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Distinguished Spectroscopist Invited Lecture
June 18, 2026
12:00 – 1:00 PM EDT
Raman Spectroscopy and Machine Learning for Forensic Purposes and Biomedical Applications
Professor Igor K. Lednev │ University at Albany, State University of New York
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Abstract
Raman spectroscopy combined with advanced statistical methods is a powerful tool for both fundamental research and practical applications. We have been developing this approach for over 20 years to understand protein folding and aggregation, as well as to create new tools for forensic purposes and biomedical applications. Specifically, several complementary Raman spectroscopic techniques have been developed and applied to determine the structure, stability, and formation mechanisms of amyloid fibrils. A new, noninvasive method for Alzheimer’s disease (AD) diagnostics based on Raman spectroscopy of blood and saliva has been patented and is currently under commercialization. The developed approach has also shown great potential for diagnosing Sjögren’s disease
The recent success of mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccines has highlighted the potential of RNA-based therapeutics. However, the use of RNA-based therapeutics is limited by the special storage conditions required to maintain RNA stability. For example, improper temperature control results in the loss of approximately half of the vaccines distributed worldwide. We have developed the first nondestructive, in situ method based on deep-UV resonance Raman (DUVRR) spectroscopy for probing the stability of mRNA vaccines and the distribution of mRNA between lipid nanoparticles and buffer.
We have demonstrated that Raman spectroscopy can be used to identify biological stains at a crime scene, indicating the type of body fluid. In addition, peripheral and menstrual blood, as well as human and animal blood, can be differentiated. The time since deposition of a bloodstain can be estimated for up to two years. Most recently, we demonstrated proof-of-concept for phenotype profiling based on Raman spectroscopy of dry traces of body fluids, including the determination of the donor’s sex, race, and age group. A university spinoff, SupreMEtric LLC (www.supremetric.com), is commercializing this novel technology.
Speaker Biography
Igor K. Lednev is a SUNY Distinguished Professor and the Williams-Raycheff Endowed Chair in Chemistry at the University at Albany, State University of New York. He is the founding director of the Center for Biophotonic Technology and Artificial Intelligence (CeBAI), an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences, and a faculty member of the RNA Institute. Lednev’s research focuses on the development and application of novel laser spectroscopy for forensic purposes, medical diagnostics, and fundamental biochemistry.
Lednev is the founder and CTO of SupreMEtric LLC (www.supremetric.com), which commercializes a universal method for identifying body fluid traces for forensic purposes, and Early Diagnostics LLC, which develops saliva and blood screening tests for Alzheimer’s disease.
He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry (UK) and the Society for Applied Spectroscopy. Lednev has received several prestigious awards, including the Pittsburgh Spectroscopy Award, EAS Award for Outstanding Achievements in Vibrational Spectroscopy, the Charles Mann Award for Applied Raman Spectroscopy, the Gold Medal Award from the Society for Applied Spectroscopy, and a Guest Professor Fellowship from Friedrich Schiller University.
Lednev served as an advisory member on the White House Subcommittee for Forensic Science. Together with the National Institute of Justice (NIJ), he founded the NIJ Forensic Science Symposium at Pittcon in 2018, which has since become an annual event featuring approximately 30 invited talks and a poster session. In January 2020, Dr. Lednev was recruited by the United Nations to deliver a week-long “National Training Course on Using Vibrational Techniques to Enhance Forensic Analysis” for the National Police Crime Laboratory of Chile in Santiago.
Dr. Lednev has co-authored over 300 publications in peer-reviewed journals and holds 11 patents, achieving an h-index of 81. His work has been featured in the media more than 100 times, including 22 TV interviews and coverage in outlets such as the Wall Street Journal, Chemical & Engineering News, and Forensic Magazine. In September 2019, U.S. Congressman Paul Tonko acknowledged Dr. Lednev’s research accomplishments during a U.S. House of Representatives hearing on advancements in forensic science.
https://sites.google.com/site/lednevlab/
About the Distinguished Spectroscopist Invited Lecture
The Society for Applied Spectroscopy (SAS) Distinguished Spectroscopist Invited Lecture Series is a quarterly program where the Society selects distinguished experts to present their research to members of the Society and affiliated students and scientists. Speakers are chosen for their significant contributions to the field of spectroscopy and their ability to engage both students and professionals. The series bridges the gap between industry and academia, providing industrial scientists and students with exposure to real-world spectroscopic applications and fundamental contributions. Speakers may be invited from the pool of SAS Fellows, recipients of prestigious spectroscopy awards, or authors of significant work published in Applied Spectroscopy or Applied Spectroscopy Practica. The lectures shall be delivered virtually and will be available for on-line streaming, post presentation.
