Review 2023

    • 19th Confocal Raman Imaging Symposium

      From September 25-27, 2023, the Raman community gathered again in the Stadthaus in Ulm for three days of scientific exchange. The range of applications presented on stage and during the poster sessions reflected the growing reach of Raman imaging and it was a pleasure to see researchers from all over the world discussing the most recent technological developments as well as the fascinating results on display.

      The press release about the conference is available on the WITec homepage in English and German.

    • Raman Symposium 2023 Group picture web
      The attendees of the 19th Confocal Raman Imaging Symposium on stage for a group picture
  • Raman Symposium Abstract Book Cover2023 web
    To download the abstract book (PDF) of the Confocal Raman Imaging Symposium 2023, please click on the cover image.

  • Oral presentations and posters

    • The first day of the conference started with a thorough introduction to the theory of Raman spectroscopy and microscopy by Prof. Dr. Sebastian Schlücker from the University Duisburg-Essen, Germany, followed by an interactive quiz in which the participants could test their knowledge. Technical considerations of confocal Raman imaging microscopy were then discussed by WITec Product Manager Dr. Thomas Dieing. In the following keynote lecture, Prof. Dr. Maike Windbergs from Goethe University in Frankfurt am Main, Germany, presented cutting-edge results from biomedical and pharma research, covering Raman studies of cells, tissues, organoids and drug delivery systems.

      The presentation program of the Symposium’s second day covered a broad range of leading-edge Raman microscopy applications: 2D materials, astromaterials, microparticles and microplastics, pharma research, energy storage and electrochemistry, life sciences, nutritional science, optophysiology, leukemia diagnosis, biomineralization, and more.

      For a complete overview of the topics presented in the talks and posters, please browse the Symposium’s Abstract Book (PDF download, ca. 6 MB).

    • Raman Symposium 2023 Lecture hall web
      WITec Marketing Director Harald Fischer welcomes the audience at the 19th Confocal Raman Imaging Symposium in the auditorium of the Stadthaus in Ulm

    • Evening lecture: The splendor of the Imperial Crown of the Holy Roman Empire

      The evening lecture on the first conference day presented a very well-received highlight of the event: Dr. Martina Grießer from the Kunsthistorisches Museum Vienna, Austria, showed fascinating results from the Imperial Crown Project. This initiative investigates the Imperial Crown of the Holy Roman Empire, a unique artifact of European cultural heritage. In particular, Raman and photoluminescence measurements were presented that yielded insights into the Crown’s 172 gemstones.

    • Raman Symposium 2023 Evening lecture web
      Dr. Martina Grießer (Kunsthistorisches Museum Vienna, Austria, left) and Dr. Miriam Böhmler (WITec Applications Director, right) after the evening lecture

Best Poster Award winner 2023

  • The prize for the best poster was awarded to Dr. Peter Owens from Anatomy Imaging and Microscopy at the University of Galway, Ireland. His work demonstrates that Raman microscopy is suitable for in situ diagnosis of fibrotic disorders, which can cause scarring and organ malfunction.

    Based on spectral changes assigned to collagen accumulation, Dr. Owens and his colleagues were able to distinguish healthy and fibrotic tissue regions. The technique was successfully demonstrated for ovine myocardial infarct, human ischemic heart disease and human pulmonary fibrosis and has great potential for being applied to diagnosing further disorders, such as kidney disease and liver cirrhosis. It was also used to study the impact of treating infarcted tissue with hydrogels for restoring the extracellular matrix structure.

    The Raman imaging and statistical analyses in combination with a clear presentation of the results convinced the Poster Award jury and secured Dr. Owens the prize. He received his certificate and a Bluetooth speaker from WITec Managing Director Dr. Joachim Koenen at the conference dinner.

    Related publication: P. Contessotto et al. (2021) Elastin-like recombinamers-based hydrogel modulates post-ischemic remodeling in a non-transmural myocardial infarction in sheep. Sci. Transl. Med. 13, eaaz5380. DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.aaz5380

    • Raman Symposium 2023 Poster prize ceremony web
      Best Poster Award winner Dr. Peter Owens from the University of Galway, Ireland (right) receives his certificate and prize from WITec Managing Director Dr. Joachim Koenen (left).
    • Raman-Symposium-2023_Winning-Poster_Owens
      To view Dr. Owens' award-winning poster, please click on the image.

Equipment demonstrations

  • On the third conference day, participants were invited to WITec Headquarters for equipment demonstrations and discussions about Raman microscopy technology. After a general demonstration of Raman imaging and data evaluation using WITec hardware and software, attendees received a guided tour of the WITec facilities. In the afternoon, demonstrations were held in smaller groups at stations dedicated to specialized techniques, such as TrueSurface microscopy for topographic Raman imaging, RISE microscopy for correlative Raman-SEM, and mobile Raman microspectroscopy. An open forum provided the chance for individual questions and in-depth discussions among attendees and WITec scientists.

  • Raman Symposium 2023 alpha300 apyron demo web
    Conference attendees gathered around an alpha300 apyron for the demonstration of automated Raman imaging options.