Nashville, Tennessee, USA — May 2026
The Spectra-BREAST project was proudly represented at SPEC 2026, the 14th International Conference on Clinical Vibrational Spectroscopy, held at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee, from 16 to 20 May 2026. The conference brought together leading researchers, clinicians, industry representatives and innovators working at the interface of vibrational spectroscopy, biophotonics and clinical translation.
Under the theme “Light for Life: Lab to Clinic”, SPEC 2026 offered an inspiring environment to discuss how Raman and FTIR spectroscopy can move from advanced research settings towards real-world clinical impact. The programme placed strong emphasis on translational research, multidisciplinary exchange and the practical steps needed to bring spectroscopic technologies closer to patients.
During the poster session, Carlo Morasso, Renzo Vanna and Arianna Bonizzi presented the Spectra-BREAST project to the international clinical spectroscopy community, sharing the project’s vision and ongoing work towards improving intraoperative breast cancer assessment through multimodal imaging and spectroscopy.
A highlight of the meeting was the keynote lecture by Gerwin Puppels from RiverD International B.V., a partner of the Spectra-BREAST consortium. His keynote, entitled “Raman & the clinic, looking back… but mostly ahead”, reflected on the evolution of Raman spectroscopy in clinical applications, from the early foundations of the SPEC community to the challenges and opportunities that still lie ahead. His message strongly resonated with the objectives of Spectra-BREAST: clinical translation requires not only excellent technology, but also collaboration, openness, and a clear understanding of real clinical needs.
Renzo Vanna also contributed to the panel discussion “The Future of Clinical Spectroscopy”, joining experts from different institutions and disciplines to discuss the next steps needed to accelerate the adoption of spectroscopic methods in clinical practice. The discussion highlighted the importance of standardisation, robust validation, collaboration with clinicians, and the integration of spectroscopy into realistic clinical workflows.
The conference was also an important occasion for the European clinical spectroscopy community: Renzo Vanna, CNR, and Carlo Morasso, ICS Maugeri, announced that the next edition of SPEC will take place in Milan in 2028. This will represent a valuable opportunity to further strengthen the role of Europe, and Italy in particular, in advancing clinical spectroscopy and its translation into healthcare.
SPEC 2026 was organised by a dedicated team led by experts from Vanderbilt and the wider clinical spectroscopy community, including Anita Mahadevan-Jansen, Matthew Baker, Andrea Locke and Jeff Nyman, among others. The event created a highly stimulating atmosphere, combining scientific excellence with active interaction between different disciplines. Sessions dedicated to clinical translation, round tables involving clinicians and spectroscopists, and numerous opportunities for informal exchange made the conference especially valuable for a project such as Spectra-BREAST.
Beyond the scientific programme, Nashville provided a vibrant and welcoming setting. The city’s unique musical identity, lively atmosphere and warm hospitality contributed to making SPEC 2026 not only a successful scientific event, but also a memorable experience for the Spectra-BREAST team.
