title: Illuminating disease and enlightening biomedicine: Raman spectroscopy as a diagnostic tool.
abstract: The discovery of the Raman effect in 1928 not only aided fundamental understanding about the quantum nature of light and matter but also opened up a completely novel area of optics and spectroscopic research that is accelerating at a greater rate during the last decade than at any time since its inception. This introductory overview focuses on some of the most recent developments within this exciting field and how this has enabled and enhanced disease diagnosis and biomedical applications. We highlight a small number of stimulating high-impact studies in imaging, endoscopy, stem cell research, and other recent developments such as spatially offset Raman scattering amongst others. We hope this stimulates further interest in this already exciting field, by 'illuminating' some of the current research being undertaken by the latest in a very long line of dedicated experimentalists interested in the properties and potential beneficial applications of light.
authors.affiliation: School of Chemistry, Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, The University of Manchester, 131 Princess Street, Manchester M1 7ND, UK. D.Ellis@manchester.ac.uk
authors.forename: David I
authors.initials: DI
authors.lastname: Ellis
authors.forename: David P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Cowcher
authors.forename: Lorna
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ashton
authors.forename: Steve
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: O'Hagan
authors.forename: Royston
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Goodacre
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D035843:Biomedical Research; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging; D004194:Disease; D006801:Humans; D013059:Spectrum Analysis, Raman / Q000379:methods*