Laura Marcu has received the 2015 Dean’s Outstanding Mid-Career Faculty Research Award. Her research focuses on promoting better diagnostic, treatment, and prevention of human diseases through advancements in biophotonic technology, via interdisciplinary projects that enable early diagnosis and intrapoerative demarcation of tumors, the prevention of stroke and heart attack, and cancer therapy. In late 2013, she was named “Domain Leader” of the UC Davis branch of the University of California BRAID Center for Accelerated Innovation. She also serves as co-leader of the biotechnology program within the UC Davis Cancer Center.