneers of energy-based technologies that it’s truly rewarding to learn our efforts in ITU have been noticed by our peers. Moreover, ASLMS has been a tremendous resource over the years; and the clinical research we’ve performed with many of its most prominent members has been instrumental to our success. I thank them all for their generous enthusiasm in our work, and share this with each of them,’ said Dr Slayton.
‘In the spirit of Dr Furumoto, one of the first great entrepreneurs and scientists in our field, my goal is to develop many more ultrasound applications — from aesthetic to musculoskeletal and oncological — ultimately helping patients live happier, healthier and more active lives.’
Under Dr Slayton’s leadership as Chief Executive Officer and Chief Technical Officer, Guided Therapy Systems (GTS) has grown from a small Arizona-based R&D company to a world leader in intense therapeutic ultrasound — its technologies sold across the globe by corporate partners representing the most recognisable and respected names in medical devices. Dr Slayton is also the founder of two of GTS’s most notable and entrepreneurial successes, which include Ulthera, Inc. and Xthetix, Inc.
Dr Barman has been nominated to receive the 2013 Young Investigator Award, which recognises and encourages the development of future technology innovators and leaders. The award is to be used to further the recipient’s professional development.
‘I feel deeply honored by this wonderful recognition bestowed on me. It truly is a privilege to be in the company of the previous award recipients who have done some incredible things in advancing the field of biophotonics,’ said Dr Barman.
‘Given Dr. Horace Furomoto’s own pioneering efforts in clinical translation, I am humbled on being selected for the award and simultaneously inspired to strive even harder in innovating and developing photonics systems that can make a difference in the current standards of health care. One should note that this accomplishment represents the collective effort of my extremely gifted mentors, colleagues and collaborators, whose commitment to scientific excellence have formed the bedrock of our endeavours.’
Dr Barman is currently an Assistant Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Johns Hopkins University. His research seeks to tackle problems in the elucidation of morphological and chemical information of different patho-physiological states through an interdisciplinary approach featuring novel optical and spectroscopic measurements, and advanced numerical methods for interpretation and analysis of the acquired data.
