Alberto Ruiz

Overview

Alberto J. Ruiz is the co-founder and CTO of QUEL Imaging, which develops phantoms and tools to accelerate the advancement and clinical translation of new biomedical optics technologies. He earned his PhD in biomedical optics, supported by an innovation fellowship from the Center for Imaging Medicine at Dartmouth, where he now serves as an adjunct assistant professor of engineering. He is passionate about translational technologies, education, and social responsibility. His research interests include fluorescence-guided surgery, optical metrology, and cost-effective imaging system design.

Research Interests

Biomedical optics; fluorescence-guided surgery; photodynamic therapy; light-tissue interactions; optical metrology; 3D printing; cost-effective optical design

Education

• AA, Physics, Miami Dade College 2011
• BS, Applied Physics, Harvey Mudd College 2014
• PhD, Engineering Sciences, Dartmouth 2022

Professional Activities

• Member, International Society for Optics and Photonics (SPIE)
• Member, OPTICA

Startups

Selected Publications

• Ruiz, A.J., Lyon, S.A., LaRochelle, E.P.M., & Samkoe, K.S. (2026). Indocyanine green excitation-emission matrix characterization: excitation-dependent emission shifts and application-specific spectra. Journal of Biomedical Optics, 31(7), 077003. https://doi.org/10.1117/1.JBO.31.7.077003
• Mannoh, E.A., Robledo, E.A., Streeter, S.S., LaRochelle, E.P.M., & Ruiz, A.J. (2025). Phantom for fluorescence uniformity and distortion assessment of near-infrared fluorescence guided surgery systems. Journal of Biomedical Optics, 30(8), 086002. https://doi.org/10.1117/1.JBO.30.8.086002
• Nguyen, M.H., LaRochelle, E.P.M., Robledo, E.A., & Ruiz, A.J. (2025). Toward fluorescence digital twins: multi-parameter experimental validation of fluorescence Monte Carlo simulations using solid phantoms. Journal of Biomedical Optics, 30(S3), S34104. https://doi.org/10.1117/1.JBO.30.S3.S34104
• Ruiz, A.J., LaRochelle, E.P.M., Samkoe, K.S., Chapman, M.S., & Pogue, B.W. (2023). Effective fluence and dose at skin depth of daylight and lamp sources for PpIX-based photodynamic therapy. Photodiagnosis and Photodynamic Therapy, 41, 103260. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pdpdt.2022.103260
• Ochoa, M.I., Ruiz, A.J., LaRochelle, E.P.M., Reed, M., Berber, E., Poultsides, G., & Pogue, B.W. (2023). Assessment of open-field fluorescence guided surgery systems: implementing a standardized method for characterization and comparison. Journal of Biomedical Optics, 28(9), 096007. https://doi.org/10.1117/1.JBO.28.9.096007
• LaRochelle, E.P.M., Streeter, S.S., Littler, E.A., & Ruiz, A.J. (2023). 3D-printed tumor phantoms for assessment of in vivo fluorescence imaging analysis methods. Molecular Imaging and Biology, 25, 212–220. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11307-022-01783-5
• Ruiz, A.J., Giallorenzi, M.K., Hunt, B., Samkoe, K.S., & Pogue, B.W. (2022). Lighting gel filters as low-cost alternatives for fluorescence imaging and optical system design. Optical Engineering, 61(8), 085103. https://doi.org/10.1117/1.OE.61.8.085103
• Ruiz, A.J., Garg, S., Streeter, S.S., Giallorenzi, M.K., LaRochelle, E.P.M., Samkoe, K.S., & Pogue, B.W. (2021). 3D printing fluorescent material with tunable optical properties. Scientific Reports, 11, 17135. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-96496-0
• Hunt, B., Ruiz, A.J., & Pogue, B.W. (2021). Smartphone-based imaging systems for medical applications: a critical review. Journal of Biomedical Optics, 26(4), 040902. https://doi.org/10.1117/1.JBO.26.4.040902
• Ruiz, A.J., Wu, M., LaRochelle, E.P.M., Gorpas, D., Ntziachristos, V., Pfefer, T.J., & Pogue, B.W. (2020). Indocyanine green matching phantom for fluorescence-guided surgery imaging system characterization and performance assessment. Journal of Biomedical Optics, 25(5), 056003. https://doi.org/10.1117/1.JBO.25.5.056003