The 14th International Conference on Clinical Spectroscopy (SPEC 2026) was held in Nashville, USA, at Vanderbilt University from May 16–20, 2026. The conference featured the celebration of the International Day of Light on May 16th. This biennial event was chaired by Vanderbilt University faculty, Dr. Anita Mahadevan-Jansen and Dr. Andrea Locke, and co-chaired by Dr. Jeffry Nyman of VUMC and Dr. Matthew J. Baker of DXCOVER.
The conference was proudly hosted by the Vanderbilt Biophotonics Center and brought together researchers, scientists, and industry professionals to discuss emerging methods, current applications, and cutting-edge technologies in spectroscopy.
Our lead researchers, Dr. Rafay Ahmed and Dr. Alec Walter, and our graduate students, Joseph Afreh, Luke Whitehead, Madison Walker, Marilyn Lionts, Meagan McKee, Richard Liao, Trevor Voss, and Viannely Francisco, presented their research alongside more than 50 other presentations delivered throughout the conference.
The gathering provided an excellent platform for scientific exchange, collaboration, and professional networking. Day one was moderated by clinicians from Vanderbilt University and VUMC, with panel discussions highlighting the past, present, and prospects of vibrational spectroscopy in biomedicine. Thank you to the teams from Photothermal Spectroscopy Corp, Wasatch Photonics, BaySpec Inc., and Ocean Optics for conducting hands-on workshops that made the conference more informative, engaging, and interactive for attendees. Participants also had the opportunity to engage in social excursions and explore the vibrant city of Nashville.
We extend our sincere thanks to the student volunteers, presenters, and participants whose dedication and contributions made this conference a great success. Special thanks to staff member Tania Carter, Vanderbilt Students Tiffani Alexander and Jonathan Gao, and Vanderbilt School of Engineering graduate Vanessa Omatu for their support in preparing for the event and helping ensure everything ran smoothly. A heartfelt thank you to our sponsors: Photothermal Spectroscopy Corp, Innovative Photonic Solutions, Refined Diagnostics, Renishaw, DRS Daylight Solutions, HORIBA, BaySpec Inc., APE, Elsevier, EMVision Medical Devices, Wasatch Photonics, CLIRSPEC, the Vanderbilt University School of Engineering and the Vanderbilt University College of Arts and Science.
SPEC 2026 fostered valuable knowledge sharing, discussions on advancing technologies, new collaborations, and future experimental planning within the spectroscopy community.
