Dr. Rollins' research interests are in the application of advanced optics and photonics technologies for imaging and characterization of biological samples, with particular emphasis on detection of early disease and monitoring of therapy in human tissues. His research program focuses on advancing the state of the art in imaging of tissue microstructure and function using coherent optical interactions with biological samples. The technique of optical coherence tomography (OCT) is the primary basis of his research. Current applications of OCT imaging under investigation include detection of early cancer in the gastrointestinal tract, biometry and diagnostic imaging in the eye, and imaging of cardiac architecture in animal models of arrythmogenic conditions and of cardiac development. Current development projects include imaging blood flow in living patients and animals using Doppler OCT, and developing novel functional and molecular imaging methods of spectroscopic OCT. Dr. Rollins has active collaborations with clinical and scientific investigators several institutions, including Case Western Reserve University, University Hospitals of Cleveland, the Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Duke University, and University of Rochester.
