Alexander Anatoly Oraevsky (Alexander Anatolyevich Oraevsky, Russian: Александр Анатольевич Ораевский, IPA: ɐlʲɪkˈsandr ɐnɐˈtolʲjɪvʲɪtɕ ɐˈraɪfskʲɪj)

Alexander Oraevsky (born April 10, 1957) is a Russian-American scientist and inventor known for his works in optoacoustic imaging^[1]. He is recognized as the "Father of Optoacoustic Imaging"^[2] for his invention of the depth-resolved optoacoustic imaging method and the development of the first biomedical optoacoustic imaging systems^[3].

He developed a technique known as quantitative optoacoustic tomography (qOAT), also referred to as photoacoustic computer tomography, PACT^[4]. qOAT is used to create high-resolution molecular and functional images of biological tissue. Hs current research is the translation of quantitative optoacoustic tomography methods and systems to mainstream healthcare, including diagnostic imaging of breast cancer and vascular diseases, image-guided surgery, biopsy, and monitoring minimally invasive therapy.

In addition to his work on biomedical imaging, Oraevsky has also conducted research in the fields of laser physics, nonlinear optics, and laser spectroscopy.

Alexander Oraevsky was born in the town of Vladimir, Russia. His father, Prof. Anatoly Nikolayevich Oraevsky (1934-2003), was a Russian physicist, member of the Russian Academy of Sciences and the Lenin Prize laureate, known for his work in quantum electronics, laser physics, and development of chemical lasers and gas-dynamic lasers.  

His mother was Iraida Sergeevna Oraevskaya (Timantseva) (1933 - 2020).

Alexander Oraevsky received his B.S. in Theoretical and Experimental Physics (1978) and M.S. in Ultrafast Laser Spectroscopy of Biomolecules (1980) from Moscow Engineering Physics Institute (presently National Research Nuclear University). In 1986, he completed his Ph.D. in Laser Spectroscopy, Photochemistry, and Biophysics from the USSR Academy of Sciences.

After completing his doctoral work, Oraevsky worked at the Institute of Spectroscopy of the Russian Academy of Sciences. In 1990, he immigrated to the United States, joining the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering Department (Head Prof. Frank K. Tittel) at Rice University and simultaneously the Laser Biology Research Laboratory (Head Prof. Steven L. Jacques) at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center.  

In 1992, as a Whitaker Fellow, he joined the faculty at Rice University (Houston, Texas), and later served as Assistant Professor at the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences and Director of Optoacoustic Imaging Laboratory at the University of Texas Medical Branch (Galveston, Texas).

In 1996, he founded LaserSonix Technologies, a company dedicated to commercialization of optoacoustic imaging systems, assets of which have been sold in 2006 to Seno Medical Instruments (San Antonio, Texas). He later served as Vice-President of Research and Development at Fairway Medical Technologies (January 2002 - June 2010). As a Chief Scientific Officer at Seno Medical Instruments (January 2008 - May 2015), Alexander led the design and development of the clinical optoacoustic system combined with ultrasound that received the first regulatory approval by US FDA for diagnostic imaging of breast cancer in 2021^[5].  

In 2010, Oraevsky founded TomoWave Laboratories, where he currently serves as CEO and CTO^[6]. The company focuses on developing three-dimensional optoacoustic imaging systems for medical diagnostics and optoacoustic temperature imaging for monitoring minimally invasive hyperthermia of cancer.

Oraevsky is known for development of optoacoustic imaging technology. This technique visualizes biological tissue by detecting acoustic pressure profiles induced by molecular absorption of optical pulses. In 1997, he led the development of the first multichannel optoacoustic tomography system prototype with clinical applications^[7].

In 2002, Oraevsky discovered strong optical absorption properties of gold nanorods tunable in the near-infrared spectral range. He proposed using plasmonic nanoparticles for optoacoustic imaging and later demonstrated detection of gold nanorods with optoacoustic imaging systems^[8].   Throughout his career, Oraevsky has completed numerous research and development projects sponsored by the National Institutes of Health, Department of Defense, and various foundations. His notable developments include:

• The Laser Optoacoustic Imaging System (LOIS) for preclinical research in small animals^[9]
• The Quantitative Optoacoustic Tomography System^[10] for clinical breast cancer research, enabling coregistered anatomical and functional imaging for medical diagnostics.

These systems have applications in imaging vasculature, measuring blood oxygen saturation, early detection of cancer, differentiating between benign and malignant breast tumors, and assessing cancer therapy efficacy. The National Cancer Institute sponsored^[11] a pilot clinical study of his prototype system at MD Anderson Cancer Center.

At TomoWave Laboratories, Oraevsky leads the development of Symphony-3D breast imaging system^[12] and Maestro-MD imaging system^[13], which combines ultrasonic technology with optoacoustics for vascular imaging with applications including monitoring placental oxygen supply during pregnancy and assessing microvascular damage in diabetic feet.

In 1999, Oraevsky founded the international conference "Photons Plus Ultrasound: Imaging and Sensing"^[14], which focuses on laser optoacoustic ultrasonic imaging. The conference is held annually as part of the SPIE Photonics West Symposium and has grown to become a major gathering in the field.

Oraevsky also serves as Editor-in-Chief of "Photoacoustics"^[15], an Elsevier journal dedicated to research in optoacoustic/photoacoustic imaging and sensing.

He holds an adjunct professor position^[16] at the Biomedical Engineering Department of the University of Houston (Texas).

Notable awards include:  

• Berthold Leibinger Innovations Prize^[17] (First Prize in 2014) for the invention and development of laser optoacoustic imaging systems 

• James Smith Award^[18] from the International Photoacoustic and Photothermal Association (2015) for pioneering contributions to the field of biomedical photoacoustic imaging and the development of the first optoacoustic imaging systems.  
• Santander Chair of Excellence^[19] at the University Carlos III of Madrid (Spain), an honorary professorship position.
• Fellow of the International Society of Photonics Engineering^[20] (SPIE, 2016) and Optica^[21] (Optical Society of America, 2021).  
• Member of Forbes Technology Council^[22]

Oraevsky has been awarded more than 50 patents related to optoacoustic imaging and associated technologies^[23].He has authored or co-authored over 200 scientific publications that have been cited more than 14,750 times according to Google Scholar.^[24] His research spans multiple disciplines including optoacoustic imaging, biomedical optics, laser physics, and medical diagnostics.

Alexander Oraevsky resides in Houston, Texas.

His recreational interests include badminton, SCUBA diving, fishing and boating^[25].