Dr. Dauren Adilbay is a head and neck surgeon–scientist at the Medical University of South Carolina whose research focuses on transforming the early detection and risk stratification of oral potentially malignant disorders (OPMDs). He leads a translational imaging laboratory developing targeted multispectral fluorescent probes and molecular imaging tools that enable real-time assessment of tumor biology. His group integrates in vivo imaging, patient-derived organoids, and 4NQO mouse models to identify biomarkers, such as PD-L1, MET, and NOTCH1, that predict malignant transformation. Dr. Adilbay’s work bridges engineering, cancer biology, and surgery to create clinically deployable technologies that guide biopsy, therapy selection, and surveillance in a single visit. He is also advancing nanoparticle-based photodynamic approaches and fluorescence-guided surgery platforms to improve margin assessment and reduce recurrence.