Anita Mahadevan-Jansen, PhD

Dr. Anita Mahadevan-Jansen is a world renowned biomedical engineer, particularly in the arena of Biomedical Photonics, who received her PhD from the University of Texas. She pioneered the use of in vivo Raman spectroscopy for non-invasive diagnosis of cervical dysplasia, and has recently begun work focusing on using Raman spectroscopy to investigate term and preterm cervical remodeling. This work has been a collaboration with Vanderbilt investigators Dr. Jeff Reese, and Dr. Kelly Bennett. This work spans from investigating healthy and high risk pregnancy in human subjects recruited from Vanderbilt University Medical Center, as well as investigating mouse models of normal, preterm, and delayed parturition. Dr. Mahadevan-Jansen has additional projects focused on in vivo discrimination between Crohns and Ulcerative Colitis using Raman spectroscopy, identification of parathyroid glands during neck surgery using endogenous fluorescence contrast, determination of tumor margins for breast cancer and soft tissue sarcoma resection using Raman spectroscopy, and stimulation and inhibition of nerves using infrared light for pain management and more highly targeted stimulation of nerves compared to electrical techniques. Dr. Mahadevan-Jansen’s research focuses on translational research with the ultimate goal of positively impacting patient care and outcome.