Optical Technologies for Improving Healthcare in Low-Resource Settings: introduction to the feature issue

This feature issue of Biomedical Optics Express presents a cross-section of interesting and emerging work of relevance to optical technologies in low-resource settings. In particular, the technologies described here aim to address challenges to meeting healthcare needs in resource-constrained environments, including in rural and underserved areas. This collection of 18 papers includes papers on both optical system design and image analysis, with applications demonstrated for ex vivo and in vivo use. All together, these works portray the importance of global health research to the scientific community and the role that optics can play in addressing some of the world's most pressing healthcare challenges.