Michael W. Berns

Picture of Michael W. Berns
Professor, Beckman Laser Institute and Medical Clinic
School of Medicine
Professor of Biomedical Engineering, Developmental & Cell Biology
School of Biological Sciences
PH.D.
Phone: (949) 824-6291, 6996
Fax: (949) 824-8413
Email: mwberns@uci.edu
University of California, Irvine
BLI
Mail Code: 1475
Irvine, CA 92697
Research Interests
none listed
Research Abstract
Dr. Berns' research centers around studying basic cellular problems from a functional and structural point of view. Dr. Berns' laboratory has developed and combined sophisticated techniques and instrumentation such as lasers, computers, light and scanning EM to study a variety of problems:

1). mechanisms of chromosome movement and spindle fiber organization
2). cell movement
3). structure and organization of chromosomes, nucleoli, and mitochondria
4). cardiac cell contractility
5). cellular carcinogenesis and cancer diagnosis and treatment
6). biophysics of light interaction with cellular systems
7). laser applications in clinical medicine (oncology, surgery, cardiology, ophthalmology)
8). computer enhancement of optical images for cell biology, genetics, and clinical medicine.

In addition, a major emphasis of the program is to facilitate the application of basic laser research to problems of the real world. This is accomplished by creating linkages between the laser program and a variety of industrial associates who translate the research into viable technology in the health and biotechnology field.
Available Technologies
Publications
Nelson, J.S., Liaw, L.H., Lahlum, R.A., Cooper, P.L., and Berns, M.W., Use of multiple photosensitizers and wavelengths during photodynamic therapy: a new approach to enhance tumor eradication, J. Natl. Cancer Inst., 82, 868-873, 1990.
Wiegand Steubing, R., Cheng, S., Wright, W.H., Numajiri, Y., and Berns, M.W., Laser induced cell fusion in combination with optical tweezers: the laser cell fusion trap, Cytometry, 12, 505-510, 1991.
Berns, M.W., Wright, W.H., and R. Wiegand Steubing, Laser microbeam as a tool in cell biology, Int. Rev. Cytol., 129, 1-44, 1991.
Wakabayashi, A., Brenner, M., Kayaleh, R.A., Berns, M.W., Baker, S.J., Rice, S.J., Tadir, Y., Della Bella, L., and Wilson, A.F., Thoracoscopic carbon dioxide laser treatment of bullous emphysema, Lancet, 337, 881-883, 1991.
Professional Societies
Graduate Programs
Cell Biology
Research Centers
Beckman Laser Institute
Last updated
07/12/2011