A professor at the University of Central Florida has earned national recognition for his work developing techniques that may one day cure cancer.
Professor Kevin Belfield, a chemistry and optics professor at UCF, was recently named a national AAAS Fellow for his work using lasers to track down cancerous cells.
The honor is given to individuals by their peers for efforts to advance science or its application.
According to UCF, Belfield was selected for his contributions to the field of photonic materials and processes, particularly two-photon based bioimaging and optical data storage. He was also recognized for “exceptional administration as department chair” while continuing to produce innovative research.
Belfield’s promising work involves using non-invasive techniques, such as lasers, to image cancerous cells within deep tissue. One day, the imaging technique might complement or replace traditional biopsies and may also lend itself to delivering cancer-fighting drugs that perhaps could someday be used to treat breast, lung, ovarian, brain, kidney, colon and endometrial cancers without surgery.
“It is a tremendous honor to be recognized by the premier professional society in the U.S,” Belfield said. “Knowing that highly respected, high-caliber scientists expressed such high regard for my research and administrative accomplishments is truly humbling and reflects well on the university and everyone I’ve had the pleasure of working with.”
This year’s AAAS Fellows were formally announced in the AAAS News & Notes section of the journal Science on Nov. 29.
A total of 338 fellows (11 from Florida) were named this year.
