Cancer Research as Art
The National Institute of Cancer has a digital library of photographs and illustrations called Visuals Online. The collection currently contains over 3,383 images. One specific collection is entitled NCI Cancer Close Up 2016. These images are microscopy-aided photos taken by cancer researchers at NCI’s various cancer centers throughout the country. NCI asked researchers to submit the photos that were taken as part of their research studies. At last count their were 85 photos showing an array of cancer cells such as:
- Pancreatic Desmoplasia
- Non-Small Lung Cancer After Cisplatin Treatment
- polyploid giant cancer cell from breast cancer
- Mimicking Multiple Myeloma
The pictures are fascinating, and as the Washington Post put it, “deadly and beautiful”. Along with being weirdly captivating, they serve an underlying purpose. They demonstrate the progress made in cancer research and are displayed at cancer conferences. They are exhibits of potential treatment avenues and examples of cancer cell physiology.
Additionally, most of the images are in the public domain, meaning they can be freely used.
Jill
