Alex Vitkin, University of Toronto

Research

Polarized light Optical imaging / microscopy Artificial intelligence Machine learning Tumor microenvironment Cancer prognostication Tumor behavior Response to treatment

Latest papers

Label-free differentiation of classical and hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndromes using Mueller matrix polarimetry.
Biophotonics discovery · 2026 · senior author
Machine learning-based prediction of luminal breast cancer subtypes using polarised light microscopy.
British journal of cancer · 2025 · senior author
In vivo tumor imaging of pre-clinical models via reflection-mode measurements of circular degree of polarization.
Journal of biomedical optics · 2025 · senior author

All 53 publications

Latest funding

Novel polarized light methodology as a quantitative oncological prognostication tool.
SSHRC · 2019 · Principal investigator
$273,175
3D Additive/subtractive laser manufacturing of photonic circuit and sensor micro-systems
NSERC · 2018 · Co-investigator
$434,640
Polarized light assessment of multiply scattering heterogenous birefringent media
NSERC · 2018 · Principal investigator
$300,000

All 12 grants and awards

53 publications.

01

Label-free differentiation of classical and hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndromes using Mueller matrix polarimetry.

Tumanova K, Min E, Louie DC, Neshatian M, Shalviry S, Mittal N, Bozec L, Vitkin A

Biophotonics discovery2026Senior author

DOI: 10.1117/1.bios.3.1.015002 PMID: 42028051

02

Machine learning-based prediction of luminal breast cancer subtypes using polarised light microscopy.

Tumanova K, Khorasani M, Nofech-Mozes S, Vitkin A

British journal of cancer2025Senior author

DOI: 10.1038/s41416-025-03150-x PMID: 41044174

03

In vivo tumor imaging of pre-clinical models via reflection-mode measurements of circular degree of polarization.

Singh MD, Contreras-Sánchez HA, Vitkin A

Journal of biomedical optics2025Senior author

DOI: 10.1117/1.jbo.30.s3.s34105 PMID: 40919576

04

Pioneer of Biomedical Optics: Brian C. Wilson.

Pogue BW, Lilge L, Andersson-Engels S, Madsen SJ, Olivo MC, Vitkin A

Journal of biomedical optics2025Senior author

DOI: 10.1117/1.jbo.30.s3.s34101 PMID: 41049091

05

Laser speckle size and contrast investigation of volumetric scattering from controlled turbid phantoms and mouse skin tissues.

Kulcsar C, Louie DC, Vitkin A

iScience2025Senior author

DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2025.112433 PMID: 40352731

06

Effects of Ionizing Radiation on the Biophysical Properties of Type I Collagen Fibrils.

Ng K, Allam N, Neshatian M, Vaez M, Hirvonen LM, Lam E, Vitkin A, Bozec L

PloS one2025

DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0319777 PMID: 40173206

07

Protein classification by autofluorescence spectral shape analysis using machine learning.

Chikkanayakanahalli Mukunda D, Rodrigues J, Chandra S, Mazumder N, Vitkin A, Kishore Mahato K

Talanta2024

DOI: 10.1016/j.talanta.2023.125167 PMID: 37714041

08

Author Correction: Reflection mode polarimetry guides laser mass spectrometry to diagnostically important regions of human breast cancer tissue.

Singh MD, Ye LA, Woolman M, Talbot F, Zarrine-Afsar A, Vitkin A

Scientific reports2024Senior author

DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-81467-y PMID: 39639050

09

Reflection mode polarimetry guides laser mass spectrometry to diagnostically important regions of human breast cancer tissue.

Singh MD, Ye LA, Woolman M, Talbot F, Zarrine-Afsar A, Vitkin A

Scientific reports2024Senior author

DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-77963-w PMID: 39482347

10

Special Section Guest Editorial: Polarimetry in Biomedical Optics.

Vitkin A, Ramella-Roman JC, Ghosh N

Journal of biomedical optics2024First author

DOI: 10.1117/1.jbo.29.5.052901 PMID: 38817337

Novel polarized light methodology as a quantitative oncological prognostication tool.

Principal investigatorSSHRC2019New Frontiers in Research Fund - Exploration

Principal investigators: Vitkin, Alex

$273,175

3D Additive/subtractive laser manufacturing of photonic circuit and sensor micro-systems

Co-investigatorNSERC2018Strategic Projects - Group

Principal investigators: Herman, Peter

$434,640

Polarized light assessment of multiply scattering heterogenous birefringent media

Principal investigatorNSERC2018Discovery Grants Program - Individual

Principal investigators: Vitkin, Alex

$300,000

Polarimetric Mueller matrix imaging in multiply scattering inhomogeneous birefringent media

Principal investigatorNSERC2013Discovery Grants Program - Individual

Principal investigators: Vitkin, Alex

$205,000

The photoacoustic radar: photothermoacoustic scanning tomography (PHAST) for early detection of breast cancer

Co-investigatorNSERC2009Strategic Projects - Group

Principal investigators: Mandelis, Andreas

$396,976

Optical coherence tomographic imaging for monitoring radiotherapy complications in the colon

Principal investigatorNSERC2009Collaborative Health Research Projects

Principal investigators: Vitkin, Alex

$228,743

Spectral polarimetry in multiply scattering birefringent optically active media

Principal investigatorNSERC2007Discovery Grants Program - Individual

Principal investigators: Vitkin, Alex

$203,460

Shared spectroscopy instrumentation

Co-investigatorNSERC2006Research Tools and Instruments - Category 1 (<$150,000)

Principal investigators: Lilge, Lothar

$65,012

Spectral polarization studies in multiply scattering chiral media

Principal investigatorNSERC2002Discovery Grants Program - Individual

Principal investigators: Vitkin, Alex

$145,600

Development of a two-stage biomedical frequency-domain photothermoacoustic (FD-PTA) methodology fir depth profilometric imaging in turbid media

Co-investigatorNSERC2002Collaborative Health Research Projects

Principal investigators: Mandelis, Andreas

$329,554

From CIHR, NSERC and SSHRC funding decisions: CIHR since 2008, NSERC since 1991 and SSHRC since 1998, including their latest published competition results.

Frequent collaborators

Medical Biophysics
Physical Sciences
Department of Medical Biophysics
Department of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering
Physics
Department of Education Research
Neurosurgery
Other

Co-authors at University of Toronto, colored by department. Thicker lines mean more shared papers; select anyone to open their profile and their own map.

Sharon Nofech-Mozes

Physical Sciences

7 shared papers, latest 2025

Arash Zarrine-Afsar

Department of Medical Biophysics

5 shared papers, latest 2024

Laurent Bozec

Department of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering

2 shared papers, latest 2026

Ernest Lam

Department of Education Research

1 shared papers, latest 2025

Gelareh Zadeh

Neurosurgery

1 shared papers, latest 2013

Kostadinka Bizheva

Physics and Astronomy

1 shared papers, latest 2016

Michael Milosevic

Radiation Medicine

1 shared papers, latest 2006

Write to this professor

A short, specific email works best. This draft uses one of their recent papers; replace the parts in brackets with your own details before sending.

Applying for

Paper to mentionMention their SSHRC grant from 2019

Subject: Prospective PhD student: Polarized light Dear Professor Vitkin, My name is [your name], and I am a [your current degree or role] at [your institution]. I am applying for a PhD position starting in [term and year]. I read your paper "Label-free differentiation of classical and hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndromes using Mueller matrix polarimetry." (2026), and it connects closely to my own work on [your research topic]. [One or two sentences on what you did and what you learned.] I also saw your SSHRC-funded project "Novel polarized light methodology as a quantitative oncological prognostication tool." (2019), and I would be glad to contribute to work in that direction. Are you accepting new PhD students for [term and year]? I have attached my CV and transcripts, and I would be glad to talk at a time that suits you. Thank you for your time. Kind regards, [your name]

Alex Vitkin

Research

Latest papers

Latest funding

Label-free differentiation of classical and hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndromes using Mueller matrix polarimetry.

Machine learning-based prediction of luminal breast cancer subtypes using polarised light microscopy.

In vivo tumor imaging of pre-clinical models via reflection-mode measurements of circular degree of polarization.

Pioneer of Biomedical Optics: Brian C. Wilson.

Laser speckle size and contrast investigation of volumetric scattering from controlled turbid phantoms and mouse skin tissues.

Effects of Ionizing Radiation on the Biophysical Properties of Type I Collagen Fibrils.

Protein classification by autofluorescence spectral shape analysis using machine learning.

Author Correction: Reflection mode polarimetry guides laser mass spectrometry to diagnostically important regions of human breast cancer tissue.

Reflection mode polarimetry guides laser mass spectrometry to diagnostically important regions of human breast cancer tissue.

Special Section Guest Editorial: Polarimetry in Biomedical Optics.

Novel polarized light methodology as a quantitative oncological prognostication tool.

3D Additive/subtractive laser manufacturing of photonic circuit and sensor micro-systems

Polarized light assessment of multiply scattering heterogenous birefringent media

Polarimetric Mueller matrix imaging in multiply scattering inhomogeneous birefringent media

The photoacoustic radar: photothermoacoustic scanning tomography (PHAST) for early detection of breast cancer

Optical coherence tomographic imaging for monitoring radiotherapy complications in the colon

Spectral polarimetry in multiply scattering birefringent optically active media

Shared spectroscopy instrumentation

Spectral polarization studies in multiply scattering chiral media

Development of a two-stage biomedical frequency-domain photothermoacoustic (FD-PTA) methodology fir depth profilometric imaging in turbid media

Frequent collaborators

Sharon Nofech-Mozes

Arash Zarrine-Afsar

Lothar Lilge

Laurent Bozec

Mihaela Pop

Warren Foltz

Sunit Das

Nimish Mittal

J Roger Jacobs

Ernest Lam

Gelareh Zadeh

Kostadinka Bizheva

Jinzi Zheng

Michael Milosevic