BOLTS @ CU Boulder

The Boulder Optical Laboratory for Translational Science builds faster, sharper, and more accessible optical imaging for biomedicine
New from BOLTS: npj Imaging 2026, Adv. Imaging 2026 (Cover), Nat. Comput. Sci. 2026

Meet the Team

Photoacoustic Imaging

Using laser-induced ultrasonic waves to create detailed images of the inside of the body
npj Imaging 2026, Curr. Treat. Options Cardiovasc. Med. 2025, Nat. Biomed. Eng. 2023, Nat. Biomed. Eng. 2025, Nat. Biomed. Eng. 2022, Nat. Photon. 2022, Nat. Protoc. 2021, Sci. Adv. 2024, Light Sci. Appl. 2023

Explore Our Research

Quantum Imaging

Employing entangled photons to generate images with enhanced resolution and sensitivity
Adv. Imaging 2026 (Cover), Sci. Adv. 2024, Nat. Commun. 2023, Sci. Adv. 2026

Ultrafast Imaging

Visualizing rapid biological and physical processes with extremely high temporal resolution
Nat. Commun. 2022, Nat. Photon. 2023, Light Sci. Appl. 2023, Optica 2021

Computational Imaging

Turning raw measurements into faster, sharper images with reconstruction, restoration, and AI/ML-driven analysis
Nat. Comput. Sci. 2026, CVPR 2019, Optica 2022, Light Sci. Appl. 2023

Boulder Optical Laboratory for Translational Science

University of Colorado Boulder

The Boulder Optical Laboratory for Translational Science (BOLTS) pioneers innovative optical imaging and sensing technologies to accelerate the translation of fundamental discoveries into impactful clinical and engineering solutions. Our multidisciplinary research integrates cutting-edge light-based methods, including photoacoustics, quantum imaging, and ultrafast optical techniques, with advanced computational approaches. BOLTS is dedicated to bridging the gap between foundational science and real-world applications, transforming the landscape of biomedical diagnostics, monitoring, and therapeutic interventions.