The NATO Advanced Study Institute "Biomedical Optical Instrumentation and Laser Assisted Biotechnology" was held November 10-22, 1995 in Erice, Sicily. This was the 19 th conference organized by the International School of Quantum Electronics, under the auspices of the "Ettore Majorana" Center for Scientific Culture. The contributions presented at the Institute are written as extended, review-like papers to provide a broad and representative coverage of the fields of laser techniques, optoelectronics systems for medical diagnosis, and light and laser applications to Biology and Medicine. The aim of the Institute was to bring together some of the world's acknowledged scientists and clinicians that belong to different disciplines and consequently do not usually meet, but who have as a common link the use of optoelectronics instrumentation, techniques and procedures. Most of the lecturers attended all the lectures and devoted their spare hours to stimulating discussions. We would like to thank them all for their admirable contributions. The Institute also took advantage of a very active audience; most of the participants were active researchers in the field and contributed with discussions and seminars. Some of these seminars are also included in these Proceedings. The Institute was an important opportunity to discuss latest developments and emerging perspectives on the use of laser sources and optoelectronic techniques for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes.

Preface. I: Basic Physics of Light-Biomatter Interactions and Tissue- Optics. Some Future Trends of Laser Biomedicine; V.S. Letokhov. Modelling Light Propagation in Tissues; S.L. Jacques. Dynamics of Optical Properties; A.J. Welch, et al. II: Light-Induced Effects in Biological Systems. Derepression of Genome and Alteration of DNA Template Activity in Nonproliferating Cells by means of UV and Visible Laser Radiation; T.I. Karu. Photosensitized Processes in vivo: Photodiagnostic and Phototherapeutic Applications; G. Jori. Laser Induced Stimulation of Blood Platelet Aggregation; N.N. Petrischev, et al. Investigation of Skin Sensitivity Due to Visible and Near-Infrared; M.I. Nemenov, et al. Reflectance Spectroscopy with Optical Fiber Devices and Transcutaneous Bilirubinometers; S.L. Jacques. Time-Resolved Reflectance for the Assessment of the Optical Properties of Tissues; R. Cubeddu, et al. Recent Development in Laser Doppler Perfusion Imaging for Two-Dimensional Tissue Blood Flow Mapping; G.E. Nilsson, et al. Frequency-Domain Optical Spectroscopy and Imaging of Tissues; J. Maier, et al. Fluorescence Lifetime-Resolved Imaging Microscopy (FLIM); R.M. Clegg, et al. Automation of Diagnostic and Therapeutic Systems for Medical Applications of Lasers; A.J. Welch, et al. Therapeutic Lasers Effectiveness and Dosimetry; F.A.H. Al-Watban. Tunable Diode Laser Detection of Small Traces of Gases for Medical Diagnostics; G. Baldacchini, et al. Combined Spectroscopic and Molecular Mechanics Investigation of the Photobleaching and Photoproduct Fromation of Photoporphyrin by ALA Application to in vivo Systems; Y.S. Park, A. Sac. IV: Optical Therapeutic Instrumentation and Applications. Time-Resolved Imaging of Acoustic Effects Induced in Air and in Water by Laser Ablation of Organic Tissue; R. Pini, et al. 980 nm High Power Diode Laser in Surgical Applications; W. Cecchetti, et al. Surgical Properties and Applications of Sealed-Off CO2 Lasers; D.C. Dumitras, D.C.A. Dutu. Development of Pulsed Solid State Lasers for Ophthalmology in Romania; R. Dabu, et al. Electro-Optical Instrumentation for Laser-Based Refractive Eye Microsurgery; V.V. Molebny, et al. The CO2 Laser in Laryngeal Surgery; G. Motto, et al. Measurement of Pressure Waves Induced Inside the Eye by Excimer Laser Ablation of the Cornea; S. Siano, et al. How Far is a Prototype from the Market: The Experience with Bilitec 2000; F. Baldini, A.M. Verga Scheggi. V: Optical Tomography: Initial Applications in Bio-Medicine. Optical Coherence Tomography: Principles, Instrumentation, and Biological Applications; E.A. Swanson, et al. Early Clinical Results of Time-of-Flight Optical Tomography in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit; D.A. Benaron, et al. VI: Optical Sensors and Applications. Fluorescence-Based Optical Sensors for Biomedical Applications; O.S. Wolfbeis. Surface Plasmon Resonance for Biosensing; B. Liedberg, et al. The Use of Fiber Optic Sensors in in vivo Monitoring; F. Baldini, et al. Silylated Optrodes for Biomedical Applications; S. Bracci. VII: Laser-Assisted Biotechnology. Laser Technology in Molecular Biology; G. Palumbo, et al. Biological Applications of Light Forces; F. Baldes. VIII: Index. Index.