In this project the innovative photonics-based technologies, emerging paradigms in machine learning, new concepts in computational modelling of light-tissue interaction and definitive pathology are merged together to explore the opportunity of using the fundamental properties of light, namely circular and/or elliptical polarisation and spin angular momentum of light, for advanced cell cultures diagnosis and tissue samples screening.

The alterations of properties of circularly polarised light, serving as the markers of certain diseases, provide a unique opportunity to detect tissue malformations with the sensitivity beyond the conventional diagnostic modalities, which are currently in use. Combined application of correlation, fractal and statistical analysis will be employed to assess quantitatively the polarisation-inhomogeneous scattered fields observed at the surface of tissue samples and/or cells culture.

The proposed approach is novel and unique in terms of its intent of quantifying structural and functional malformations within optically dense biological tissues by using the circular polarisation of light scattered in biological tissues.

The developed new ground breaking smart optical biopsy approach, could be so specific that it will revolutionise procedures currently used in histological clinical tests, and will provide an opportunity to detect dangerous diseases, including cancer, at the very earliest stages totally automatically stand-alone with breakthrough sensitivity to aid clinicians’ in evaluating the patients’ tissues in vivo. The trend towards telemedicine exemplifies the demand for this technology for remote monitoring at home, as well as in hospital settings to advance developments in personalised medicine.