Researchers at Illinois are developing a near-infrared imaging technique that could significantly affect the ways physicians detect and treat breast cancer. "Tissue removed during biopsy or surgery must be microscopically examined by a pathologist, which can sometimes result in a lengthy and anxious wait for the patient," says Stephen Boppart, a Beckman researcher and professor of electrical and computer engineering, bioengineering, and medicine. "We want to move the microscopic examination of tissue from the pathology lab to the patient's point of care and do the analysis in real time."