Dr. Ralph S. DaCosta leads a translational cancer imaging research program at Princess Margaret Cancer Centre focused on improving how cancer is detected, understood, and treated. His lab develops and uses advanced optical imaging tools that enable researchers to observe cancer, blood vessels, oxygen levels, nerves, and immune cells in real time within living tissues. This work is helping to uncover why cancers such as pancreatic cancer and acute myeloid leukemia grow, adapt, resist therapy, and return after treatment. A major goal of his program is to bridge discovery science and clinical impact by translating imaging innovations into practical tools for surgery, pathology, infection detection, and treatment monitoring. Dr. DaCosta has led projects funded by CIHR, the Canadian Cancer Society, and the Cancer Research Society. He founded MolecuLight Inc. and SBI ALApharma Canada Inc.