This biophotonics researcher aims to develop sensing devices that work effectively for people of all skin tones.
Cork-based equitable biophotonics pioneer Dr Sanathana Konugolu Venkata Sekar has been elected a fellow member of Optica, an honour reserved for only the most exceptional individuals working in optics and photonics.
Konugolu is head of the FAST biophotonics group at Tyndall National Institute and is an associate professor at University College Cork (UCC). He is also the co-founder and technical consultant of BioPixS, a spin-out from his research.
In 2024, he was awarded a European Research Council (ERC) grant for his project NOBIAS, which addresses racial bias in optical health monitoring. His patented technology enables accurate physiological sensing across all skin tones, setting new standards for inclusive innovation.
“Colour bias in optical devices such as smartwatches and pulse oximeters affect 2.2bn people of colour,” Konugolu told SiliconRepublic.com last year.
“The continuous wave (CW) technology used in these devices is limited in accuracy and results are biased by skin colour and light scattering in tissue.”
He said that the goal of the NOBIAS project “is to lay the foundation for the world’s first bias-free and accurate optical biomarker sensing device”.
Growing up in rural India, Konugolu said he always had a passion for science and innovation, and he even created a mini lab at home to tinker with broken gadgets.
“I am truly honoured by this recognition from Optica,” Konugolu said.
“I am deeply grateful for the support, encouragement and opportunities provided by UCC and Tyndall, which have allowed me to take unconventional paths and pursue impactful work across disciplines, from my early days of founding BioPixS into a globally recognised standards company in biophotonics, to securing an ERC grant, leading several EU and industrial projects, building a vibrant FAST-Biophotonics group, and receiving multiple awards and recognitions along the way.”
Optica is a leading international society dedicated to advancing the science of light. Fellow membership is reserved for only 10pc of Optica’s members and aims to recognise members who advance the discipline with their work.
CEO of Tyndall, Prof William Scanlon described Konugolu’s recognition as a “fantastic achievement” and “a proud moment for Tyndall”.
Head of biophotonics at Tyndall, Prof Stefan Andersson-Engels is also an Optica fellow. He said that Konugolu’s work “delivers real-world impact in health monitoring and global standardisation”.
Key enabling technology
With applications across a wide range of fields including communications, medical imaging, semiconductors, solar panels and quantum computing, photonics – the science and engineering of light particles – is critical for research and development in advanced technologies, and in 2009 was named by the European Commission as one of the five key enabling technologies.
Recent research from European group Photonics21 found that the photonics start-up scene is accelerating across the region, with 240 companies newly identified since 2024 and 556 active companies now tracked across the continent. Of those, one in five focus on medical applications including cancer diagnostics, surgical imaging and new tools for personalised medicine.
Earlier this year, the European Commission announced €5m in funding over four years to develop a new photonics education and training network to boost Europe’s talent pipeline in this vital sector.
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