Petra Wilder-Smith

Research

Wilder-Smith's research focuses on noninvasive optical techniques such as fluorescence and optical coherence tomography and their use in the diagnosis of oral cancer. She is particularly concerned with developing technologies for the early detection of precancerous and cancerous tissues in the mouth. She has collaborated with researchers at the City of Hope, UCLA, the University of Pennsylvania and elsewhere, publishing more than 100 publications in over 20 years. She has received funding from the National Institutes of Health, the United States Department of Defense, and others. which accounts for 35% of cancer deaths among Indian men. The solar-powered device, slightly larger than a shoebox, uses mobile phone technology to send laser images of oral lesions to specialists for assessment.