09.10.2025 At CRATER 2025, Prof. Olaf Strauß and Prof. Maciej Wojtkowski announced the launch of a new ICTER research unit: PICO – Parallel Interferometry and Computational Optics, led by Dr. Dawid Borycki, an expert in biomedical optics and software engineering.
PICO’s mission is simple: to use light and computing to understand and protect vision. By merging parallel interferometer design with computational imaging, the group aims to deliver faster, more precise, and clinically relevant diagnostic tools that accelerate the translation of research into real-world care.
Three pillars of PICO
The first goal is to build a secure data-sharing platform within the TRIO-VI initiative, integrating multimodal imaging and sensing data to help clinicians see the full picture and make better, more informed decisions.
The second pillar is advancing high-resolution, aberration-free imaging through InCellVu, capturing subtle structural and functional changes before they manifest as symptoms.
The third direction bridges the eye and the brain. By combining iNIRS (interferometric near-infrared spectroscopy) with Spatio-Temporal OCT (STOC-T) and optoretinography (ORG), PICO aims to decode how light stimuli are transformed into neural activity-from photoreceptors in the retina to the visual cortex.
For patients, this means earlier detection, more personalized therapy, and better recovery of vision. PICO will achieve this through open collaboration, robust engineering, and carefully designed clinical studies.
Dr. Dawid Borycki brings over 14 years of experience in biomedical optics, 34 peer-reviewed papers, more than 15 patents, and 12 technical books. His career includes academic appointments at Nicolaus Copernicus University, UC Davis, and the Institute of Physical Chemistry PAS, as well as collaborations with Canon, Optopol Technology, Optina Diagnostics, and Kernel HI. He also works with the FDA on aberration correction for adaptive optics OCT systems.
PICO connects Poland’s long tradition in diffuse optics with cutting-edge computational imaging. Our goal is to turn world-class research into clinical tools that help people see-clearly and sooner.
Dr. Dawid Borycki
The group welcomes collaboration with clinicians, imaging scientists, AI and software engineers, and industry partners eager to co-create the future of optical diagnostics.
