The field of biomedical imaging has witnessed remarkable advancements over the past decades, particularly in the realm of optical methods. The development of optical methods, such as confocal microscopy, fluorescence imaging, multiphoton microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, photoacoustic imaging, adaptive optics, and optical coherence tomography (OCT), have enabled researchers and clinicians to study biological structures, functions, and pathological conditions with significantly enhanced resolution, sensitivity, and accuracy. These innovations have expanded our capability to visualize and analyze biological tissues at multiple scales, facilitated the understanding of complex biological systems, revealed crucial insights into the disease and injury mechanisms, helped improve early diagnosis, and enabled minimally invasive treatment modalities.

The goal of this Research Topic is to showcase the latest innovations in optical methods for functional biomedical imaging, their applications in various research fields, and the challenges faced in their implementation. The Research Topic aims to integrate recent breakthroughs, innovative approaches, and current trends, while shedding light on the role of advanced optical methods in enabling a more comprehensive understanding, diagnosis, and treatment of complex biological processes and diseases. We are particularly interested in novel techniques and methodologies that address current limitations and offer improved diagnostic and therapeutic solutions. Moreover, we encourage submissions that emphasize multimodal imaging approaches and integrate optical imaging with complementary techniques—for instance, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or ultrasound imaging. In doing so, we hope to stimulate the development and translation of these sophisticated imaging strategies into the clinic, ultimately facilitating smarter, safer, and more personalized therapeutic interventions.

This Research Topic invites contributions from researchers and clinicians working on advanced optical imaging methods and their applications in functional biomedical imaging. Potential themes covered in this Research Topic include, but are not limited to:
· Novel optical imaging techniques and instrumentation (e.g., super-resolution imaging, multiphoton microscopy, fluorescence-based techniques, spectroscopic techniques, optical coherence tomography, holography, etc.)
· Integration of optical methods with other imaging modalities (e.g., MRI, ultrasound, photoacoustic imaging) for multimodal and multiscale imaging.
· Functional extension of the imaging modalities (e.g., OCT-based angiography (OCTA) and elastography (OCE), polarization OCT, etc.)
· Development of adaptive and computational imaging methods for improved image reconstruction, analysis, and quantification.
· Computational techniques for image processing, reconstruction, and analysis, incorporating machine learning and artificial intelligence.
· Clinical translation and validation of advanced optical imaging methods for disease diagnostics, therapeutics, monitoring, and prognosis.
Manuscripts can be submitted in various formats, including original research articles, reviews, mini-reviews, and perspective articles. We welcome manuscripts that provide significant scientific advancements, in-depth analysis, and insightful discussions on the role of optical imaging methods in the ever-evolving landscape of functional biomedical research.

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Frontiers in Physics

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