Parsin Haji Reza

Dr. Parsin Haji Reza (Ph.D., P.Eng.) is a teacher, researcher, entrepreneur, and published novelist whose contributions to biomedical optics and medical imaging have earned national and international recognition. Named one of Canada’s Innovation Leaders by Research Infosource Inc., he has also received Ontario’s Early Researcher Award, and the prestigious Professional Engineers Ontario Medal in Entrepreneurship.

Dr. Haji Reza’s research sits at the intersection of physics, engineering, and medicine, driving advances in next-generation diagnostic and imaging technologies. His interdisciplinary approach merges fundamental science with translational impact, fostering innovations in precision medicine, early disease detection, and therapeutic monitoring. Since 2018, as Principal Investigator, he has secured over $30 million in funding (~$12 million pending), reflecting significant impact across academic, clinical, and industrial sectors. During this period, more than 80 personnel have been trained in his lab, cultivating a dynamic and collaborative research environment.

Nationally, he is among a very few researchers to receive the highly selective NSERC Horizon Grant, in addition to multiple awards from the CFI, NFRF, NSERC, and CIHR. Notably, his recent CIHR grant in ophthalmic imaging ranked #1 in its biomedical engineering review committee. He also serves as a standing member of the CIHR Physics and Medical Imaging Committee, contributing to national-level research evaluation and policy. Dr. Haji Reza has published over 50 peer-reviewed papers and holds more than 16 patent families, comprising over 60 patents awarded or pending worldwide.

He has been recognized with the Engineering Research Excellence Award, the Faculty of Engineering Distinguished Performance Award, and the Outstanding Performance Award. His dedication to student mental health and wellbeing earned him the Friend of Natalie Award during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Dr. Haji Reza also actively translates scientific breakthroughs into practical innovations. He has founded and led multiple startups across hardware, software, and artificial intelligence, serving as CEO, CTO, chairman, and strategic advisor. He holds an honorary appointment at Wills Eye Hospital in Philadelphia, contributing to the clinical translation of advanced imaging technologies. Additionally, he provides ongoing consulting in scientific and technical analyses, intellectual property, innovation strategy, and research and technology development for academic, industry, and legal sectors.

The research philosophy of PhotoMedicine labs is transitional research from bench to the bedside. We are always looking to collaborate with talented students, faculties, researchers, clinicians, and industry.

• Medical imaging
• Image processing
• Machine learning
• Medical devices
• Nano-fabrication
• Photoacoustic remote sensing (PARS) microscopy
• Capacitive micromachined ultrasonic transducer (CMUT)
• Multi-scale functional and molecular photoacoustic tomography
• Ultrasound imaging
• All optical and non-contact detection systems
• Photoacoustic wavefront shaping
• Optical coherence tomography (OCT)
• Multi-photon microscopy
• Novel multi-modality optical imaging techniques
• Design and fabrication of micro-endoscopy systems
• Super-resolution imaging techniques
• Real-time and 3D biomedical imaging
• Novel optical and fiber-based components
• Novel laser systems for biomedical applications
• Optical sensors
• Biomedical Engineering
• Optics
• Photonics

• 2015, Doctorate Biomedical Engineering, University of Alberta, Canada
• 2010, Bachelor's (Honors) Electronics Majoring in Optical Engineering, Multimedia University, Malaysia

• BME 386 - The Physics of Medical Imaging
  • Taught in 2020, 2021, 2024
• BME 393 - Digital Systems
  • Taught in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024
• BME 582 - Biomedical Optics
  • Taught in 2025
• BME 587 - Special Topics in Biomedical Signals
  • Taught in 2021, 2023

* Only courses taught in the past 5 years are displayed.

• Zohreh Hosseinaee, Nicholas Pellegrino, Nima Abbasi, Tara Amiri, James A. Tummon Simmons, Paul Fieguth, and Parsin Haji Reza, In-vivo functional and structural retinal imaging using multiwavelength photoacoustic remote sensing microscopy, Scientific Reports, 1, 2022
• Z. Hosseinaee, B. R. Ecclestone, N. Pellegrino, L. Khalili, L. Mukhangaliyeva, P. Fieguth, P. HajiReza, Functional photoacoustic remote sensing microscopy using a stabilized temperature-regulated stimulated Raman scattering light source, Optics Express, 29745, 2021
• Zohreh Hosseinaee, Nima Abbasi, Nicholas Pellegrino, Layla Khalili, Lyazzat Mukhangaliyeva, and Parsin Haji Reza, Functional and structural ophthalmic imaging using noncontact multimodal photoacoustic remote sensing microscopy and optical coherence tomography, Scientific Reports, , 2021
• John Mackey, Benjamin R, Ecclestone, Deepak Dinakaran, Gilbert Bigras, Parsin Haji Reza, H&E-like histology of unstained fresh and formalin fixed breast tissue with Photo Acoustic Remote Sensing (PARS) microscopy, Journal of Medical Oncology, e12590, 2021
• Benjamin R. Ecclestone, Zohreh Hosseinaee, Nima Abbasi, Kevan Bell, Deepak Dinakaran, John R. Mackey & Parsin Haji Reza, Three-dimensional virtual histology in unprocessed resected tissues with photoacoustic remote sensing (PARS) microscopy and optical coherence tomography (OCT), Scientific Reports, 1, 2021
• Kevan Bell, Lyazzat Mukhangaliyeva, Layla Khalili, and Parsin Haji Reza, Hyperspectral absorption microscopy using photoacoustic remote sensing, Optics Express, 24338, 2021
• Zohreh Hosseinaee, James A. Tummon Simmons, Parsin Haji Reza, Dual-modal photoacoustic imaging and optical coherence tomography [Review], Frontiers in Physics, , 2021
• Benjamin R. Ecclestone, Deepak Dinakaran, Parsin Haji Reza, Single Acquisition Label-free Histology-like Imaging with Dual Contrast Photoacoustic Remote Sensing Microscopy, Journal of Biomedical Optics, 056007, 2021
• Benjamin R. Ecclestone, Saad Abbasi, Kevan Bell, Deepak Dinakaran, Gilbert Bigras, John R. Mackey, Parsin Haji Reza, Towards virtual biopsies of gastrointestinal tissues using photoacoustic remote sensing microscopy, QMIS, 1070, 2021
• Benjamin R. Ecclestone, Kevan Bell, Saad Abbasi, Deepak Dinakaran, Muba Taher, John R. Mackey, and Parsin Haji Reza, Histopathology for Mohs micrographic surgery with photoacoustic remote sensing microscopy, Biomed. Opt. Express, 654, 2021

• Prof's research uses AI to revolutionize cancer diagnosis
• Touchless technology could enable early detection and treatment of eye diseases that cause blindness
• Engineering research bids win New Frontiers funding