Costas Balas

Costas Balas is a full Professor in the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) -Technical University of Crete (TUC), Chania, Greece, where he has been since 2002. From 1995 to 2001 he served as a faculty member researcher in the Institute of Electronic Structure and Laser-Foundation for Research and Technology Hellas (FORTH). He is the technology inventor and the founder of www.dysismedical.com an international, VC-backed biophotonics company with FDA-approved innovative products for the early, noninvasive diagnosis of cervical neoplasia. For more than ten years he held the BoD member, CSO and acting CEO positions. In 2016 he founded and became the CEO and CSO of http://www.qcell.tech/, a VC-backed spinoff of TUC, innovating in artificial spectral vision. His research interests span both biophotonics and hyperspectral imaging. Much of his work has been on the understanding and the modeling of complex light-matter interaction phenomena as a basis for developing diagnostic methods. His methods and technologies are currently becoming standard of care in NHS (UK) and in other countries. In the hyperspectral sector he has worked on developing novel staring and snapshot hyperspectral camera systems together with their applications in microscopy, endoscopy and don destructive testing. He has received several awards including the Greek first innovator award (2013), and he has given numerus invited and plenary talks. He has published more than 80 per-reviewed publications and holds several international patents pending and granted. His research has been showcased in prominent international media such as Research Outreach, CNN.com, Economist, Science & Vie, The Times