He combines both fundamental research on the unique imaging capabilities of light-based interferometry with a clear eye for bringing these innovations to clinical practice and to commercial implementation. His fundamental contributions to Spectral Domain Optical Coherence Tomography (SD-OCT) and his blueprint for the optimal technical implementation forms the basis of the current clinical systems in ophthalmology. SD-OCT has provided a paradigm shift in OCT imaging, realizing a 100-1000 fold improvement in sensitivity and speed, leading to video rate 3D imaging of the retina. Non-invasive quantitative in vivo 3D imaging of the retina by SD-OCT has revolutionized ophthalmology clinical care.
He has pushed innovation of the technology for blood flow detection (Doppler OCT), and imaging of fibrous structures such as nerves, collagen and muscle with Polarization Sensitive OCT (PS-OCT). These developments provide unique contrast at micrometer resolution, not achievable with current clinical techniques, that will benefit glaucoma, asthma, and interstitial lung disease patients. He pursues implementing these innovations into clinical systems in ophthalmology, pulmonology and gastroenterology, having brought several systems to METC approval for in human clinical pilot studies. He is a founding member of the Amsterdam UMC/VUmc imaging Center, a center that is unique in the Netherlands and Europe, where the most innovative medical imaging techniques come together for health care and scientific research.
Since 2017 de Boer is involved in a collaboration with ARCNL and ASML, focusing on improving metrology for wafer alignment. De Boer has made significant contributions to publications at ARCNL and IP assigned to ASML.
Research Interests
Endoscopic Optical Coherence tomography: OCT provides structural cross-sectional information showing the natural layered structure of the tissue with a resolution of 10-30 micron. In addition, functional extensions such as Polarization-sensitive OCT and Doppler OCT provide unique contrast for fibrous structures and blood flow. We have developed endoscopic PS-OCT systems for pulmonology and gastro-enterology and demonstrated for the first time in a clinical study in Asthma patients the correlation between airway smooth muscle content and histology.
Development of the optical analog of PET/CT: OCT provides tissue structure and architecture but is poor at discriminating benight from malicious abnormalities. The current research program is focused on exploring the combination of OCT with targeted fluorescence, which provides molecular specificity. PET-CT/MRI imaging with radioactively labeled mAbs’s has significantly improved clinical care by locating tumors and evaluating therapy. Since 2010 de Boer is working on the optical equivalent of PET-CT/MRI, developing novel endoscopic catheters specifically designed to combine OCT with fluorescent detection of fluorescently labeled mAb’s. The aim is to label monoclonal antibodies with fluorescent markers, to provide molecular contrast in combination with structural OCT imaging. This optical equivalent to PET-CT/MRI provides a 10 – 100 times better resolution. To date, we published the first ex vivo paper on OCT combined with targeted fluorescence (Immuno-OCT), and the first in vivo demonstration of catheters with a 1 mm diameter motor at the tip in pulmonology.
